If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck in an endless medical limbo—pacing your energy, collecting symptoms like Pokémon, and being told “your tests are normal”—you’re not alone. And good news: a bunch of global experts finally sat down to try and agree on what Long COVID is, does, and needs. About time, right?
A new study, published in Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, brought together 179 researchers, doctors, and people living with Long COVID from 28 countries. They used a method called the Delphi process (think: fancy group decision-making) to try and make sense of this mess. And somehow, they actually agreed on 187 key statements. That’s a win.
Let’s break it down in plain English—with a dash of realism.
Wait, What Even Is Long COVID?
Experts agreed: it’s a real, complex condition. (We knew that, of course.)
Long COVID—also known as post-COVID conditions or PASC—isn’t just “feeling tired” after the flu. It affects over 400 million people globally. Yes, million. And no, there still isn’t a simple blood test to confirm it. But there is growing consensus that:
- Long COVID can affect your nervous system, heart, lungs, immune system—you name it.
- Symptoms can show up even if you had a mild or asymptomatic infection. That’s right: you didn’t imagine it.
- Children get it too, and that deserves way more attention.
Doctors: Please Get Some Training
Here’s where things got extra real. The study found that most healthcare professionals aren’t trained to properly diagnose or manage Long COVID.
Cue collective sigh from patients everywhere.
The experts strongly agreed we need:
- Better diagnostic tools and clinical guidelines.
- Specific definitions to identify subtypes of Long COVID (because it’s not one-size-fits-all).
- More education for doctors so they don’t just shrug and prescribe yoga. (Nothing against yoga. Just not a cure-all.)
The “Invisible” Problem with Big, Visible Consequences
One major takeaway? Long COVID doesn’t just affect the body—it’s shaking up entire societies.
From job losses to long-term disability to collapsing into a heap halfway through the school run, the social and economic impact is massive. And mostly ignored.
The experts said loud and clear: this deserves major research funding, public health planning, and recognition. Not just “thoughts and prayers” and another round of gaslighting.
So… What’s Next?
Here’s what the expert panel wants to see:
- Biomarkers (that’s science-speak for “actual lab tests” that show you’re sick).
- Big, proper treatment trials—not just symptom-by-symptom guesswork.
- Research into the cellular and molecular stuff, so we can understand why this happens, not just how.
And yes, they want more research into how this affects children, the economy, and marginalised communities too.
Bottom Line
This global consensus gives us a rare and hopeful thing: clarity. It’s a solid step forward in making Long COVID visible, diagnosable, and (eventually) treatable. It’s also validation for every one of us who’s ever been told to “just exercise more.”
So if you’re navigating this strange, exhausting post-viral world: take heart. The experts are catching up to what you’ve known all along. And with a bit of luck (and funding), help might not be too far off.
Source: Ewing, A.G., Joffe, D., Blitshteyn, S., et al. (2025). Long COVID clinical evaluation, research and impact on society: a global expert consensus. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 24, Article 27. Read the full article
Long Covid Journey 