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Covid

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Original poster

Does having 'long' covid symptoms mean you're still contagious?

20 replies

RingPiece · 04/10/2020 18:53

Just that really. I know a few people who tested positive back in the summer. They've not had another test since but are still experiencing the symptoms, some mildly, some quite badly and enough to have to stay at home as feeling too ill to go out. Are they likely to be still contagious as they're still showing symptoms?

OP posts:
raddledoldmisanthropist · 04/10/2020 19:09

I am not a doctor but my understanding is not. I believe long term effects can be caused by inflammation, lung damage and possibly damage to other organs.

I don't think the virus sheds past about a week.

LeggyLinda · 04/10/2020 19:16

No

MaxNormal · 04/10/2020 19:19

No it does not.

Realitea · 04/10/2020 19:21

You’re not contagious for more than about a week. The rest is the body’s response to the virus causing the problems

Original poster
RingPiece · 04/10/2020 19:28

Great thanks, as I thought.

OP posts:
Original poster
RingPiece · 04/10/2020 19:31

Sorry, another question. I am in no way well versed in matters medical...if you still have a temperature, your body is still fighting the virus...is that correct? But you may not necessarily be still contagious if you have a temperature?

OP posts:
MajesticWhine · 04/10/2020 19:34

I think if you have a temperature you should probably consider yourself contagious. But I am not medically qualified.

JaggySplinter · 04/10/2020 19:36

We don't really know. Most people probably don't she'd love virus for more than 5 to 7 days. Done doctors think that if you have a fever you probably still are shedding live virus. Some pet (especially if immunocompromised) she'd the virus for much longer.

After a few weeks, it's probably the case that the vast majority of people aren't contagious.

Original poster
RingPiece · 04/10/2020 19:37

It would make sense, that if you have a temperature, your body still has the virus, you are still fighting it. I agree, MagesticWhine

OP posts:
shoofle · 04/10/2020 19:38

I had a temperature most days from march through to august - several doctors have assured me I was no longer contagious about two months in. Before that they were insistent I self isolate (had a cough and a whole lot of other symptoms too)

Original poster
RingPiece · 04/10/2020 19:38

It does need to be made much clearer. People should be told to only go back to work if they no longer have a temperature.

OP posts:
Original poster
RingPiece · 04/10/2020 19:41

I had a temperature most days from march through to august - several doctors have assured me I was no longer contagious about two months in. Before that they were insistent I self isolate (had a cough and a whole lot of other symptoms too)

I know people who tested positive and went back to work after 14 days isolating still feeling symptomatic and still with a temperature as that was the guidance given to them by their employers.

OP posts:
Bluewavescrashing · 04/10/2020 19:43

I think scientists and doctors are still learning about the virus. So much is unknown still.

shimmyshimmycocoapop · 04/10/2020 19:59

There are 3 young British guys that have been in lockdown in Florence for 6 weeks as they haven't yet tested negative. They need two negative tests before they can leave.

Xiaoxiong · 04/10/2020 20:02

It's so confusing. On the flip side what about people who are asymptomatic but test positive. Are they shedding the virus and for how long?

Xiaoxiong · 04/10/2020 20:02

(That's a rhetorical question as I don't think anyone knows!)

cologne4711 · 04/10/2020 20:04

That's the million dollar question OP. I know someone with long covid who was getting tested just before her son went back to school because her temperature kept spiking. Interestingly (and unfortunately) her DH also has long covid - makes you wonder what their exposure was originally (she says she got it in March, just before lockdown).

And I was reading about the guys in Italy today - it is awful for them being stuck in a small hotel room for weeks on end.

musicposy · 04/10/2020 20:05

I don’t think so. I have long Covid and as soon as I overdo it the cough comes back and for ages so did the temperature. I’ve had a recurrent sore throat ever since. I had a couple of tests when I’ve hit the worst of these dips but they’ve been negative. So I assume not.

sugarwithcoffeeandcream · 04/10/2020 20:41

I'm a HCP and we have been advised that if we have a positive test, we can only return to work once temperature-free for 48 hours, above the usual 10 days isolation. That comes from WHO advice I believe, but (this may have changed) wasn't PHE advice.

Xiaoxiong · 04/10/2020 20:56

sugar as a HCP I assume you guys are getting mass tested even if you have no symptoms - if someone is positive but asymptomatic, are they treated as having developed symptoms from that day? ie. contact trace just for the previous 2 days? Or are they treated as potentially having been incubating and shedding it for the previous 2 weeks?

There is so much about this virus that we just don't understand. Like those poor chaps in Italy, or why some people seem to be super spreaders and in other cases where a husband gets it and not his wife even if they sleep in the same bed. And yet other cases where there is a party or reception at the White House and masses of people are infected all at once by one person!

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