Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Manifestations of COVID-19 in Children: A Review

ABSTRACT

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) is shaking the world heavily. SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) infection has a wide variety of presentations as it affects almost every system of body. Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary symptoms are frequently overlooked especially in children. Objectives: The purpose of this review was to discuss the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary presentations of COVID-19 in children and compare with non-gastrointestinal presentations. Methods: This study was a narrative review. Recent available literature was searched by keywords. The most recent information from relevant articles were collected and reviewed. This write up was compiled after the review of articles from the last one and half year. Results: About 50.0% symptomatic children with COVID-19 had gastrointestinal manifestations. COVID-19 with gastrointestinal symptoms had delayed diagnosis, delayed hospitalization and worse outcome in compare with Covid-19 with non-gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion: Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea are common gastrointestinal manifestations in children with COVID-19. Elevated transaminasemia is not uncommon.