Virly Nanda M.1, Marcellus S.1, Dadang M.1, Murdani A.1, Ari Fahrial S.1, Achmad F.1, Kaka R.1, Amanda Pitarini U.1, Hasan M.1, Rabbinu Rangga P1, Saskia Aziza N.1, Muhammad Firhat I.1

1Division of Gastroenterology, Pancreatobilliary and Digestive Endoscopic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty Universitas Indonesia / Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital

Corresponding author: Prof. Dadang Makmun MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty Universitas Indonesia / Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital.

Background/Aims: SARS-COV-2 Virus as the cause of COVID-19 disease is a pandemic disease that spread to the whole country. This study aims to find out the correlation between acute diarrhea and PCR anal Swab test in GI COVID-19 Patients at 4 hospitals in Indonesia.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study of correlation between acute diarrhea manifestation and PCR Anal Swab Test. Data collection was carried out by medical record on patients COVID-19 with gastrointestinal manifestation from April 2020 to January 2021 in four hospitals.

Results: From 136 patients, 17 patients were found with diarrhea manifestation. Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR Anal Swab was found in 8 patients (8/17 or 15.4%, p value 0.424) with Prevalence Ratio 1,27. There are 52 patients out of 136 patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR Anal Swab. Other gastrointestinal manifestations in positive PCR Anal Swab Test were 59.6% (31/52) of nausea; 48.1% (25/52) anorexia; 48.1% (25/52) abdominal discomfort; 15.4% (8/52) vomit; and 1.9% (1/52) constipation.

Conclusion: There is no significant correlation between acute diarrhea and SARS-CoV-2 PCR Anal Swab. However, patients with acute diarrhea manifestation tend to have positive PCR Anal Swab. Acute diarrhea is one of the most common gastrointestinal manifestations in patients with positive PCR Anal Swabs.

Keywords: Acute Diarrhea, PCR Anal Swab Test, Gastrointestinal COVID-19