Posted on 03/19/2020 2:26:31 PM PDT by Red Badger
Almost half of coronavirus patients have digestive symptoms, study finds
By Robert Preidt
March 19, 2020 / 4:40 PM / HealthDay
Diarrhea and other digestive symptoms are the main complaint in nearly half of coronavirus patients, Chinese researchers report. Most patients with the coronavirus have respiratory symptoms, but these findings from the early stages of the outbreak show that digestive problems are prevalent in many patients with COVID-19.
"Clinicians must bear in mind that digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, may be a presenting feature of COVID-19, and that the index of suspicion may need to be raised earlier in these cases rather than waiting for respiratory symptoms to emerge," wrote the investigators from the Wuhan Medical Treatment Expert Group for COVID-19.
The researchers analyzed data from 204 COVID-19 patients, average age nearly 55, who were admitted to three hospitals in the Hubei province between Jan. 18 and Feb. 28, 2020. The average time from symptom onset to hospital admission was 8.1 days.
However, the finding showed that patients with digestive symptoms had a longer time from symptom onset to hospital admission than patients without digestive symptoms, 9 days versus 7.3 days.
This suggests that patients with digestive symptoms sought care later because they didn't yet suspect they had COVID-19 due to a lack of respiratory symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, the researchers explained.
Think you have coronavirus symptoms? Here's what to do
Patients with digestive symptoms had a variety of problems, including loss of appetite (nearly 84%), diarrhea (29%), vomiting (0.8%) and abdominal pain (0.4%).
Seven of the patients in the study had digestive symptoms but no respiratory symptoms.
As the severity of the disease increased, digestive symptoms became more serious, the researchers found.
Patients without digestive symptoms were more likely to be cured and discharged than those with digestive symptoms (60% versus 34%), according to the study published March 18 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Almost half of coronavirus patients have digestive symptoms, study finds
By Robert Preidt
March 19, 2020 / 4:40 PM / HealthDay
Diarrhea and other digestive symptoms are the main complaint in nearly half of coronavirus patients, Chinese researchers report. Most patients with the coronavirus have respiratory symptoms, but these findings from the early stages of the outbreak show that digestive problems are prevalent in many patients with COVID-19.
"Clinicians must bear in mind that digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, may be a presenting feature of COVID-19, and that the index of suspicion may need to be raised earlier in these cases rather than waiting for respiratory symptoms to emerge," wrote the investigators from the Wuhan Medical Treatment Expert Group for COVID-19.
The researchers analyzed data from 204 COVID-19 patients, average age nearly 55, who were admitted to three hospitals in the Hubei province between Jan. 18 and Feb. 28, 2020. The average time from symptom onset to hospital admission was 8.1 days. Coronavirus: The Race To Respond ›
How to help small businesses survive coronavirus Coronavirus to stop astronaut's family from attending launch McConnell previews massive "phase 3" coronavirus stimulus bill How to help workers going without pay in coronavirus crisis
More in Coronavirus: The Race To Respond
However, the finding showed that patients with digestive symptoms had a longer time from symptom onset to hospital admission than patients without digestive symptoms, 9 days versus 7.3 days.
This suggests that patients with digestive symptoms sought care later because they didn't yet suspect they had COVID-19 due to a lack of respiratory symptoms, such as cough or shortness of breath, the researchers explained.
Think you have coronavirus symptoms? Here's what to do
Patients with digestive symptoms had a variety of problems, including loss of appetite (nearly 84%), diarrhea (29%), vomiting (0.8%) and abdominal pain (0.4%).
Seven of the patients in the study had digestive symptoms but no respiratory symptoms.
As the severity of the disease increased, digestive symptoms became more serious, the researchers found.
Patients without digestive symptoms were more likely to be cured and discharged than those with digestive symptoms (60% versus 34%), according to the study published March 18 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
If doctors only monitor for respiratory symptoms to diagnose COVID-19, they may miss cases that initially present with other symptoms, or the disease may not be diagnosed until after respiratory symptoms emerge, the authors explained.
"In this study, COVID-19 patients with digestive symptoms have a worse clinical outcome and higher risk of [death] compared to those without digestive symptoms, emphasizing the importance of including symptoms like diarrhea to suspect COVID-19 early in the disease course before respiratory symptoms develop," Dr. Brennan Spiegel, journal co-editor-in-chief, said in a journal news release.
"This may lead to earlier diagnosis of COVID-19, which can lead to earlier treatment and more expeditious quarantine to minimize transmission from people who otherwise remain undiagnosed," Spiegel said.
Another Chinese report we’re supposed to treat as gospel.
Are the CDC and NIH in China yet?
If not, nuff said.
I had the squirts just the other day, coincidence?
So know every one who ate at Taco Bell is going to want to be tested?
Patients who are sheltering in place and eating mostly twinkies, baked beans, pork rinds and high fiber cereal had a variety of digestive problems, including emotionally driven and ravenous appetites (nearly 84%), diarrhea from a diet of chemicals and sugars (29%), vomiting when shooting whiskey after snacks (0.8%) and abdominal pain, because, DUH! (0.4%).
Almost half of coronavirus patients are convinced Tom Hanks gave them Coronavirus.
Gas station sushi....................
LOL!
Needed that!
Diarrhea or diarrhea diarrhea?
My dog had diarrhea diarrhea for 5 days last week. He’s fine now.
Is there anything this virus can’t do?
3 points...
1) This could be true. Severe influenza, for instance, has been known to cause diarrhea.
2) This could be psyops on the part of the ChiComs.
3) It could be both.
There’s a reason the ChiComs have refused to allow the CDC and NIH in.
I’ve sodding had it with the expletive-deleted ChiComs.
I know. They saw all of the “This is the Walking Dead Apocalypse” over the top histrionic media coverage and they all messed themselves.
There was another case earlier, American IIRC who had diarrhea as a presenting, first symptom. It struck me because the only patient I ever saw die from Legionella started out with diarrhea before the respiratory symptoms. By two days. You can’t always just dismiss diarrhea it can be the start of something much bigger.
Never dismiss diarrhea.
From anything. :-)
But how many people think of “respiratory illness” when the chief complaint is diarrhea?
Likely the medicos will.
And with WuFlu testing becoming widely available, hopefully it won’t be an issue. If there’s a risk, test. :-)
I’m not sure the CDC could have figured that even if they were allowed in China. ... and if they did, they would have announced it maybe in May, based on their test kit lag fiasco.
It’s getting right up there with all powerful, global warming.
This is surprising because? Swallowing mucous would cause digestive symptoms.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.