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Fecal-Oral Transmission of COVID-19 in India

Allyson Goff1, Akram Ahmad2, Isha Patel3★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
  2. 2Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
  3. 3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Administration and Research, Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Huntington, WV, USA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Isha Patel

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Administration and Research, Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Huntington, WV, USA.

pateli@marshall.edu

Received: 24-04-2020; Revised: 05-05-2020; Accepted: 19-05-2020.

Volume 6, Issue 2 · pp. 18–19 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.5530/jppcm.2020.2.6

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ABSTRACT

Although the spread of COVID-19 through droplets, surface contact and aerosolized transmission has been well-publicized, the fecal-oral route is yet another identified method of transmission. According to a meta-analysis by the New England Journal of Medicine, it was found that fecal viral shedding continues throughout the disease, even after nasopharyngeal tests appear negative. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms seem to be common for COVID-19 patients, with a prevalence of approximately 18%.[1,2] It was also found that patients with digestive symptoms experience significantly longer hospital stays.[3] As India’s number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase, concerns about fecal-oral transmission are being raised in a country that has the highest open defecation rates in the world, where approximately 620 million people defecate in the open. It is a problem that comes with severe public health consequences, including diarrhea, high child mortality, spread of diseases, malnutrition and stunting of growth.[4] Public health officials should be concerned about how this will affect India’s transmission of COVID-19.

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      Goff, A., Ahmad, A., & Patel, I. (). Fecal-Oral Transmission of COVID-19 in India. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine, 6(2), 18–19. https://doi.org/10.5530/jppcm.2020.2.6