Doctors Report National COVID-19 Spike With GI Symptoms as Schools Reopen 6 Years After Pandemic
Updated
Updated · WDBJ · Aug 25
Doctors Report National COVID-19 Spike With GI Symptoms as Schools Reopen 6 Years After Pandemic
3 articles · Updated · WDBJ · Aug 25
Summary
Doctors across the U.S. are seeing a summer COVID-19 uptick marked by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes causing mild dehydration, alongside the usual fever, cough and upper-respiratory symptoms.
CDC data cited in the report links part of the rise to back-to-school transmission, even as overall respiratory illness activity remains low.
Dr. James Black of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital said it is too early to tell whether a new variant is behind the symptom shift, though he said viral mutation is likely.
Black said most cases can be managed at home with fever control, fluids and nutrition, but patients should seek emergency care for severe shortness of breath or inability to keep fluids down.
For families with children back in class, he advised standard precautions and keeping students home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours.