People may suffer ‘long colds’ more than four weeks after infection, study shows

Results showed 22% of people with Covid-19 suffered prolonged symptoms after infection, as did 22% of those who had an infection that was not Covid. Photograph: Tero Vesalainen/Alamy

Scientists say they have found evidence that people may experience “long colds”, acute respiratory infections with long-term symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms include coughing, stomach pain, and diarrhoea more than four weeks after the initial infection. The severity of an illness appears to be a key driver of risk of long-term symptoms.