Abdominal Pain and Diffuse Colitis Following COVID-19 Infection: Report of a Case

• Published in: International journal of surgery case reports 2021-11, Vol.88, p.106473, Article 106473
• Main Authors: Asil, Rouzbeh Shadidi, Mahmoodi, Setareh, Zamani, Amir, Hakakzadeh, Azadeh, Jamali, Elena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report; Colitis; Coronavirus infections; COVID-19
• ISSN: 2210-2612; 2210-2612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106473

Although this is often overlooked, the gastrointestinal (GI) involvement of COVID-19 has been introduced. Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort are among the most common GI symptoms reported. Diffuse Colitis following COVID-19 infection is a rare presentation. A 52-year-old female presented with intensified abdominal pain following COVID-19 infection to the emergency department. She was diagnosed with peritonitis due to diffuse colitis and perforation of sigmoid colon. The patient was treated with total colectomy with an end ileostomy. The purpose of this study was to increase awareness among clinicians about the existence of this rare cause of abdominal pain after COVID-19 infection, diffuse colitis. Although uncommon, these presentations can potentially lead to delay in diagnosis among unfamiliar clinicians with GI presentation of COVID-19. V. •Patients with COVID-19 sometimes presents with GI symptoms in addition to respiratory symptoms.•Detecting RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in the stool specimen of the patient with COVD-19 has raised the concern of fecal-oral transmission of the virus.•Invasion of the virus into gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells and GI hyercoagulation state and micro vascular thrombosis might be a cause for diarrhea in among infected patients.