Evaluation of the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms and liver test disorder in patients during the Covid-19 outbreak in the Military Unit: A single-center pilot study.

Abstract BackgroundAlthough Covid-19 is often a disease presenting with respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can also be seen. Also, there may be disruptions in liver enzyme during the disease. In our study, we aimed to investigate the extent of the military co-epidemic during the Covid-19 epidemic process and the frequency of GI symptoms and liver test disorders.MethodsThe demographic, radiological, laboratory, and clinical analysis of the soldiers diagnosed Covid-19 with real-time polymerase chain reaction, was carried out retrospectively in March, April, and May of 2020.ResultsCovid-19 was detected in 17 (0.7%) of the 2152 soldiers coming from different cities to perform their military service, in the following days after being recruited, in 9 (0.4%) of the soldiers. While 1 (0.3%) of 320 senior military and 2 (3.6%) soldiers from 56 other soldiers who came to the unit from other units were also diagnosed with Covid-19.The mean age was 21.2 ± 1.8. In Torax CT, only 4 (13.7%) patients had pneumonia. At the time of diagnosis, 6.8% of the patients had GI symptoms and 13.7% of them had liver enzyme disruption. None of the patients experienced respiratory failure, intensive care, and death, and all patients recovered.ConclusionIn the literature, our study is the first study to investigate the Covid-19 outbreak in the military unit in the world and the frequency of GI symptoms and liver enzyme disruptions in these patients. In our study, Covid-19 was milder in the young population and we found that GI symptom and liver test disorder were observed less frequently. Covid-19 outbreak can be taken under control by fast and accurate triage and suitable isolation for those with suspected disease, in environments where many people such as military units will live close together. Especially in patients with GI symptoms, Covid-19 should always be kept in mind and early isolation of patients can prevent the spread of the epidemic in such crowded environments.