Scientists have reviewed nearly 36 studies and found that one out of five COVID19 patients might suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms only during the infection, such as diarrhea, nausea, appetite loss, vomiting, and stomach pain. These studies have included thousands of COVID19 patients. Experts have underestimated the number of patients who have been dealing with such symptoms, as people have not been reporting their symptoms correctly in the early stage of the pandemic. Health experts have as well been clueless at that time about what to look for. This analysis has been done by experts from the University of Alberta in Canada. They have said that the findings suggest that health professionals need to consider these symptoms as possible signs of COVID19.
The co-author of the study Dr. Mitch Wilson has said that having these symptoms does not prove that a patient is infected with COVID19. However, these symptoms can take place due to many potential causes and one of them can be an infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He has said that during this time, when the virus is quite prevalent, we need to be extra cautious and consult a doctor as soon as we start having these symptoms. Earlier, scientists and doctors have said that fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, and fatigue are common symptoms of COVID19, however, new evidence confirms that people with COVID19 infection can have gastrointestinal issues, heart issues, and cognitive decline as well. One out of 36 studies has found that more than 50 percent of nearly 204 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19 in China have been dealing with digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Another study, which has included nearly 4234 COVID19 patients in the US, has found that 18 percent of these patients have been diagnosed with gastrointestinal symptoms. The review of these studies has reported that 18 percent of patients who have been included in the study have shown these symptoms along with other common signs of COVID19. At the same time, nearly 16 percent of them have been diagnosed with only gastrointestinal symptoms.
