Two new long Covid symptoms officially added to list of warning signs - see in full

Hair loss and a reduced sex drive have been added to the list of symptoms caused by long Covid.

Scientists from the University of Birmingham analysed anonymised electronic health records of 2.4 million Brits, including 486,000 who had caught Covid.

The most common symptoms include loss of smell, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Others included loss of libido and hair.

Senior author Dr Shamil Haroon is associate clinical professor in public health at the University of Birmingham.

He said: “This research validates what patients have been telling clinicians and policy makers throughout the pandemic - that the symptoms of long Covid are extremely broad and cannot be fully accounted for by other factors such as lifestyle risk factors or chronic health conditions.

The most common symptoms include loss of smell, shortness of breath and chest pain, while others included loss of libido and hair (Getty Images)

“The symptoms we identified should help clinicians and clinical guideline developers to improve the assessment of patients with long-term effects from Covid-19, and to subsequently consider how this symptom burden can be best managed.”

People who tested positive for the virus reported 62 symptoms much more frequently 12 weeks after initial infection than those who had not contracted the virus, the study found.

Hair loss and a reduced sex drive have been added to the list of symptoms caused by long Covid (Getty Images/PhotoAlto)

The Office for National Statistics estimates two million people in the UK have long Covid, but scientists are still trying to understand how disease causes the lasting symptoms.

Around 90 specialist long Covid clinics have been set up to tackle what experts fear will be a lasting health legacy of the pandemic.

The NHS list of recognised Covid symptoms includes fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, and brain fog.

The most common symptoms include loss of smell, shortness of breath and chest pain (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, details have been released about the Covid-19 Inquiry, which the Prime Minister has previously been accused of trying to stall.

The Government formally launched the inquiry at the end of last month - days after bereaved families threatened legal action over delays.

Former High Court judge Baroness Heather Hallett, who will be heading the probe into the UK's response to the pandemic, warned the key witnesses and organisations this week that she will not hold back if they try to "stand in the way".

The Prime Minister is likely to face uncomfortable questions about his handling of the Covid crisis (PA)

Families who lost loved ones to Covid hope the investigation can provide closure, while Baroness Hallett voiced hopes that it will help the UK better prepare for future pandemics.

But she warned that it will be some time before the full findings are published, because of the wide remit of the inquiry.

Lady Hallett announced that the inquiry would be divided into modules, allowing for updates to be issued on a more regular basis. The first would focus on the UK's level of preparedness.

There will be a preliminary hearing on September 20, Baroness Hallett said, with public hearings next spring.