Why does my brother have no appetite post-COVID infection?

Question

Hi doctor,

My brother, aged 40, got tested positive for COVID two weeks back, and he immediately started taking covid treatment from home. However, after a week of medication from home, he did not recover, and last week he got admitted to a hospital due to low oxygen levels. After treatment for four days, he recovered and got discharged a few days back. After coming home, his oxygen levels are fine, and also the temperature is normal. Now the primary complaint of my brother is not able to eat food. He has no appetite. He is feeling hesitant and also nauseous. He is getting weaker and losing weight due to this. He is getting depressed and frustrated as he cannot eat and also does not feel hungry. I have attached all the reports taken during his treatment in the hospital. Does the lung inflammation due to pneumonia from COVID cause any blockage in the food pipe? Is the lung inflammation caused by the COVID permanent damage, or will the lungs heal completely during recovery? Please advise ways to improve his appetite, doctor. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your brother's case, and it fits into the mild-moderate category of covid infection according to the latest clinical algorithm. Commonly, the post-COVID sequelae have a lot of gastric symptoms and weakness. So do not worry, as the condition will improve. Does the lung inflammation due to pneumonia from covid cause any blockage to the food pipe? The COVID infection cannot enter into food pipe as the virus disintegrates with the stomach acid. However, it can cause loose motions as it affects the intestines with no acid secretion. However, in case of the inflammation of the lungs, the secretions in the lungs can flow backward and enter the food pipe. This is called reverse aspiration. But if the inflammation is only on a cellular and tissue level, it will not affect the food pipe. Does the inflammation or lunge damages caused by covid are permanent damage, or will the lungs heal back completely normal during recovery? There is no clear answer to this scientifically. Unfortunately, we have not seen patients with this disease for a long time, so only time will tell. However, in all other viral cases of pneumonia, recovery happens with some amount of scarring. But more or less, the lung function is adequately retained. Please advise improving the appetite. This will get better with time. You can start with a liquid diet and then build up. I suggest your brother take (consult with a specialist doctor, talk with him or her and take the medicines with their consent) capsule Pantop-D SR (Domperidone and Pantoprazole) 40 once daily, capsule Centrum once daily. If nausea persists, take tablet Ondem (Ondansetron) 4 mg three times a day. Thank you.