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Table of Content
1. What is Long COVID?
2. What are the symptoms?
3. How serious is long COVID in Hong Kong?
4. Do some children who recover develop after-effects?
5. What are the treatment options?
6. What does rehabilitation treatment include?
7. How can you avoid being affected by long COVID?
8. Will having Long COVID affect future insurance applications?
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【Long COVID/Covid after-effects】What are the symptoms? How is it treated? 8 things you need to know.
Many people in Hong Kong who have been infected with COVID-19 feel that their health has deteriorated. An increasing number of studies indicate that “Long Covid” or post-COVID-19 conditions is a real issue, with approximately 10% to 20% of people experiencing a variety of medium- to long-term effects after recovering from their initial illness. What should members of the public know, and how can they take precautions? Could this also affect their ability to obtain insurance?
1. What is Long COVID?
According to the clinical definition of the World Health Organization, Long COVID symptoms usually ‘appear within three months of infection, persist for at least two months, and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis’. Symptoms may last for weeks, months or even up to a year.
2. What are the symptoms?
Although most people with COVID-19 are able to make a full recovery, some experience a wide range of medium- to long-term symptoms, including:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Decline in memory and concentration (commonly known as brain fog or Brain Fog)
- Sleep problems
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Difficulty speaking
- Muscle pain
- Loss of smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
- Fever
These symptoms may appear during the initial illness and persist, or develop after recovery. Symptoms may also fluctuate or recur over time, eventually affecting daily life, such as work or household chores.
3. How serious is long COVID in Hong Kong?
From October 2020 to January 2022, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University conducted physical fitness assessments of 118 COVID-19 patients referred by five hospitals, covering lung function, cardiac output and exercise endurance. It found that more than 40% of patients were still affected by long COVID six to 12 months after infection, while approximately 43% still experienced “chronic fatigue syndrome” one year after infection.
4. Do some children who recover develop after-effects?
Dr Kwan Yat-wah, a consultant in paediatric infectious diseases at Princess Margaret Hospital, said that he had followed up with more than 130 children diagnosed with COVID-19 and found that one in ten recovered children were suspected of experiencing “long COVID” symptoms, including loss of taste, smell and memory, as well as impaired cognitive and concentration abilities. None of them had been vaccinated at the time.
At the same time, he said that some children developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children after recovering from the infection, with more than half of the cases even requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Most had not been vaccinated. The syndrome affects children’s hearts, livers and brains. He urged parents to seek medical attention immediately if their children develop symptoms such as fever, skin rashes and red eyes after recovering, and reiterated that vaccination is the best preventive measure.
5. What are the treatment options?
According to the WHO, if you believe you may be affected by “long COVID”, please consult a doctor and seek their assistance in obtaining the treatment you need to manage your symptoms.
At present, there is no specific drug treatment for long COVID. However, data suggest that rehabilitation (Rehabilitation) may be effective, although medical experts worldwide are still investigating the causes of “long COVID” and how it can be treated.
6. What does rehabilitation treatment include?
A doctor pointed out that alleviating long COVID requires rehabilitation treatment targeting the organs affected by the symptoms. For example, if lung function declines due to the COVID-19 virus, a rehabilitation programme can usually be developed by a specialist doctor and a physiotherapist, such as exercises targeting the lungs. If the virus causes brain damage resulting in cognitive impairment, patients can consult a neurologist; occupational therapists or clinical psychologists are also often involved.
Of course, the above refers to some of the more serious symptoms or after-effects of long COVID. For most people, symptoms such as fatigue or a persistent cough are milder, and it may not be necessary to consult a specialist. Relief measures that can be undertaken include:
- Strengthening the body's immunity;
- Getting plenty of rest, maintaining sufficient sleep every day and relaxing the mind as much as possible;
- Taking an appropriate amount of exercise, including simple exercises such as jogging to train lung capacity.
7. How can you avoid being affected by long COVID?
The best way to protect yourself from “long COVID” is to do everything possible to avoid becoming infected with the coronavirus, including getting vaccinated and following public health and social measures to reduce the risk of infection and transmission. The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to take a combination of measures, including:
- Keeping at least 1 metre away from others
- Wearing a suitable mask covering your nose and mouth
- Opening windows
- Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing
- Washing your hands frequently
- Getting vaccinated as soon as it is your turn
8. Will having Long COVID affect future insurance applications?
10Life previously conducted a study to investigate whether insurance companies would refuse coverage to Hong Kong residents who had previously contracted COVID-19. It found that insurers would impose different underwriting requirements based on the policyholder’s medical history, including whether the illness had been mild or severe.
Insurance companies generally state that those who have recovered from a mild case may undergo the standard underwriting process one month after recovery, provided that they have made a full recovery and have no complications. They may also be required to provide medical documentation to confirm their clinical condition.
Therefore, once a doctor considers you to have recovered and determines that you have no lasting effects (that is, no so-called “long COVID” symptoms), you should in fact apply for insurance as soon as possible.
For those who have recovered from a severe case, including those who have been admitted to an intensive care unit or developed serious complications, or who have experienced more severe lasting effects, each case will be assessed individually from a medical perspective. These individuals will often be subject to stringent underwriting by insurance companies, and may still encounter difficulties purchasing insurance even after having recovered for some time.
Note: This article was last updated on 23 May 2022
This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
10Life Editorial Team
Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance
10Life Editorial Team
Our team of professional content researchers focussing on insurance
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