Coronavirus: Stomach flu or COVID? How to tell the difference

Apart from the usual cough and fever, COVID can impact your body in a profound number of ways.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are the latest manifestations seen around in the second wave of coronavirus in India.

If reports are to go by, a lot many patients complain of symptoms like diarrhea, cramps or nausea, which can strike up before the classic, tell-tale signs of COVID-19.

Right now, watching and tracking symptoms as soon as possible is the only way to take control of the infection. However, some of the symptoms can also be vaguely similar to that of a stomach infection. At a time like this when cases are seemingly increasing and COVID-19 can present with many stomach-related symptoms, how do you distinguish between the two infections? How do you make out the nature of your infection- COVID or a stomach infection?

If you are suffering from symptoms, here's an easy guide to managing your condition better:

While it's often referred to as a stomach flu, stomach infection can be caused by different viral strains, bacteria and usually causes symptoms when the linings of the intestines become inflamed.

Viral gastroenteritis, or stomach flu could be spread via contaminated food or water.

The most typical symptoms of a stomach infection could show up in the form of abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, nausea, loose motions. However, it can also be common to experience symptoms like that of a flu, including mild grade fever, weakness, chills or even a headache, which can make it difficult to differentiate from a viral flu or coronavirus infection.

While coronavirus is a classic respiratory infection which spreads via direct droplet transmission, for many people, especially infected during the second wave fueled by the mutant virus, experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms can happen.

Symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite can be experienced, along with the classical signs of infection. COVID can also impact the digestive process in a major way.

According to research, COVID-19 enters the digestive system through entry-level receptors, ACE2 enzymes, which are highly present along the gut and hence, cause a high level of infection.

Because of the commonality in symptoms, it can be very tricky to differentiate between the two infections. However, since it is not the time to be precarious, getting timely diagnosis and treatment can help you get healthy.

Now, both COVID-19 and viral gastritis can impact digestion. However, from what is being seen, SARS-COV-2’s manner of impact is more profound and prolonged. Not only can the gastrointestinal symptoms last for a longer time (upto 14-21 days), it can also lead to loss of appetite, change tastes, impair metabolism and even cause weight loss. Some people have reported undergoing extreme weight loss during their period of infection. This does not happen with gastroenteritis or any stomach infection, since the symptoms are short-lived. Unlike a 14-day recovery period for COVID, most people with stomach flu tend to get better in about 3 days.

Fever, headache, weakness and malaise can be common to COVID and stomach flu. However, people should remain on the lookout for upper respiratory symptoms, which are clear markers of an infection like COVID-19. From cough, cold, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell, symptoms such as these require prompt testing.

Chest pain, oxygen deprivation and breathing difficulties are also uncommon to a stomach flu. If you develop any of these symptoms, do get tested and follow protocols.

Another thing to watch for is the manner in which symptoms show up. Gastro symptoms of COVID can be followed up by other classic signs, such as fever, cough, myalgia, shortness of breath. If you believe you have been exposed to the virus in any manner, seek help at once.