Coronavirus symptoms: Doctors warn if your stomach feels like this it could be a symptom of Covid-19
CORONAVIRUS list of symptoms is too short and often misses mild signs, doctors have warned. Armed with knowledge, there is another lesser known symptom of Covid-19 and if you have been having these stomach issues it could be a warning.
Studies suggest that digestive issues such as diarrhoea can be a symptom of Covid-19 but generally in tandem with fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
Coronavirus cases have risen exponentially with leading health experts warning these next two weeks could see a massive jump in cases of death from the deadly virus. The Covid-19 has left a trail of destruction in its wake with the updated information proving how deadly and serious this virus truly is.
Experts warn the NHS online symptom checker is too simplistic and could even put people at added risk as many are dismissing unusual symptoms. With a simplistic symptom checker, learning of other symptoms being reported on could help a person distinguish sooner if they may be infected.
As Covid-19 has raged on, government officials and physicians have warned the public to be vigilant of a new onset of a dry cough and a temperature above 100 degrees as key symptoms for the coronavirus.
However, hospitals around the world are beginning to see a new symptom appearing in many Covid-19 patients.
A stomach pain could be a symptom of Covid-19 and one needs to be vigilant if they have begun feeling this symptom in their stomach.
Director for Public Health for Worcester, Michael Hirsh said the city’s hospitals are now seeing patients who have tested positive for the deadly virus also displaying symptoms of only abdominal pain.
Some Covid-19 patients have reported experiencing tummy ache just before developing the other known symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath.
In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that people might experience digestive issues which could signal an infection and this could include diarrhoea.
Researchers analysed data from 204 patients with Covid-19 in China’s Hubei province and discovered that a staggering 48.5 percent of these patients arrived at the hospital and were suffering from digestive issues.
These issues ranged from diarrhoea, vomiting or pain in the abdomen.
Stomach issues not a primary symptom of Covid-19
A Stanford Medicine study carried out in mid-April also concluded that loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can be symptomatic of Covid-19, but that these are generally secondary symptoms that present themselves in tandem with the most common indicators: fever, cough and shortness of breath.
According to the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms of the novel coronavirus are a fever, a dry cough and a feeling of tiredness, with serious symptoms involving difficulty breathing, chest pain and a loss of speech or movement. Other possible symptoms of Covid-19 include aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headaches, loss of taste or smell and skin rashes and discolouration of the fingers and toes. But is stomach pain a possible indicator of coronavirus?
A report by Live Science in March suggested diarrhoea could in fact be the first symptom of coronavirus in some cases. A study carried out by The American Journal of Gastroenterology found that stomach issues “should at least prompt consideration of the illness.” The same publication published an earlier study centred on a test group of 200 Covid-19 patients in Wuhan in mid-March, 50 percent of whom reported some form of digestive symptom, with 18 percent suffering from diarrhoea.