Covid-19: gastroenterology perspectives

Abstract

The clinical syndrome caused by SARS-CoV-2 was called COVID-19 and became a pandemic from March 2020. Fever, dry cough, and dyspnoea are the predominant clinical manifestations of the disease. However, symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort can also be found in infected patients. Despite the increased prevalence since the second phase of the recent epidemic in China, scientific evidence on the gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 has received little attention. This study aimed to report gastrointestinal signs and pathological findings in patients with COVID-19, in addition to discussing the possibility of fecal transmission. SARS-CoV-2 penetrates gastrointestinal epithelial cells, making patients' feces potentially infectious. Although viral RNA can be detected in feces, it is not clear whether fecal-oral transmission occurs. The gastrointestinal characteristics and abdominal manifestations of COVID-19 were reviewed based on case reports and retrospective clinical studies related to the digestive system. It is essential to know that, as the pandemic spreads, new studies are published, and knowledge about gastrointestinal symptoms is better known and reported.