Gastroenterological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 and possible consequences of the infection

ABSTRACT

The disease SARS-CoV-2 has various symptoms, including from the gastrointestinal tract. The long-term consequences of this infection require careful study and generalization. The purpose of the study to clarify the frequency of gastrointestinal tract lesions in SARS-CoV-2 and its possible consequences. 503 patients with a positive test for COVID-19 were examined. A clinical examination, the study of clinical and biochemical blood tests, the level of fecal calprotectin, computed tomography of the chest, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) and fibrocolonoscopy (FCS) with the study of biopsies of the colon mucosa were carried out. It was found that gastroenterological complaints were present in 58% of patients. Of these, the most common symptom is diarrhea and abdominal pain. Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed most often erosive and ulcerative changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. In some patients, abdominal pain and dyspepsia persisted for 4-6 months after the coronavirus infection, and during FCS erosive changes of the colon mucosa with pronounced inflammatory infiltration, crypt abscesses were noted, which indicates the need for medical examination of persons who have undergone SARS CoV-2, with more thorough clarification of gastroenterological complaints and FCS if any. © 2022 Global Media Technologies. All rights reserved.