Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and features of protracted COVID-19 symptoms in non-hospitalized university students who experienced mild-to-moderate acute illness. PARTICIPANTS: COVID-19 positive participants with symptoms ≥ 28 days (N = 22), herein referred to as post-COVID syndrome, were compared to those who fully recovered (N = 21) and those never diagnosed with the disease (N = 58). METHODS: Students completed online study to earn research credit for class. RESULTS: 51% of COVID-19 positive participants were classified with post-COVID syndrome. During acute illness, those with post-COVID syndrome experienced more chest pain, fatigue, fever, olfactory impairment, headaches, and diarrhea compared to fully recovered participants. They also reported more current exercise intolerance, dyspnea, chest pain, olfactory impairment, lymphadenopathy, gustatory impairment, and appetite loss than students who never contracted COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Our results contradict the perception that this yet to be defined post-COVID syndrome predominantly affects middle-aged adults. Student health centers should closely monitor those who contract COVID-19 for lingering effects.