Peptic ulcer associated with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Merdad, Ghada A; Seadawi, Lamees E; Mustafa, Abdulmoneim A

To describe a patient's condition and clinical progress, admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Coronaviruses disease-19 (COVID-19) infection who presented initially with gastrointestinal symptoms. The novel COVID-19 disease does not only affect the respiratory tract but also affects other parts of the body. A 23-year old male patient came to the emergency room suffering from acute abdominal pain and vomiting. The patient appeared to have a complicated course of infection with gastrointestinal manifestations and a perforated duodenal ulcer without any respiratory symptoms. Laboratory and radiographic investigations revealed positive results for COVID-19. The chest CT showed a ground-glass appearance. Accordingly, the patient was referred for an emergency laparotomy and was treated mainly for a perforated duodenal ulcer. Unfortunately, the patient died due to several complications. Patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms during this pandemic should be assessed for COVID-19 infection, even if respiratory symptoms are absent.