Thread by @drsanjaygupta

Study this past week shows that around half of patients subsequently diagnosed with #coronavirus had digestive symptoms. 1/

The study was of 204 people in China and makes the case that symptoms like diarrhea may in fact be one of the first symptoms of #COVID19 2/

The average time from first symptoms to hospitalization (if hospitalization was needed) was around 9 days if person had digestive symptoms and 7.3 days if respiratory symptoms only. 3/

Loss of appetite was most common (~80%), diarrhea (~30%), vomiting (~1%) and abdominal pain (~ .5%). Around 3% of patients had only digestive symptoms without any respiratory symptoms whatsoever. 4/

So, as you monitor for symptoms at home over the next couple weeks, look for things like fever (100.4), shortness of breath and dry cough. But, also pay attention to any new or unusual digestive symptoms such as listed above. 5/

Finally: worth reminding that roughly 80% of patients likely to recover without any hospitalization or additional treatment. If your symptoms are mild, ask yourself: ‘would I have normally gone to hospital for these symptoms?’ If not, stay home this time as well. 6/