Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are less common symptoms of COVID-19. Still, when they do occur, they tend to be some of the first symptoms you will experience. Diarrhea caused by COVID-19 tends to be more watery, yellow or green in color. It may be accompanied by cramping and bloating.
COVID-19 might cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea — either alone or with other COVID-19 symptoms. Digestive symptoms sometimes develop before a fever and respiratory symptoms. Loss of smell or taste. A new loss of smell or taste — without a stuffy nose — is a common early symptom of COVID-19 .
COVID-19 gastrointestinal symptoms – Up to one-third of patients with COVID-19 initially present with gastrointestinal rather than respiratory symptoms, most commonly anorexia, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and abdominal pain.
An inflammatory response occurs once COVID attaches to the ACE2 receptors, causing diarrhea and other GI symptoms. Some people, especially children, experience diarrhea as an initial COVID symptom, while for others it's the only symptom.
Fever or chills. Cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Fatigue.
The time from exposure to symptom onset (known as the incubation period) is thought to be two to 14 days. Symptoms typically appeared within five days for early variants, and within four days for the Delta variant. The incubation period appears to be even shorter – about three days – for the Omicron variant.
On June 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added three symptoms to its COVID-19 list: Congestion/stuffy nose, nausea and diarrhea. Those three new conditions now join other symptoms identified by the CDC: Fever.
Many people who are infected have more mild symptoms like a scratchy throat, stuffy or runny nose, occasional mild cough, fatigue, and no fever. Some people have no symptoms at all, but they can still spread the disease.” Fever seems to be one of the more common early markers of COVID-19, Kline noted.
Your infectious period
The COVID-19 infectious period can vary, but most people are considered infectious from 48 hours before their symptoms start and can be infectious for up to 10 days.
Vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by a number of things. These include viruses, bacteria, parasites, certain medicines, or certain medical conditions. Foods that are hard to digest (such as too many sweets) and undercooked (raw or partially raw) meat or fish can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.
If nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur together, it could be due to gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the digestive tract. It is also known as the “stomach flu.” Fever or abdominal cramps may also be present if you have gastroenteritis.
Those with severe COVID-19 may remain infectious beyond 10 days and may need to extend isolation for up to 20 days. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should isolate through at least day 20.
How long do omicron symptoms last? Most people who test positive with any variant of COVID-19 typically experience some symptoms for a couple weeks. People who have long COVID-19 symptoms can experience health problems for four or more weeks after first being infected, according to the CDC.
Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, vomiting or diarrhea, and skin rashes.
Negative. A negative COVID-19 test means the test did not detect the virus, but this doesn't rule out that you could have an infection.
We first noticed that some patients early in the pandemic with the original COVID strain developed infection of the outer layer of the eye, also known as conjunctivitis or pink eye. Recently, this has been noticed in a small number of patients with COVID, even those without other symptoms.
You are most infectious (or contagious) in the first 5 days after your symptoms start. You can also spread COVID-19 in the 48 hours before your symptoms start.
You can have COVID-19 and spread it to others even if you do not have symptoms. Your COVID-19 test can be negative even if you are infected. Most people do not test positive for the virus until days after exposure. You may also be exposed to the virus afteryou are tested and then get infected.
Even if mild symptoms remain, you are likely not contagious after 10 days. However, if you have a weakened immune system or severe illness (requiring hospitalization, intensive care or even intubation), you can be contagious for up to three weeks or more.