Does long COVID have the same symptoms as chronic fatigue syndrome?

Symptoms in these two conditions are not identical. For example, loss of smell and cough are more common among people with long COVID than with chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis).

However, there is a lot of overlap between symptoms of long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome. For example, either condition may cause:

• difficulty concentrating, poor memory, “brain fog”

• muscle and joint aches

• severe fatigue

• anxiety and depression

• exercise intolerance or a worsening of symptoms after physical exertion

• symptoms that begin suddenly after a viral infection

The specific cause of these symptoms in these conditions and the optimal treatment remain uncertain.