Since the coronavirus first began spreading in the Hubei province in China, health officials have been closely monitoring patient symptoms in order to better inform the public of what symptoms to look for in themselves and their loved ones.

The virus is a respiratory illness, and the main symptoms reported by patients and clinicians appear to be fever, cough, and shortness of breath [1]. A recent report, however, revealed that diarrhea and digestive symptoms are present in nearly half of all COVID-19 patients [2].

Digestive Symptoms the Main Complaint

The study, which was published on March 17 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, collected data from 204 COVID-19 patients from three hospitals in China to examine symptoms.

The researchers discovered that 48.5 percent of patients who presented at the hospital reported digestive problems as their main complaint, as opposed to respiratory problems. They also noted that the amount of time between when their symptoms began and when they were admitted to the hospital was longer than patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms. This is likely because they didn’t realize their symptoms were indicative of the novel coronavirus. 

Digestive symptoms could include loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain [3].

The researchers stated that doctors and other medical professionals need to be more aware that these symptoms exist, and need to test these patients sooner.

Read: Health Officials: Smoking, Vaping, And Substance Abuse May Worsen COVID-19 Symptoms

“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,” the investigators wrote [2].

Additionally, the study found that patients who presented with digestive symptoms had worse clinical incomes than patients who did not, and showed a 34 percent likelihood of being cured and discharged. Conversely, patients who did not experience digestive problems had a sixty percent chance [2].

The reason for this, according to the researchers, is that if doctors only look for respiratory symptoms when diagnosing COVID-19, they could miss cases that initially present with other symptoms. This delays diagnosis, which puts these patients at a higher risk of mortality from the virus.

Dr. Brennan Spiegel, journal co-editor-in-chief, commented on the research:

“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,” he said [2].

He highlighted that this could lead to earlier diagnosis, which not only expedites treatment but also patient quarantine to minimize the spread to others [2].

Read: Researchers: People With Blood Type A May Be More Vulnerable To Coronavirus

How to Determine you Might Have COVID-19

The only way to determine with certainty that you have COVID-19 is to be tested at a healthcare facility by a medical professional. In order to relieve the stress on our healthcare system, you should self-monitor, and only call a doctor if you suspect you might have the virus. These symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• A cough that becomes more severe over time
• A low-grade fever that gradually increases in temperature
• Digestive distress, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea [4,5]

What to Do if You Show Symptoms

If you believe you have the coronavirus, you should contact your doctor or clinic right away. It is important to call ahead so they can prepare for your arrival and put measures in place to protect their staff as well as other patients [6].

Once you have contacted your healthcare provider, they will be able to give you instructions with regard to what to do next. Based on your risk, they may recommend that you continue to monitor your symptoms and call back if they worsen, stay home and await further instructions, report to a designated facility for evaluation and treatment, or go to an emergency department if your symptoms are more severe [7].

You should also contact your doctor right away if you have been exposed to someone who you know has the virus, or if you’ve recently traveled to an area with ongoing community spread [4].

While at home, you should quarantine yourself to a separate room to avoid spreading the virus to the other members of your household. If possible, you should also use a separate bathroom [6].

Read: Experts: Loss Of Taste, Smell Could Be Early Symptoms Of Coronavirus

Wash Your Hands and Stay Home

Even if you are not showing any symptoms, and have not come into contact with anyone who has the virus, you should remain home as much as possible, avoid even small groups of people, and ensure that you are washing your hands regularly.

You should also clean and disinfect commonly-touched surfaces in your home, including your cell phone, since the virus has been shown to stay on surfaces for a few hours up to several days [4].

Currently, the only defense we have against the virus is social isolation, so the best thing you can do for the health of yourself, your family, and your community, is to stay home to slow down the spread of the virus.

Keep Reading: You Can Kill Coronavirus With These Common Household Cleaners

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