Can Vomiting Be a Symptom of COVID-19?

Common COVID-19 symptoms are expected ones of respiratory diseases: fever, persistent cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. Many people with COVID also experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. SARS-CoV-2, or the virus that causes COVID, has been shown to affect cells in the gut.

Nausea or vomiting on their own may not always signal COVID. Other causes include medical treatments, other GI-related illnesses, or emotional stress.

Vomiting and COVID-19

Research has found that GI issues, including nausea and vomiting, are symptoms of COVID. These symptoms may be in addition to respiratory symptoms.

GI issues are not the most common signs of COVID. In a study from Egypt published in 2022, about 27% of people with COVID had GI symptoms. Vomiting was the most commonly reported GI symptom—about 11% of all participants experienced it.

A U.S. study published in 2022 found that almost half of people with COVID admitted to the hospital had at least one GI symptom. About 16% of all participants experienced vomiting.

What Causes Vomiting?

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may cause GI issues, including nausea and vomiting. ACE2 is a protein on the surface of cells. The SARS-CoV-2, or the virus that causes COVID, uses ACE2 to unlock and invade the cells in your respiratory system.

ACE2 exists not only in the lungs but also in the gut. You may develop nausea and vomiting if SARS-CoV-2 affects these cells.

Other Causes

Nausea and vomiting can also happen due to other COVID-related situations, such as medications and stress. Research has found that COVID treatments during hospitalization can result in nausea and vomiting for some people.

COVID-related stress and anxiety can be responsible for nausea and vomiting. You may find yourself feeling nauseous easily because of stress. Vomiting can occur if stress is severe enough.

GI symptoms may also be the result of other illnesses or infections. Nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of the following:

• Appendicitis
• Food allergies
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Intestinal blockages
• Medicines or medical treatments
• Migraines
• Morning sickness in pregnancy
• Motion sickness
• Small intestinal or stomach ulcers
• Stomach or bowel infections caused by bacteria and viruses, like food poisoning or the stomach flu

How Long Does It Last?

Research has shown that nausea and vomiting typically occur before respiratory symptoms. These symptoms can last up to seven days.

COVID may also lead to GI problems after recovery. The study authors suggested that 16% to 40% of participants experienced vomiting for one month or longer. Other research has shown that GI issues, including nausea and vomiting, were signs of long COVID.

When To Get Tested for COVID-19

You must get tested for COVID to know if it's the cause of nausea or vomiting. It's the only way to confirm you have the infection.

You may receive a COVID test if you have the following symptoms in addition to GI issues:

• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Muscle aches
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose

A healthcare provider can complete a physical exam—including looking out for symptoms of dehydration—to diagnose your condition. They will ask for more information about your symptoms and consider your health history. A healthcare provider might use diagnostic tests, such as blood tests or an ultrasound, to determine what may make you vomit or feel nauseous.

Treatments

You can typically treat mild COVID symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, at home. The following home remedies can help:

• Avoid strong smells that can worsen symptoms.
• Consume smaller, more frequent meals rather than three large meals.
• Eat bland foods, such as bananas, crackers, or rice.
• Sip small amounts of fluids regularly to avoid dehydration.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

See a healthcare provider for the following if you experience general nausea and vomiting:

• Belief that the symptoms are due to poisoning
• Fever
• Inability to keep food or liquids down
• Nausea that lasts for longer than 48 hours
• No urination for eight or more hours
• Notice of blood or dark substances in vomit
• Stiff neck or headache
• Severe stomach pain
• Vomiting three or more times within a day or longer than a day
• Weakness

A Quick Review

Nausea and vomiting can be signs of COVID. They may also be side effects of COVID treatments, stress, and other conditions like migraines or food allergies. The only way to know for sure that you have COVID is to get tested. See a healthcare provider for problems related to nausea and vomiting and warning signs of severe COVID infection.

The information in this story is accurate as of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.