How long does COVID last? Here’s when experts say you'll start to feel better.

The duration of a person's recovery from the virus and the body's response to COVID-19 will differ from person to person.

According to Nemours Children's Health, Florida's primary care pediatrician Dr. Christopher P. Culler, MD, recovery from COVID-19 will always be "patient dependent." After one week of being infected, most people start to feel better, but some people may continue to experience symptoms months later.

In discussion with specialists, here's an update on the normal Coronavirus side effects to pay special attention to, when you ought to anticipate that the infection should clear up, and when to see a specialist.

What is the timetable for Coronavirus side effects?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States state that people who are infected with COVID-19 may experience a wide range of symptoms, some of which are mild and others are severe.

The Coronavirus XEC variation is the following development of Coronavirus, says Culler. Right now, no exceptional side effects have been connected to the XEC variation, he says.

Coronavirus side effects show up inside two to 14 days after the start of disease, per the CDC. According to Culler, people infected with COVID-19 will begin to experience a general malaise at the onset of their symptoms, which will be followed by fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, a cough, and headaches. He claims that these symptoms are a part of a "common basket of symptoms" that are also typical of upper respiratory infections like the flu or RSV.

Culler adds that COVID-19 symptoms typically peak between three and five days after infection, but this will vary from patient to patient.

As per the CDC, normal side effects of Coronavirus include:

Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion, or runny nose, new taste or smell loss, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea, or vomiting, diarrhea,

According to Culler, COVID-19 is comparable to other viruses in that "you can continue to shed [the] virus long after your symptoms have resolved." After seven days, could someone still be infected with COVID-19? The response is most likely yes," he says.

According to Dr. Francesca Torriani, MD, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health, when the virus is being excreted (days three to five), you are most contagious with COVID-19.

According to Torriani, your vaccination status likely has an impact on how long you will be infectious after contracting COVID-19. The refreshed immunizations, which target circling variations, considerably decline the seriousness of the illness whenever tainted, concentrates on show.

According to Torriani, most people recover from COVID-19 infection seven to ten days later. In any case, people who are more seasoned or have compromised safe frameworks might shed the infection for longer. Hence, it is suggested that immunocompromised people seclude for a more extended time frame, she says.

What is the duration of COVID-19?

Recovery times will vary depending on whether you had a mild or severe case of COVID-19.

According to Torriani, mild cases of COVID-19 last "in general, we would say that it's for about two weeks." She makes the observation that you will likely begin to feel better five to seven days after the onset of symptoms.

After the initial infection, some people may experience COVID-19 symptoms that last for weeks or months. In 2022, 6.9% of US grown-ups answered to have encountered long Coronavirus, as per a CDC overview. Long-term COVID-related symptoms include: according to the NHS, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle aches, and "brain fog"

When to see a doctor about COVID-19, according to Torriani: "Do not hesitate to reach out to your primary care provider if you are running a high fever, experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, or any other COVID-19 symptoms that are not improving."