The number of people suffering ‘debilitating’ long-term symptoms from ‘long Covid’ is expected to rise, academics have said – warning that the condition could in fact be as many as four different syndromes.

Researchers from the National Institute for Health Research conducted a review examining reports for those with ongoing coronavirus symptoms who were still unable to work, study or care for dependents several months after their initial coronavirus infection.

The syndromes were categorised broadly as: post intensive care syndrome, post viral fatigue syndrome, permanent organ damage and long term Covid syndrome. But researchers say it is also possible to suffer from more than one of the problems simultaneously.