COVID-19 could be a pain in the gut too

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Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

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Critically ill people with COVID-19 suffer more gastrointestinal complications compared to equally ill patients with other respiratory syndromes, suggesting it is a distinct side effect of COVID-19, say international researchers. The study looked at 92 patients with severe COVID-19 and found that 74 per cent of them developed gastrointestinal complications compared with only 37 per cent of other critically ill respiratory patents without COVID-19.  The researchers say the gut contains high levels to the receptor the virus uses to enter cells which could explain why it affects the abdominal organs.

Journal/conference: JAMA

Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jama.2020.19400

Organisation/s: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

Funder: Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

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