Case Report: COVID-19 Masquerading as an Acute Surgical Abdomen

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection can present with various clinical features, among which gastrointestinal manifestations such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and mild abdominal pain have been reported. Recognition of rare presentations of SARS-CoV-2 infection has increased over time. These atypical and rare presentations may lead to difficulties in establishing the diagnosis in a timely manner; furthermore, they may lead to unnecessary investigations, extended hospital stays, adverse outcomes, and more strain on healthcare resources. We present three cases admitted to our hospital with a picture that mimicked an acute abdomen, necessitating surgical assessment and evaluation. All cases turned out to be SARS-CoV-2 positive and did not require surgical management. We discuss the management course, highlight the importance of abdominal symptoms in the setting of COVID-19, and discuss the implications of this association for medical practice amid the current pandemic in both resource-rich and resource-limited settings.

First Page

841

Last Page

843

DOI

10.4269/ajtmh.20-0559

Publication Date

8-1-2020

Identifier

32524962 (pubmed); PMC7410459 (pmc); 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0559 (doi); tpmd200559 (pii)

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