COVID-19 should be considered as a differential diagnosis for an 'acute abdomen'

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV2 is a novel RNA virus which originated in Wuhan, China early in January 2020 and spread as a global pandemic. The virus, thought to cause primarily respiratory pathology, is presenting with more extra-pulmonary presentations as time progresses. Abdominal symptoms, such as acute abdominal pain, can present without any respiratory complaints which can cause a diagnostic dilemma for the treating physician, leading to delayed or missed diagnoses and often resulting in a suboptimal outcome for the patient.