How long does vivid go for

But some people — even those who had mild versions of the disease — continue to experience symptoms after their initial recovery. Older people and people with many serious medical conditions are the most likely to experience lingering COVID symptoms, but even young, otherwise healthy people can feel unwell for weeks to months after infection.

Common signs and symptoms that linger over time include:. Although COVID is seen as a disease that primarily affects the lungs, it can also damage many other organs, including the heart, kidneys and the brain. In some people, lasting health effects may include long-term breathing problems, heart complications, chronic kidney impairment, stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis.

In this condition, some organs and tissues become severely inflamed. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. COVID can make blood cells more likely to clump up and form clots.

While large clots can cause heart attacks and strokes, much of the heart damage caused by COVID is believed to stem from very small clots that block tiny blood vessels capillaries in the heart muscle. Other parts of the body affected by blood clots include the lungs, legs, liver and kidneys.

COVID can also weaken blood vessels and cause them to leak, which contributes to potentially long-lasting problems with the liver and kidneys. People who have severe symptoms of COVID often have to be treated in a hospital's intensive care unit, with mechanical assistance such as ventilators to breathe. Simply surviving this experience can make a person more likely to later develop post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression and anxiety.

Because it's difficult to predict long-term outcomes from the new COVID virus, scientists are looking at the long-term effects seen in related viruses, such as the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS. Many people who have recovered from SARS have gone on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, a complex disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. Researchers recommend that doctors closely monitor people who have had COVID to see how their organs are functioning after recovery.

Many large medical centers are opening specialized clinics to provide care for people who have persistent symptoms or related illnesses after they recover from COVID Support groups are available as well. Precautions include wearing masks, social distancing, avoiding crowds, getting a vaccine when available and keeping hands clean.

These particles can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby and possibly be inhaled into the lungs. In some circumstances, such as indoor settings with poor ventilation, small particles might be spread further than 6 feet and cause infections. Although most spread is by inhalation, it may be possible that a person can get infected by touching for example, shaking hands with someone who has the virus on their hands or by touching a surface or object that has virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes.

Both flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID can be spread to others by people before they begin showing symptoms; by people with very mild symptoms; and by people who never experience symptoms asymptomatic people. This means the virus that causes COVID can quickly and easily spread to a lot of people and result in continual spreading among people as time progresses.

Those at highest risk include:. Most people who get flu will recover on their own in a few days to two weeks, but some people will experience severe complications , requiring hospitalization. Some of these complications are listed above. People at higher risk of complications or who have been hospitalized for COVID or flu should receive supportive medical care to help relieve symptoms and complications.

Prescription influenza antiviral drugs are FDA-approved to treat flu. People who are hospitalized with flu or who are at increased risk of complications and have flu symptoms are recommended to be treated with antiviral drugs as soon as possible after illness onset.

FDA has issued emergency use authorizations external icon EUAs to allow healthcare providers to use investigational products that are not yet approved, or that are approved for other uses, to treat patients with COVID if certain legal requirements are met external icon. There are multiple FDA-licensed influenza vaccines produced annually to protect against the 4 flu viruses that scientists expect will circulate each year.

To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Influenza Flu. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. An aerosol is a fine mist of liquid suspended in a gas, such as air. However, some factors, such as air temperature and humidity, may also play an important role. A June review notes that other coronaviruses survive for longer in colder, less humid air. The study on surfaces also did not consider how the virus might travel through the air in everyday situations.

SARS-CoV-2 spreads via respiratory droplets, which are tiny drops of liquid that enter the air when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

A May study found that loudly talking can emit thousands of these droplets into the air, remaining airborne for around 8—14 minutes in a confined space.

The World Health Organization WHO state that coronaviruses need a live animal or human host to survive, and that they cannot multiply on food packaging surfaces. The WHO suggest washing fruits and vegetables as normal and washing hands thoroughly before eating. If a person believes they have symptoms of COVID, or they may have been exposed to the virus that causes it, they should self-isolate in their home and call a doctor. Do not visit a healthcare facility without calling ahead first.

The best way to prevent COVID and stop transmission to others is to avoid exposure to the virus that causes it. The CDC recommend:. People can transmit SARS-CoV-2 even if they do not feel sick, so it is essential to follow these guidelines at all times, wherever possible. In people with severe illness, it may last up to 20 days. In some people, low levels of the virus are detectable in the body for up to 3 months, but by this time, a person cannot transmit it to others.

There is currently no evidence the virus can survive in food, but early evidence suggests it may last several hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel. However, this does not necessarily mean the virus detected on these materials can trigger an infection. Scientists are still studying how long SARS-CoV-2 can last on surfaces and clothes, and how it can travel through the air.