Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The infection started as an outbreak of pneumonia-like symptoms in Wuhan, China. Within a few weeks, it spread across the entire globe resulting in millions of cases and thousands...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.588711/full |
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| author | Abhilash Perisetti Hemant Goyal Hemant Goyal Mahesh Gajendran Umesha Boregowda Rupinder Mann Neil Sharma Neil Sharma |
| author_facet | Abhilash Perisetti Hemant Goyal Hemant Goyal Mahesh Gajendran Umesha Boregowda Rupinder Mann Neil Sharma Neil Sharma |
| author_sort | Abhilash Perisetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The infection started as an outbreak of pneumonia-like symptoms in Wuhan, China. Within a few weeks, it spread across the entire globe resulting in millions of cases and thousands of deaths. While respiratory symptoms and complications are well-defined and can be severe, non-respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 are increasingly being recognized. Gastrointestinal manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain have been added to the list of common COVID-19 symptoms. Their prevalence has been increasing, probably due to increased recognition and experience with the pandemic. Furthermore, diarrhea and stool testing may change prevalence and transmission rates due to suspicion for fecal-oral transmission of the COVID-19. Due to this risk, various countries have started testing wastewater and sewage systems to examine its role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among communities. In this review article, we describe the common gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19, their prevalence based upon the current literature, and highlight the importance of early recognition and prompt attention. We also note the role of fecal-oral transmission. Furthermore, the mechanisms of these symptoms, the role of medications, and potential contributing factors are also elaborated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T18:33:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f864737cc514f468cee6976073006b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T18:33:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f864737cc514f468cee6976073006b02022-12-22T00:15:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2020-10-01710.3389/fmed.2020.588711588711Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19Abhilash Perisetti0Hemant Goyal1Hemant Goyal2Mahesh Gajendran3Umesha Boregowda4Rupinder Mann5Neil Sharma6Neil Sharma7Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United StatesThe Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, Scranton, PA, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, United StatesPaul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX, United StatesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY, United StatesSaint Agnes Medical Center, Academic Hospitalists, Fresno, CA, United StatesDivision of Interventional Oncology and Surgical Endoscopy (IOSE), Parkview Cancer Institute, Fort Wayne, IN, United StatesDivision of Interventional Oncology and Surgical Endoscopy, Indiana University School of Medicine, Fort Wayne, IN, United StatesCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The infection started as an outbreak of pneumonia-like symptoms in Wuhan, China. Within a few weeks, it spread across the entire globe resulting in millions of cases and thousands of deaths. While respiratory symptoms and complications are well-defined and can be severe, non-respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 are increasingly being recognized. Gastrointestinal manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain have been added to the list of common COVID-19 symptoms. Their prevalence has been increasing, probably due to increased recognition and experience with the pandemic. Furthermore, diarrhea and stool testing may change prevalence and transmission rates due to suspicion for fecal-oral transmission of the COVID-19. Due to this risk, various countries have started testing wastewater and sewage systems to examine its role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among communities. In this review article, we describe the common gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19, their prevalence based upon the current literature, and highlight the importance of early recognition and prompt attention. We also note the role of fecal-oral transmission. Furthermore, the mechanisms of these symptoms, the role of medications, and potential contributing factors are also elaborated.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.588711/fullCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2endoscopygastrointestinal symptomsdiarrheafecal-oral transmission |
| spellingShingle | Abhilash Perisetti Hemant Goyal Hemant Goyal Mahesh Gajendran Umesha Boregowda Rupinder Mann Neil Sharma Neil Sharma Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 Frontiers in Medicine COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 endoscopy gastrointestinal symptoms diarrhea fecal-oral transmission |
| title | Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 |
| title_full | Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 |
| title_short | Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Implications of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 |
| title_sort | prevalence mechanisms and implications of gastrointestinal symptoms in covid 19 |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 endoscopy gastrointestinal symptoms diarrhea fecal-oral transmission |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.588711/full |
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