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Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients With Gastrointestinal Symptoms : An Analysis of Seven Patients in China

Ai, Jin Wei ; Zi, Hao ; Wang, Yong ; Huang, Qiao ; Wang, Na ; Li, Lu Yao ; Pei, Bin ; Ji, Jianguang LU orcid and Zeng, Xian Tao (2020) In Frontiers in Medicine 7.
Abstract

Objectives: Patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial symptoms or as the main manifestations during disease progression, but the clinical characteristics of these patients are still unknown. Methods: We identified COVID-19 patients who admitted to Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial or main symptoms. Their medical records were reviewed by two independent clinical scientists. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among 142 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7 (4.9%) of them presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. Three patients had... (More)

Objectives: Patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial symptoms or as the main manifestations during disease progression, but the clinical characteristics of these patients are still unknown. Methods: We identified COVID-19 patients who admitted to Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial or main symptoms. Their medical records were reviewed by two independent clinical scientists. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among 142 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7 (4.9%) of them presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. Three patients had gastrointestinal symptoms as the initial symptoms and chief complaints, and 4 patients as the main symptoms during disease progression. Six patients had symptoms of diarrhea (3–16 days), 7 with anorexia (7–22 days), 6 with upper abdominal discomfort (1–7 days), and 4 with nausea (1–7 days), 1 with heartburn lasting 2 days, and 2 with vomiting symptoms (1 day). The chest CT scan showed typical COVID-19 imaging features, and associated with the progression of the disease. During treatment, 2 patients died due to organ failure. Discussion: COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms are relatively rare and might be misdiagnosed. The clinical features include watery stools, anorexia, and upper abdominal discomfort. These patients may have severe disease and be associated with a poor prognosis. The underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 related gastrointestinal symptoms need to clarify in future studies.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
2019-nCoV, COVID-19, diarrhea, digestive tract, gastrointestinal symptom, SARS-CoV-2
in
Frontiers in Medicine
volume
7
article number
308
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • pmid:32656221
  • scopus:85087026013
ISSN
2296-858X
DOI
10.3389/fmed.2020.00308
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
982141fe-07f5-4b33-9a70-572c89b70b98
date added to LUP
2020-07-08 10:37:55
date last changed
2024-04-03 09:40:42
@article{982141fe-07f5-4b33-9a70-572c89b70b98,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: Patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can present with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial symptoms or as the main manifestations during disease progression, but the clinical characteristics of these patients are still unknown. Methods: We identified COVID-19 patients who admitted to Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital and presented with gastrointestinal symptoms as their initial or main symptoms. Their medical records were reviewed by two independent clinical scientists. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics as well as the clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among 142 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7 (4.9%) of them presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. Three patients had gastrointestinal symptoms as the initial symptoms and chief complaints, and 4 patients as the main symptoms during disease progression. Six patients had symptoms of diarrhea (3–16 days), 7 with anorexia (7–22 days), 6 with upper abdominal discomfort (1–7 days), and 4 with nausea (1–7 days), 1 with heartburn lasting 2 days, and 2 with vomiting symptoms (1 day). The chest CT scan showed typical COVID-19 imaging features, and associated with the progression of the disease. During treatment, 2 patients died due to organ failure. Discussion: COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms are relatively rare and might be misdiagnosed. The clinical features include watery stools, anorexia, and upper abdominal discomfort. These patients may have severe disease and be associated with a poor prognosis. The underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 related gastrointestinal symptoms need to clarify in future studies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ai, Jin Wei and Zi, Hao and Wang, Yong and Huang, Qiao and Wang, Na and Li, Lu Yao and Pei, Bin and Ji, Jianguang and Zeng, Xian Tao}},
  issn         = {{2296-858X}},
  keywords     = {{2019-nCoV; COVID-19; diarrhea; digestive tract; gastrointestinal symptom; SARS-CoV-2}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Medicine}},
  title        = {{Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients With Gastrointestinal Symptoms : An Analysis of Seven Patients in China}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.00308}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fmed.2020.00308}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}