A recent study published in Nature Communication found thousands of people who had contracted Covid-19 in 2020 experienced digestive problems such as acid reflux, stomach cramps, constipation and diarrhea. Photo/Illustration/fk.ui
Even Dave, a Covid-19 survivor from England, had time to share his experiences regarding these complaints in a blog about long Covid-19. He said, Covid-19 can cause gastric reflux which is quite chronic.
As a result, Dave admits that he can no longer consume pizza, beer, coffee, and even chocolate. The reason is because I always feel nauseous after consuming it. Even though before being infected he never complained about it.
As reported by Insider, Thursday (9/3/2023) regarding a study published by Nature Communication, it was explained that those infected with SARS-CoV-2, even with mild symptoms, were significantly more likely to experience stomach problems.
In fact, the researchers compared the medical records of more than 154,000 US veterans who contracted Covid-19 with about 5.6 million people who did not have the virus. They found 9,605 people who had Covid-19 then developed problems affecting the digestive system, pancreas or liver.
The risk of long-term digestive problems increases for those who are hospitalized with more severe symptoms of Covid-19. On average, people who had the pandemic disease were 36 percent more likely to have long-term digestive problems compared to those who were not infected.
The most common stomach-related problem is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a type of stomach acid reflux. Other frequently reported symptoms are abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. However, researchers do not yet know the exact reason why the stomach is also affected by Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Dave finally saw a nutritionist to consult more about the bacteria in his digestive tract, known as the gut microbiome. Research has found that disruption to the microbiome can lead to digestive disorders including GERD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The coronavirus can upset the natural balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, putting people with Covid-19 at risk for secondary infections, according to a separate study published in Nature Communications in November 2022. However, scientists are still learning more about the impact Covid-19 has on gut health.
Researchers in this new study hypothesized that chronic inflammation associated with COVID-19 may play a role in persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. It is possible that some viral fragments remain in the digestive tract after the initial infection has resolved, causing ongoing inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
The researchers also noted that the lining of the small intestine may be highly permeable to viruses, allowing viruses to enter the digestive system easily. Further research is needed to better understand how the corona virus affects the body in the long term, and what steps doctors can take to treat long-term symptoms of Covid-19.
(hri)
