Louisiana Stomach ‘Bug’ Might Be Something More Sinister

It's summertime and all over Louisiana from Monroe and Ruston in the north to Lake Charles and Lafayette in the south emergency departments at hospitals and walk-in clinics too are full of people all complaining about a similar symptom. This scenario has many health officials concerned because the spike in "stomach bugs" appears to be related to a more serious medical malady.

We spoke off the record with registration representatives at LSU-Health in Shreveport and Ochsner Hospital in Lafayette and they suggested that they are seeing quite a few patients who are complaining of "gastrointestinal" issues. That's a polite way of saying a lot of people are seeking medical treatment for diarrhea, upset stomach, abdominal pain, and cramping, as well as vomiting, nausea, and constipation.

While these symptoms can be related to other health issues such as food poisoning or what's commonly known as the "24-hour bug" doctors are noting that more and more patients who complain of these symptoms are also testing positive for COVID.

One in five people who seek treatment for gastro-related ailments are now being diagnosed as positive for COVID. Testing is the only way to confirm that fact too. So, if you do have stomach-related issues you will very likely be subject to a COVID test.

Currently, COVID-19 infection rates are among the highest they have been since last January's winter surge. Doctors are not surprised to see an uptick in the virus, a similar one was noted last year about this same time. The most recent variants of the COVID virus are the fast-growing FLiRT variants – KP.3, KP.2, KP.1.1 and LB.1. 

The reason why this information is significant is this. Gastro-issues have often been "overlooked" as a symptom of COVID but now doctors are paying more attention to your gut health as it relates to your overall health.

For the latest CDC Guidelines on COVID, Quarantine, and Testing, follow this link.