Table 1.

Main Points of Interest Regarding COVID-19 For Gastroenterologists

•COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2. •Most cases of COVID-19 appear to be mild, with the most common symptoms being fever, cough, myalgia/fatigue, and shortness of breath but can result in more severe disease. •Risk factors for more severe disease included older age and underlying chronic medical conditions such as cardiovascular or lung disease. •Potential gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 have been reported including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abnormal liver function tests. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in patient stool though unclear if there is a fecal-oral route of infection. •There are currently no data on impact of immunosuppression on susceptibility or disease course. Patients on immunosuppression should be counseled to not stop medications for preventative reasons but should follow general precautions recommended for at risk groups by the CDC. •Patients who potentially have COVID-19 should be isolated in a separate room and asked to wear a surgical mask. Local health authorities should be notified of possible cases. •This is a rapidly evolving area, and it is important to keep up to date with information from national and international health organizations.

CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.