Covid-19 only emerged at the end of 2019, but already there are signs it may take a long time for some patients to get back to full health. Recovery time will depend on how sick you become in the first place. Some people will shrug off the illness fast, but for others it could leave lasting problems. Age, gender and other health issues all increase the risk of becoming more seriously ill from Covid-19. The more invasive the treatment you receive, and the longer it is performed, the longer recovery is likely to take. What if I have only mild symptoms? Most people who get Covid-19 will develop only the main symptoms - a cough or fever. But they could experience body aches, fatigue, sore throat and headache. The cough is initially dry, but some people will eventually start coughing up mucus containing dead lung cells killed by the virus. These symptoms are treated with bed rest, plenty of fluids and pain relief such as paracetamol. People with mild symptoms should make a good and speedy recovery. The fever should settle in less than a week, although the cough may linger. A World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of Chinese data says it takes two weeks on average to recover. What if I have more serious symptoms? The disease can become much more serious for some. This tends to happen about seven to 10 days into the infection. The transformation can be sudden. Breathing becomes difficult and the lungs get inflamed. This is because although the body's immune system is trying to fight back - it's actually overreacting and the body experiences collateral damage. Some people will need to be in hospital for oxygen therapy. GP Sarah Jarvis says: "The shortness of breath may take some considerable time to improve... the body is getting over scarring and inflammation." She says it could take two to eight weeks to recover, with tiredness lingering.