Impact of COVID-19 on digestive health, here are the symptoms to watch out for
How does COVID-19 impact gut health?
Given that the second wave of coronavirus is driven by different mutations, it is likely that SARs-COV-2 virus can penetrate through healthy cells and may even dodge antibodies of those who have recovered from the infection. That said, many COVID patients are being affected by varied kinds of COVID symptoms, common and unusual ones, and it becomes all the more important to identify as many symptoms as we can to curb the spread and minimise hospitalisation risks.
Digestive issues and complications have also been recorded in many of the COVID patients. Individuals have complained of many gastrointestinal problems, even after having recovered, which is why it is important to find out how COVID-19 affects the gastrointestinal tract.
COVID-19 can affect our digestive health
Although COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, it can affect various parts of our body. Besides affecting the lungs, it also has the potential to cause gastrointestinal complications. According to a Lancet study early last year, just one of the 41 patients admitted in a hospital in Wuhan, China, reported diarrhea as a symptom of COVID, while 98 percent reported fever. This somehow strike gastrointestinal symptoms off the symptoms chart. However, in June 2020, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting were listed as primary symptoms of COVID.
While SARs-COV-2 virus enters and infects the respiratory tracts, causing cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty in breathing, it can attach itself to the ACE2 receptors that sit in the cellular membranes of the cells lining many of the organs, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Common gastrointestinal symptoms associated with COVID-19
While more research on how COVID-19 affects gut health is needed, there are various indicators of gastrointestinal infections caused due to the deadly virus. The symptoms of gastrointestinal problems may vary from one person to another, but there are some signs that are extremely prevalent in COVID-19 patients. Following are some of the most experienced digestive issues faced in patients suffering with the novel coronavirus.
Diarrhea and abdominal pain
Research has found that 1 in 5 COVID patients develop upset stomach caused either due to diarrhea and abdominal pain. Also, certain studies have shown that coronavirus patients who develop these symptoms take longer than others to filter the virus out of their bodies.
Loss of appetite
COVID-19 can be very discomforting and can impact your eating habits. Especially if you're experiencing a loss of sense of smell and taste, there is a high chance you'll lose your appetite as well. According to a research conducted in China, 80 percent of COVID-19 patients in the country reported experiencing a loss of appetite.
Nausea
Given that people with gastrointestinal issues suffer with loss of appetite and a certain discomfort in their bowels, this can often trigger nausea and a feeling of vomiting. As per a research conducted in Wuhan, 10% of COVID-19 patients develop nausea and diarrhoea 2 days before developing a fever.
Steps to take
In case you experience any of the symptoms and have fever, cough and fatigue to make matters worse, then you need to get yourself tested. Until then, isolate yourself from others and follow all precautionary measures, so as to contain the spread of the virus.