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Fever and a choking cough, worsened breathing, which can lead to pneumonia. These are the main symptoms indicating the disease Covid-19. But the presence of the coronavirus is also pointed to by another factor that scientists and doctors have so far unnecessarily overlooked.
The coronavirus epidemic worldwide already counts more than 255 thousand infected, has claimed 10,495 lives, and 89,918 patients have recovered from the disease. As with other viral illnesses, it is necessary to notice symptoms that indicate the disease in time, and to begin treatment early.
This also applies in the case of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, although doctors do not yet have a targeted treatment for it, except for common antivirals or experimental drugs.
Runny nose, a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, cough, muscle or joint pain and shortness of breath. These are the most common symptoms of the new coronavirus. However, American scientists in the latest study reported a new symptom that had not previously been considered threatening.
The new symptom that should be taken seriously is abdominal pain and digestive problems.
Scientists reached this discovery by analyzing data from 204 patients in China’s Hubei province and found that nearly 49 percent of patients arrived at the hospital with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, or vomiting.
In the examined sample of patients, scientists also uncovered another pattern. It was precisely the patients who also complained of digestive difficulties who had worse clinical outcomes and a higher risk of mortality compared to patients without gastrointestinal symptoms.
Despite the new discovery, scientists say that the greatest attention must still be paid to the most typical symptoms, namely a dry choking cough and high fevers. Covid-19 primarily attacks the lungs and the respiratory tract.
