Long COVID and the Digestive System: Expert Describes Non-Unusual Symptoms

Patients in the rehabilitation program report a number of digestive problems, ranging from mild nausea and decreased appetite to severe constipation and food intolerance, physical reactions to certain foods, says Vanichkachorn, M. D. , m. D. , a physician in Mayo Clinic’s Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases.

“What we saw firsthand is also documented in the medical literature,” he adds. Among 147 patients without previous gastrointestinal problems, 16% reported having new digestive symptoms about a hundred days after their COVID-19 infection, according to a study published in March. Non-unusual peak symptoms included:

Similarly, in an article published in Neurogastroenterology

“While we’re not sure yet, there are several imaginable tactics for COVID-19 infection to cause gastrointestinal problems,” says Dr. Vanichkachorn. “For example, the lining of the gut comprises a large number of receptors that the SARS-COV2 virus uses to invade cells. The general inflammation caused by the infection can also alter the overall bacteria that live in the gut and stimulate some of the nerves in the gastrointestinal system. “

A user with those symptoms as part of the post-COVID syndrome should make sure they are hydrated and eat a healthy diet, advises Dr. Vanichkachorn. Fad and excessive diets have not been shown to be helpful in prolonged COVID cases, he adds.

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