scholarly journals Gastrointestinal symptoms as antecedent signs of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-325
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Młodożeniec ◽  
◽  
Paulina Szul ◽  
Agnieszka Gala-Błądzińska ◽  
◽  
...  

Introduction. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‑CoV‑2). Most patients present with typical, respiratory symptoms. Common signs include cough, fever, dyspnea and shortness of breath. In this case we provide atypical indications of COVID-19, which may occur earlier than respiratory symptoms. Aim. This case is an example of an unusual course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Description of the case. This article describes a case of a 63-year-old man and his wife, a 60-year old woman who were admitted to the emergency department with a few days’ history of gastrointestinal symptoms. Both patients presented with the digestive symptoms of nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite. They denied abdominal pain and the loss of smell or taste. Due to suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection a nasopharyngeal swabs of both patients was taken. The results of real- time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were positive. When the final diagnosis of COVID-19 was established they were transported to another hospital. Conclusion. COVID-19 may manifest with atypical indications such a nausea and diarrhea. An atypical indications of COVID-19 may occur earlier than respiratory symptoms. It is important for clinicians to remain alert.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahzaib Ahmad ◽  
Rahim Nadeem Ahmed ◽  
Poonam Jani ◽  
Mattee Ullah ◽  
Hossam Aboulgheit

Abstract Efforts to recognize SARS–CoV-2 infection have focused on respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Although it is also well known that SARS–CoV-2 infection can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, there are emerging reports of SARS–CoV-2 infection causing surgical pathology. We present the first case report of SARS–CoV-2 infection directly causing acute appendicitis, first suspected due to highly atypical histological features and later confirmed as polymerase chain reaction positive appendicular tissue sample.


BJR|Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20200052
Author(s):  
Damiano Caruso ◽  
Marta Zerunian ◽  
Francesco Pucciarelli ◽  
Elena Lucertini ◽  
Benedetta Bracci ◽  
...  

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory syndrome caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first described in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the last months of 2019 and then declared as a pandemic. Typical symptoms are represented by fever, cough, dyspnea and fatigue, but SARS-CoV-2 infection can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite) or be totally asymptomatic. As reported in literature, many patients with COVID-19 pneumonia had a secondary abdominal involvement (bowel, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, liver, kidneys), confirmed by laboratory tests and also by radiological features. Usually the diagnosis of COVID-19 is suspected and then confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), after the examination of the lung bases of patients, admitted to the emergency department with abdominal symptoms and signs, who underwent abdominal-CT. The aim of this review is to describe the typical and atypical abdominal imaging findings in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection reported since now in literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S293-S293
Author(s):  
Bethany E Ho ◽  
Andrea P Ho ◽  
Michaela A Ho ◽  
Elizabeth C Ho

Abstract Background Patients with COVID-19 most commonly report respiratory symptoms, with a minority reporting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in currently available reports. Additionally, little is known about the symptoms of anosmia/hyposmia, ageusia, and dysgeusia anecdotally seen in COVID-19 patients, which may be considered both GI and sensory/neurological manifestations of infection. Methods We interviewed 7 patients via oral inquiries and a questionnaire, collecting data on subject symptoms and their durations. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm 2 of these cases. Results We report a familial cluster of 7 COVID-19 cases, 5 of whom reported sensory symptoms of anosmia/hyposmia (5/7), ageusia/hypogeusia (5/7), and/or dysgeusia (3/7). All 7 cases reported GI involvement with one or more symptom of: nausea (5/7), diarrhea (4/7), abdominal pain (3/7), anorexia (3/7), and emesis (2/7). Figure 1. Timeline of Symptoms and Exposure to Index Case in Familial COVID-19 Cluster Conclusion This frequency of GI symptoms is high relative to currently available epidemiological reports, which also infrequently report on sensory symptoms. The mechanistic underpinnings of GI and sensory symptoms in COVID-19 warrant close consideration and analysis, especially as it relates to reducing disease transmission. COVID-19 exhibits wide variation in duration, severity, and progression of symptoms, even within a familial cluster. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 030006052095225
Author(s):  
Chun-Yang Wu ◽  
Xiao-Pin Yu ◽  
Ada Hoi Yan Ma ◽  
Li-Ping Wang ◽  
Nai-Bin Yang ◽  
...  

