Volume 32 Number 4 (2023)
Prevalence of Diarrhea and its Relation with Severity of the Disease among Covid-19 Positive Patient in a Selected Covid Dedicated Hospital
Akhter M1 , Rahim S2 , Bhuiyan R3 , Siddique AB4 , Mostafa T5 , Alam MN6 , Hallaz MM7 , Islam MA8
Mymensingh Med J 2023 Oct; 32 (4): 1178-1183
PMID: 37777918
Abstract
Covid-19 has become a pandemic since its emergence in Wuhan, China. It involves Gastro intestinal (GI) system and diarrhea is recognized as an important symptom. Diarrhea is also associated with disease severity. This study was conducted to see the prevalence of diarrhea in Covid-19 positive patient and its relation with disease severity. Prospective observational study done among consecutive Covid-19 positive patient of both sex admitted in Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka from February 2021 to April 2021. Informations were collected by face to face interview and severity was assessed on bedside. Among 166 Covid-19 positive patient 40.0% developed diarrhea. Mean age of the diarrheal patients was 44.21±14.40. Women affected more than men (51.0% versus 49.0%). In majority patient (62.0%) diarrhea persist for 3-7 days and majority had frequency of bowel movement 3-5 times per day. Regarding Bristol stool type 47.0% had stool type 6 followed by stool type 7(43.0%) and stool type 5(10.0%). Half of the diarrheal patient (48.0%) had severe pneumonia. Severe pneumonia is significantly more common in non-diarrheal patients (65.0%) than in diarrheal patient (35.0%) (p=0.007). This study reflects that a large number of Covid-19 positive patients developed diarrhea. Half of the diarrheal patients had severe pneumonia. But severe pneumonia is significantly common in non-diarrheal patient than diarrheal patients.
Keywords: Diarrhea, Severity of the Disease, Covid-19 positive patient, Covid dedicated hospital,
- Assistant Professor