COVID-19 may begin with digestive symptoms in children: study

COVID-19 may begin with digestive symptoms in children as a rare inflammatory syndrome similar to Kawasaki disease was reported in some children in Europe and US. Earlier, it was believed that children are mostly asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The disease is might begin with diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, not cough.

The children aged betwen 5-6 years had been hospitalised and were later confirmed to have COVID-19. According to the scientists the reason behind the digestive symptoms could be the distribution of cell receptors for the novel coronavirus. The same receptor, ACE2, through which the virus enters human lung cells is found in the small intestine.

Source: Samaa