From the Guidelines
Yes, you can experience stomach pain after a recent viral infection, known as post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS), which has been reported to occur in up to 14.5% of cases after infectious enteritis, as found in a 2019 study 1. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, bloating, or changes in bowel habits, which typically resolve within a few weeks as the body fully recovers. To manage post-viral stomach pain, it is recommended to:
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
- Stay hydrated
- Temporarily avoid spicy, fatty, or gas-producing foods Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) at standard doses of 500-1000mg every 6 hours (not exceeding 4000mg daily) may help with pain relief, as well as antacids such as Tums or Pepcid (famotidine 20mg twice daily) to reduce acid-related discomfort 1. It is essential to seek medical attention promptly if the stomach pain is severe, persists beyond 2-3 weeks, is accompanied by high fever, bloody stools, or significant weight loss, or if you're unable to keep fluids down, as these could indicate a more serious condition requiring specific treatment. The risk of developing PI-IBS has been found to be higher after bacterial than viral infection, with a 4.2-fold risk for developing IBS over 12 months of follow-up, which decreases to 2.3-fold in studies extended beyond 12 months 1. Additionally, functional dyspepsia (FD) has been found to overlap with IBS in up to 50% of cases, and the occurrence of PI-FD has been described, with a prevalence similar to that of PI-IBS (9%) 1.
From the Research
Stomach Pain after Viral Infection
- Stomach pain can occur after a viral infection, as evidenced by several studies 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study published in 2021 reported a case of a 28-year-old patient who developed severe epigastric pain and peritonism after a SARS-CoV-2 infection 2.
- Another study found that 6.1% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 experienced abdominal pain during their hospitalization, and 7.5% reported abdominal pain at follow-up 3.
- The expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in the gastrointestinal tract may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, in COVID-19 patients 4, 5.
- Viral infections can also cause damage to the enteric nervous system, leading to gastrointestinal motility disorders and symptoms such as abdominal pain 6.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms after Viral Infection
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain, are common in patients with COVID-19 3, 4, 5.
- A study found that 40% of COVID-19 survivors reported new gastrointestinal symptoms after recovery, including abdominal pain 3.
- The mechanisms of viral infection in the gastrointestinal nervous system and the associated clinical manifestations are not fully understood and require further study 6.