Why Do Experts Think Nausea and Vomiting Could Be Unexpected Signs of Omicron COVID-19 Infection?

• The pair of symptoms aren't as common with other seasonal infections, according to infectious disease experts, and should serve as a caution.

• Unknown causes of nausea and vomiting may indicate that your body is reacting to a COVID-19 infection caused by Omicron spread.

• Seasonal colds aren't frequently associated with vomiting, according to doctors, but the absence of concurrent symptoms may indicate additional gastrointestinal difficulties or health issues related to COVID-19.

• It is possible that a COVID-19 infection will just produce nausea or vomiting, especially if the infection is a breakthrough infection.

• Experts say it's critical to get checked if you start experiencing other known symptoms, such as fever or body aches, in addition to vomiting.

If doctors know anything about the Omicron version of SARS-CoV-2, it's that this strain can frequently cause COVID-19 symptoms that don't always involve shortness of breath or loss of smell and taste.

Data collected in December and January by prominent infectious disease specialists around the world show that Omicron infections are becoming more common in people with upper respiratory tract symptoms. While a cold-like sore throat is more typical during an Omicron infection, physicians emphasize that all recognized COVID-19 symptoms are a possibility for persons affected by Omicron — including one specific symptom that may be first misguided during the winter season.

More health professionals are noting a stream of COVID-19 patients reporting feeling nauseous and sick or having vomiting uncontrollably as a primary symptom. Although nausea and vomiting do not immediately equate to a covid-19 infection, these symptoms may present first before other gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, as tufts medical center providers noted. And the point is that neither case covid-19 is the same; the time and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms like these can lead you to believe that you are suffering from a simple case of food poisoning.

According to Shruti Gohil, M.D., an associate medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention at University of California Irvine Health, chronic nausea and vomiting are not primary symptoms for common colds or most flu cases, and should be considered secondary potential root issues when compared to food poisoning or a COVID-19 infection. When combined with the symptoms listed below, nausea should lead you to take the next steps in getting your symptoms assessed.

What are some other signs of a COVID-19 infection?

If you're unsure whether stomach problems are linked to a potential COVID-19 illness, you're not alone; studies on the role of gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID spread during the pandemic has surprised many. According to a scholarly review published in the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection in 2021, nausea and vomiting were more frequently related with first symptoms than other side effects. The authors of the review speculate that nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may be triggered in a COVID-19 infection as a result of our body's inflammatory reaction to the virus infection.

Dr. Gohil emphasizes that an Omicron-fueled COVID-19 infection may begin with gastrointestinal symptoms before progressing to one or more symptoms. According to federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, below is a list of conditions to be cautious of:

• Fever and chills throughout the body
• Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
• Headache
• Runny nose or congestion
• Throat discomfort
• Cough
• Fatigue, muscle and body aches
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

"You should get tested for COVID-19 if you get any of the 11 recognized COVID symptoms," says Dr. Gohil, adding that if you suffer many symptoms at the same time, you're more likely to be infected. "However, there are various causes of nausea and vomiting, so you should consult your doctor to see if you require additional testing."

Are nausea and vomiting symptoms of Omicron infections?

While not commonly connected with seasonal colds, nausea can be caused by a variety of other ailments, including food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome, dehydration, ulcers, and even mental concerns such as worry. Dr. Gohil notes that if nausea is your main symptom, a call or visit to your primary healthcare physician may be the only option to figure out what's making you sick. "This list of potential difficulties is lengthy, but your doctor should be able to work through it pretty simply after discussing your history and, if necessary, examining you."

Don't dismiss sickness as something else if you've lately been exposed to someone with a confirmed COVID-19 infection. According to Tufts' scientists, SARS-CoV-2 can reach the digestive system directly in some situations, which means that those who have become infected may only have gastrointestinal symptoms. Cell surface receptors in the GI tract are 100 times "more numerous" than those in the lungs, making them extremely vulnerable to pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 virus particles.

Dr. Gohil advises keeping a careful check on your nausea and trying to rule out more evident causes of chronic vomiting. If you have these symptoms for an extended period of time and can't figure out why, or if they progress to other respiratory concerns, the best treatment is to get a COVID-19 test.

In conclusion

The same authors of the 2021 COVID-19 review say that both healthcare professionals and the general public should be more aware of nausea during the pandemic. "Recognizing symptoms of nausea and vomiting can lead to early testing and diagnosis of COVID-19, and help people battle the virus in the long term," they stated at the time.

Omicron will most likely affect your upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as sore throats, headaches, congestion, and fever. However, if your vomiting is abrupt and inexplicable, it should drive you to get tested or contact your doctor, especially if it is accompanied by any other respiratory issue.

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About me: Clarisse La Grone is a born and raised San Francisco native who's been living in the beautiful Antioch region for the past 10 years. Her passion is finding new and interesting ways to enjoy the city and its surroundings. On weekends, you can find her curating events in the Bay Area with her partner, sampling food at new and unique restaurants, making homemade kombucha, or bowling with her friends. Clarisse also enjoys writing about local businesses and finding ways to help them grow and connect with the community at Antioch Aired.