Coronavirus is an infectious disease that has been confirmed in more than two and a half million people across the world. You could be at risk of COVID-19 infection if you develop stomach pain, it’s been claimed.
Cases are continuing to rise in the UK, and the government has urged the public to stay at home, to avoid becoming infected or spreading the virus further.
People have been advised to remain indoors, as almost 130,000 UK individuals have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Some of the most common signs of coronavirus infection include having a high temperature, and developing a new, continuous cough.
But, you could also be at risk of the deadly disease if you have a painful stomach ache, scientists have revealed.
Abdominal pain could be a warning sign of coronavirus, warned Chinese researchers.
An analysis of more than 200 COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China – which is where the infection is believed to have started – revealed stomach pain as a possible symptom of coronavirus.
While it wasn’t a common symptom reported by the patients, scientists warned that it may be linked to the infection, as well as a number of other digestive symptoms.
People that develop gastrointestinal symptoms were also likely to experience signs of coronavirus for longer than those with only respiratory symptoms, they added.
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A total of 18 patients, out of 206, reported stomach pain as one of their symptoms.
Coronavirus patients took longer, on average, to report signs of their infection if they only had gastrointestinal signs.
That hints that the stomach pain, as well as other stomach symptoms, may be easily missed, or could be confused for something else.
Poor appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea were also reported as possible signs of COVID-19 infection.
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Scientists from Huazhong University in Wuhan, wrote: “We found that compared to patients with only respiratory symptoms, those with digestive symptoms tend to have a longer course between symptom onset and viral clearance.
“In addition, patients with digestive symptoms took longer to report for medical care, a finding observed in other research from Wuhan, China, suggesting that COVID-19 was not initially recognized in these patients leading to delayed diagnosis.
“The longer disease course in patients with digestive symptoms might reflect a higher viral burden in these patients in comparison to those with only respiratory symptoms.”
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But, respiratory symptoms are more common than gastrointestinal signs, they added.
The most common coronavirus symptoms include a dry cough, a high fever, and shortness of breath.
Patients have also reported fatigue, headaches, runny noses, and aches and pains.
If you think you may have coronavirus, you should self-isolate for at least 14 days.
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