When you think of COVID-19, you might immediately picture classic respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
But the virus can also affect your digestive system, leading to a range of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including diarrhea. In fact, for some people, digestive issues might even be the first or only sign of infection.
COVID can trigger a range of digestive issues, including:
These symptoms can occur at any point during your infection.
Sometimes, GI distress can persist even after other COVID symptoms have resolved, a condition known as long COVID.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus enters your body by attaching to a protein called ACE2. This protein is found outside of cells in various body parts, including your lungs and digestive tract.
ACE2 receptors are particularly abundant in the intestines, which might explain why COVID-19 can lead to GI symptoms.
When the virus interacts with these receptors in the gut, it can cause inflammation and damage to the lining of the intestines, resulting in symptoms like:
Viral RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can also be detected in the stool, indicating that the virus is present in the digestive system.
Studies have shown that about half of people with COVID experience GI symptoms, including diarrhea. For some, these symptoms are only mild, while for others, they can be more severe.
Some people’s GI symptoms don’t go away after the initial infection.
Lingering symptoms are part of what is known as long COVID. Long COVID happens after recovering from the acute phase: the period after the illness’s most intense and severe symptoms.
People with long COVID may continue to experience issues like diarrhea, ongoing nausea, or abdominal pain for weeks or even months. Persistent bowel motility problems, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can also occur.
In some cases, people with long COVID may also develop conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to the inflammation caused by the virus.
These persistent digestive problems can be a challenging part of the recovery process.
A healthy gut microbiome requires a diverse community of bacteria and other microorganisms in your digestive tract. In addition to being essential for your overall health and immune system, choosing the right diet can help foster this environment. Try to opt for a diet rich in:
If you develop diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal pain and suspect you might have COVID, it’s important to see a doctor. These symptoms could be related to the virus, and your doctor can help determine the best treatment plan.
It’s even more important to see a doctor if you develop chronic diarrhea after COVID. The diarrhea could be due to long COVID, a new condition you’ve developed because of the infection, or something else entirely.
If you have concerns about your GI symptoms or need advice on managing lingering COVID effects, don’t delay – schedule an appointment with a specialist today!
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