With the number of COVID-19 cases rising on a daily basis, there has been a lot of unrest in almost all parts of the world. People are panicking for the well being of their loved ones and themselves. Since this virus has come up in its mutated form, there has been a lot of uncertainty about this uninvited guest placing the minds of many in a constant state of distress.

 

The first few symptoms of this virus have been reported to be high fever, dry cough as well as shortness of breath. However, with time it has been observed that this virus does not follow the usual pattern of symptoms in an orderly fashion in every case. Instead, some people come up with less common symptoms first following the rather common symptoms later.

 

Diarrhea has been included in the list of symptoms of people who have been affected by COVID-19, but the number of people who experience it is a lot less. A research conducted in China on 1099 patients, who were tested positive for the virus were evaluated for their symptoms, and it was seen that only 42 of them (3.8%) of them experienced diarrhea.

 

What do researchers say? Why is diarrhea one of the symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 is usually characterized to involve the respiratory tract and cause problems in breathing and result in lung damage, but with the number of increased investigations taking place, the gastrointestinal system has also been seen to be involved in some cases. The receptor that this virus uses to gain entry in the body is also present in the stomach as well as the small intestine. Therefore, if COVID-19 gains entry into your body, it can cause no other symptoms and just bloating and diarrhea but the chances of that are very minimal. 

 

This brings us to the actual question at hand; does having gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea mean that you have been infected with the coronavirus?

 

The simple answer to it is- Absolutely not! Just as every little cough is not an indication of the disease, the same applies to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. There are many reasons that can cause these problems and it is very unlikely that a person is suffering from COVID-19 if they experience bloating or diarrhea during this pandemic. 

 

What can cause diarrhea other than COVID-19?

Here is a list of reasons that can result in stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms;

 

• Food poisoning- There are many other bacterias, parasites, and viruses that can cause diarrhea and related symptoms. This is often due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. If you have eaten something that might have gone stale, or mistakenly consumed something raw, you are very likely to suffer from food poisoning which can result in extreme stomach cramps and diarrhea.

• Sudden diet changes- Due to the current state, many people are staying at home and it comes as no shock that many have adopted strange diet plans to get through the day. With an excess of fat and oily food consumption, it is inevitable to experience indigestion and diarrhea.

• Celiac disease- Many people suffer from a condition known as ‘celiac disease’, but never get diagnosed. It is a condition that causes diarrhea and bloating after eating anything containing gluten. This also results in mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms and persists for life.

• Lactose intolerance- People who are deficient in the enzyme ‘lactase’, suffer from this condition. If you suffer from vomiting, bloating, stomach cramp, or diarrhea after the consumption of any dairy product such as; cheese, milk, cream, etc, you should avoid having them, in order to free yourself from having such symptoms.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome- This is a condition that occurs in almost 11.2% of individuals in the world. It results in feelings of bloating and also diarrhea, the exact cause of it is unknown however, stress seems to aggravate it.

• Stress- During this course of the pandemic, the amount of stress has reached the roof and gone beyond it. Many people are worried about their lives and are in a constant state of fear, anxiety, and stress. All of this can stimulate the bowels, and cause stomach ache and diarrhea. This can very dangerously be misunderstood as a symptom of COVID-19 and spark more distress.

• Alcohol- It has been noted that due to the long stays at home, many people have picked up the unhealthy habit of smoking and drinking. Excess use of alcohol can also disturb the normal functioning of the gut and result in vomiting as well as loose stools, therefore it is best to avoid alcohol as much as possible during this period of lockdown.

 

Make sure to exclude all the above potential causes of causing diarrhea, before you suspect yourself to be infected with the virus. It is extremely important to stay vigilant of your health and take all the necessary precautions to save yourself from it in the first place. 

 

However, if you have had any contact with any person who got recently got diagnosed with COVID-19, then make sure to consult your healthcare provider if you experience any symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort including diarrhea, bloating, lack of appetite, as well as stomach ache. 
 

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References

1. Chao Hu MS, Yuan Jin MD, Xun Niu MD, Rongyu Ping MD, Yingzhen Du MD. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with digestive symptoms in Hubei, China: a descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study.

2. D’Amico F, Baumgart DC, Danese S, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Diarrhea during COVID-19 infection: pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention, and management. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2020 Apr 8.

3. Rettner, R. (2020, March 31). Diarrhea is the first sign of illness for some COVID-19 patients. Retrieved June 28, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-diarrhea-symptoms.html

4. Leonard, J. (2020, January). Abdominal pain and diarrhea: 7 common causes. Retrieved June 28, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323852

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