Your gut bacteria can be altered by COVID-19, which could affect how sick you get from the disease and possibly how long it lasts, according to a new study.
Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that patients with COVID-19 had a “significantly altered” gut biome compared to those without the disease. They found that the disruption was evident for at least 30 days after the patients recovered.
According to the New York Post, the researchers found a link between severe illness and high levels of inflammatory cytokines in the blood plasma of sick patients and “substantial involvement” of the gastrointestinal tract during infection.
“Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, there is growing evidence that the gastrointestinal tract is involved in this disease,” the authors wrote in Gut, a publication of the British Medical Journal, adding that the gut microbiota increases the immune response. disease and could play a role in its severity, according to the Post.
They stated that the imbalance of the gut bacteria they observed, even after the disease itself resolved, could be a factor contributing to what has been termed “long COVID-19” symptoms that last for months.
According to The New York Times, as many as a third of COVID-19 victims develop persistent symptoms. These can range from chest pain and fatigue to heart disease. Some victims are no longer able to work and may require long-term medical care.
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