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Diarrhea as a Presenting Symptom of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children

Borhan Moradveisi1, Pedram Ataee1,2, Alireza Ghaffarieh3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

Advanced Biomedical Research
|October 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Gastroenteritis in children, often caused by infections, can rarely be the sole symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This case highlights the diverse and sometimes misleading presentations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Gastroenteritis is a frequent pediatric illness, typically resulting from bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections.
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recognized for its respiratory symptoms, but its presentation in children can vary.
  • Recognizing atypical presentations of infectious diseases is crucial for timely diagnosis and management in pediatric populations.

Observation:

  • A 16-month-old female presented with acute symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
  • Initial assessment considered common causes of gastroenteritis in children.
  • The patient's clinical presentation was unusual for typical gastroenteritis.

Findings:

  • Diagnostic testing confirmed the child had contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • Gastroenteritis was the predominant, and seemingly only, clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in this case.
  • This finding underscores the variability in COVID-19 symptomology among pediatric patients.

Implications:

  • The case demonstrates that gastroenteritis can be an isolated symptom of COVID-19 in children.
  • Healthcare providers should consider COVID-19 in the differential diagnosis of unexplained gastroenteritis in pediatric patients.
  • This highlights the importance of considering a broader range of clinical manifestations for COVID-19 in children, even when symptoms appear non-respiratory.

Keywords:
COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019diarrheagastroenteritisvomiting

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