Practical diagnosis and management of common long Covid symptoms for family physicians and primary care professionals
This page is mainly for Family Physicians (General Practitioners/GPs) practicing medicine in the community setting as a guide to help them to diagnose Long COVID in an individual. We encourage Long Haulers to read and try to understand this too, so that they might educate and guide their Family Physician to help them in the right way. Long Haulers and GPs will also find useful the “How to Talk to Your Doctor about a Long COVID Assessment”
As a busy Family Physician myself, I often need a page that I can quickly glance at in my short, allotted time that will give me a quick clue of approach before my patient comes through the door. The two best guides that I have found so far to do this are:
Long COVID – An Update for Primary Care by Trish Greenhaigh et al; published in the BMJ.
Dr Ric Arseneau’s Primary Care Toolkit
Both guides are detailed below and are easy to follow. The red flag signs not to miss on the BMJ chart are particularly useful.
My suggestion is if your patient presents for the first time suspecting that they have Long COVID and you are blind-sided, then please listen to them and do the following:
- Take note, reassure them that they are believed and that their distress is real.
- Inform them that you will need some time to look up their condition.
- Explain that it will take several visits to work through their symptoms that they should book the next visit in advance, agree on a follow up time.
- There is no cure for Long COVID but that you can help and can work with them to bring relief.
- You will have a good means of approach at the next visit.
Long Covid Diagram
Dr Ric Arseneau’s Primary Care Toolkit
A toolkit of diagnosis and management help for primary care professionals.
3. Sit / Stand Test (Rapid exercise tests for exertional desaturation)
3. NASA Lean Test for POTS and NMH
4. Baseline Testing and Evaluation
5. Medication and Treatment Handouts
A list of all medications and treatments as individual handouts
Credible sources:
