Home Divisions & Offices Offices Office of Epidemiology Surveillance Emerging Diseases Non-Communicable Diseases Long COVID Program

Long COVID Program

The program conducts surveillance to help determine the burden of long COVID in Harris County. People with long COVID conditions can self-report their experience using the Long COVID portal. You can participate by filling out the survey here via the Long COVID portal. Harris County Public Health invites you to take the Long COVID survey to better understand your experience and provide the community with better resources.

Who can get Long COVID

Long COVID can affect anyone who has been sick with the virus that causes COVID-19, including those with a minor sickness or no symptoms. At least 4 weeks after becoming sick with COVID-19, people with long COVID experience signs, symptoms, and conditions that may be new, come back, or do not disappear. However, some people may be more likely to get seriously sick:

  • People who have experienced more serious COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care
  • People who had underlying health conditions before COVID-19
  • People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine or are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines*
  • People from racial or ethnic minority groups due to health inequities

Children and young adults may also be more susceptible to a very rare, but serious Long COVID condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

*The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters

Symptoms

Adults

COVID -19 can affect different parts of the body and cause symptoms that either go away and come back or last for months to years. Occasionally, even new symptoms can start. People with Long COVID experience a variety of symptoms, but the following are the most common:

General symptoms

  • Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
  • Fever

Respiratory and heart symptoms

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)

Neurological symptoms

  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Headache
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Depression or anxiety

Digestive symptoms

  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea

Other symptoms

  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Changes in menstrual cycle
  • Hair Loss

People with Long COVID may develop or continue to experience symptoms that are hard to explain and difficult to treat. Some individuals may find that their Long COVID symptoms improve over time. Scientists and doctors are still learning about Long COVID and do not know if symptoms are permanent in some people.

HCPH Resources for Long COVID

The first step for helping people with Long COVID is to better understand the condition and the people impacted by it. HCPH would like to hear from community members who currently have, or have recovered from, Long COVID. If you or someone you know has experienced Long COVID, please complete this survey.