How to Know Common Diarrhea and Pain with COVID-19
Besides respiratory problems, COVID-19 can also cause symptoms of diarrhea, severe joint pain, aches, and aches all over the body. What is the difference between these COVID-19 symptoms of diarrhea and joint pain from regular diarrhea and pain?
We estimate that around 9 percent of people infected with COVID-19 have diarrhea.
Diarrhea caused by the COVID-19 virus differs from ordinary diarrhea. What is the difference like and how to solve it?
Difference Between Ordinary Diarrhea and COVID-19 Diarrhea
Diarrhea because of COVID and not COVID-19 is very difficult to distinguish. However, in COVID-19 patients who have diarrhea, the symptoms are more severe than those without diarrhea.
We can only distinguish the two from the cause alone. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli or the norovirus virus usually cause diarrhea. While COVID-19 diarrhea is one symptom because of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Apart from the causes, there are no other significant differences between ordinary diarrhea and COVID-19 diarrhea. However, in people infected with the coronavirus, diarrhea is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Breathing blockage
- Fever
- Headache
- Loss of smell and insensitivity to taste (anosmia)
- Hard to breathe
- Cough
Besides diarrhea, COVID-19 patients may also experience the following gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or digestive problems:
- Nauseous
- Bad appetite
- Stomach ache
- Vomit
In a study published in the journal International Emergency Nursing, 90 people infected with COVID-19 experienced symptoms of diarrhea that lasted an average of 5 days.
Characteristics of Diarrhea Symptoms of COVID-19
To find out the difference between COVID and non-COVID diarrhea, you can observe the appearance of the stool:
1. Watery Diarrhea Texture
Still in the same study as before, 64 percent of COVID-19 patients reported diarrhea with watery stools.
Watery stools can show that you have lost enough fluids in your body. This can lead to dehydration. That’s why it’s important for people with COVID to stay hydrated when they have diarrhea.
2. Yellow Stool
Another study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology also reported stool conditions because of diarrhea related to COVID-19. Most patients have yellow stools.
Viruses can cause yellow diarrhea because stool moves too quickly through the intestines. When the stool moves at a normal speed, the intestines can absorb the fat in it.
However, when the stool is too fast, the fat is not absorbed optimally. It is this fat that gives stool its yellow color.
3. Green Stool
Besides being yellow, COVID-19 diarrhea can also cause greenish stools. This happens because fat is not broken down properly, as a result bile in the feces can cause diarrhea to look green.
Bile is a substance secreted by the gallbladder and liver to help digest fat.
Difference Between Common Joint Pain and COVID-19 Joint Pain
There are ways to distinguish fever and joint pain from COVID-19 from common joint pain, such as fatigue.
Joint pain because of activity usually occurs in one area or several parts of the body.
Meanwhile, the symptoms of joint pain and body aches because of COVID-19 are other symptoms accompany more comprehensive (felt all over the body) such as fever, headache, weakness, sore throat, cough, and so on.
In addition, common joint pain will improve on its own within a few days.
Meanwhile, joint pain because of COVID-19 may take longer, i.e. in a few weeks. Not even infrequently, post-COVID-19 joint pain persists as a symptom of long COVID.
Immediately see a doctor if the joint pain that is experienced does not improve and is accompanied by severe pain, redness, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint. The same is true for those of you who have previously experienced arthritis.
Beware of joint pain because of COVID-19. Do early detection by checking all the complaints you feel to the doctor.
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