With the addition of several gastrointestinal symptoms to the CDC's recognized symptom list, Australian gastroenterologists are debating whether to test patients presenting with only GI symptoms for COVID-19, newsGP reports.
What you should know:
1. Congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are all recognized COVID-19 symptoms.
2. Gastroenterologist Antony Friedman, MD, doesn't think the country should change its approach, despite an increasing case count. He said the reported number of GI symptom-only COVID-19 cases is less than 10 percent of the total count.
3. Martin Veysey, PhD, disagreed and said standalone GI symptoms may indicate a COVID-19 infection.
4. While respiratory symptoms are commonly associated with COVID-19, he believes GI symptoms may be underrepresented and more prevalent than previously thought.