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019, an epidemic has spread rapidly worldwide. COVID-19 is caused by the highly infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. A 42-year-old woman presented to hospital who was suffering from epigastric discomfort and dyspepsia for the past 5 days. Before the onset of symptoms, she was healthy, and had no travel history to Wuhan or contact with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases. An examination showed chronic superficial gastritis with erosion and esophagitis. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen showed a lesion in the right lower lobe of the lungs. Chest computed tomography showed multiple ground-glass opacity in the lungs. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. There was no improvement after antibiotic treatment. Polymerase chain reaction performed 2 days later was positive and she was diagnosed with COVID-19. After several days of antiviral and symptomatic treatments, her symptoms improved and she was discharged. None of the medical staff were infected. Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are nonspecific, making differentiating it from other diseases difficult. This case shows the sequence in which symptoms developed in a patient with COVID-19 with gastrointestinal symptoms as initial manifestations.


Author(s):  
Alicia Rodriguez-Pla ◽  
Holenarasipur R. Vikram ◽  
Vanood Khalid ◽  
Lewis J. Wesselius

AbstractA 77-year-old man with past medical history of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) on rituximab and prednisone, presented to the hospital with worsening cough and shortness of breath. He had tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by nasal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) while asymptomatic, 6 weeks earlier. He started with cough and shortness of breath 2 weeks after his initial positive test. After developing symptoms, he tested negative twice by nasal swab PCR, but the PCR of his bronchioloalveolar lavage was positive for SARS-CoV-2. He did not develop antibodies against coronavirus. Prednisone 15 mg daily was continued, and he received remdesivir, and convalescent plasma with quick recovery. We reviewed the literature to search for similar cases. Our case suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients on rituximab may have an atypical presentation and the diagnosis may be delayed due to negative PCR testing in the nasal swab. Patients may benefit from treatment with convalescent plasma.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
Sutaryono Sutaryono ◽  
Sholikhah Deti Andasari ◽  
Heru Subaris Kasjono

COVID-19 has experienced an increase in 2,995,758 positive cases and 204,987 deaths, in distribution areas of more than 213 countries. This research using a systematic literature review, policy brief, and internet-based questionnaire with the aim of finding out the diagnosis and epidemiology of Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Indonesia. The cases in Indonesia have reached 9,771 and killed 784 people, possibly as many as 19 cases are asymptomatic but can be carriers of the virus. The diagnosis is carried out by rapid testing and using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of the patients diagnosed were aged 30-49 years (38.91%), the highest accompanying diseases were hypertension (34.85%), diabetes mellitus (25.76%), and cardiac disease (17.05%). The most signs and symptoms are that the patient has a cough, shortness of breath, and has a history of internal medicine and fever. Based on sex mostly experienced by men (58.94%) compared to women (41.06%), 60.4% of the community is still active outside the home. The Government of Indonesia is making efforts to reduce the COVID 19 outbreak by implementing a health protocol and a Large-scale Social Restrictions or “Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB)” policy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110110
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Aun Raza ◽  
Ayesha Iftikhar ◽  
Aamir Khan ◽  
Shahzaib Khan ◽  
...  

Health care personnel (HCP) are at high risk for coronavirus disease-2019 acquisition. Serum antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) indicate past infection. Our institution offered SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to HCP. We surveyed HCP with positive test results to explore past exposure to SARS-CoV-2, details of symptoms during the preceding 6 months, and a history of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing. A total of 2162 HCP underwent antibody testing. Eight hundred fifty-seven (39.6%) employees tested positive and, of these, 820 (95.7%) participated in the survey. When adjusted for age, males had higher odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared with females (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.37-2.05; P = .00) and clinical staff had higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity compared with nonclinical staff (OR = 1.273; 95% CI = 1.06-1.53; P = .01). Implementation of effective infection control measures is essential to protect HCP from coronavirus disease-2019.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
Hagen Frickmann ◽  
Juliane Alker ◽  
Jessica Hansen ◽  
Juan Carlos Dib ◽  
Andrés Aristizabal ◽  
...  

Fecal-orally transmitted cyclosporiasis is frequent in remote resource-limited settings in Central and South America with poor hygiene conditions. In this study, we aimed at assessing seasonal effects on the epidemiology of colonization or infection with C. cayetanensis in Colombian indigenous people living under very restricted conditions. In the rainy season between July and November and in the dry season between January and April, stool samples from indigenous people with and without gastrointestinal symptoms were collected and screened for C. cayetanensis applying in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the rainy season and in the dry season, positive PCR results were observed for 11.8% (16/136) and 5.1% (15/292), respectively, with cycle threshold (Ct) values of 30.6 (±3.4) and 34.4 (±1.6), respectively. Despite higher parasite loads in the rainy season, fewer individuals (2/16, 12.5%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms compared to the dry season (6/15, 40%). In conclusion, considerable prevalence of C. cayetanensis in Colombian indigenous people persists in the dry season. Low proportions of gastrointestinal symptoms along with higher parasite loads make colonization likely rather than infection.


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