How is vomiting transmitted and spread?

Gastroenteritis (vomiting) is a contagious digestive disorder and can happen to anyone. Find out how this disease, also known as the stomach flu, is contagious in the following.

Can vomiting be contagious?

The main cause of vomiting is infection, both from viruses, bacteria, and parasites. All three can spread from one person to another in many ways. This condition is usually found in infants and children, but adults can experience it too.

One of the causes of the highly contagious stomach flu is a viral infection. Gastroenteritis due to viral infections, especially norovirus, has a high rate of spread.

If an infected person passes the virus to other people, especially children and babies with weakened immune systems, there is a high risk of developing stomach flu symptoms.

That is why, the number of cases of vomiting is quite large, especially in some developing countries with poor sanitation.

By recognizing how this disease is transmitted, at least you can undergo vomiting prevention efforts.

How vomiting is contagious

As previously explained, the various pathogens that cause vomiting can be transmitted from one person to another in various ways. However, stomach flu is usually transmitted through consumption of contaminated food and drink.

In addition, there are a number of other modes of transmission that can expose a person to the viruses or bacteria that cause stomach flu. Here are a few things that can cause these pathogens to spread.

1. Consumption of contaminated food and drink

One of the ways vomiting can be transmitted is by consuming food and drinks that are contaminated with the virus or bacteria that causes stomach flu. What are some examples?

Snack carelessly on the side of the road

One of the easiest examples of transmitting vomiting viruses or bacteria is indiscriminate snacks on the side of the road.

You see, snacking in a place where the hygiene is not maintained, sometimes you can't be sure whether the ingredients have been washed clean. You also cannot see whether the ingredients have been processed with clean cooking utensils.

When it has been washed, you also cannot be 100 percent sure whether the water used is clean or dirty water. The reason is, dirty water that is used to wash and process food ingredients is very likely to contain germs that cause stomach flu.

For example, the Shigella bacteria and the parasite Giardia are pathogens that live in dirty water.

Undercooked dishes

Not only that, vomiting can also be transmitted because the germs that cause stomach flu may be in foods that you don't eat. For example, E. coli is often found in undercooked beef, raw seafood, and unwashed fruit and vegetables.

Meanwhile, the bacteria Staph, Yersinia, and Salmonella typhi are also often found in raw meat and eggs, as well as milk that has not passed the pasteurization process.

That is why, snacking on the side of the road is one example of a place where vomiting is transmitted. This is because the processing and cooking process is very fast, so you cannot see whether the food is cooked or not.

Hand hygiene of food processors

In addition to processing food ingredients, the cleanliness of people who process food ingredients also needs attention. Have they washed their hands with soap or not before handling their food.

If not, the germs that are on his hands can move to the food and eventually enter the body. This also applies to in your own home when you don't wash your hands after defecating and start cooking right away.

The germs from the hands can transfer to the ingredients and cooking utensils used which will later enter the body. These various possibilities can increase the risk of infectious vomiting in the environment, both outside and at home.

2. Direct contact with sufferers

Vomiting is also not only transmitted through contaminated food and drink, but also direct contact with sufferers. This is very possible if you and the sufferer both do not maintain personal hygiene.

The following are some examples of direct contact, either direct or indirect, that can increase the risk of transmitting gastroenteritis.

Do not wash your hands after going to the toilet

One example of why indirect contact with sufferers can lead to contagious vomiting is not washing your hands after going to the toilet. Patients who do not wash their hands immediately after defecating in the toilet are prone to transmitting this disease.

The reason is, when he touches other objects that people are likely to touch, such as door handles or water taps, the risk of infection increases.

Stomach flu may occur afterwards if you don't wash your hands and eat by hand, lick your fingers, or bite your nails. This habit can make the germs that cause vomiting move into the body.

If so, you may also be able to spread the disease without realizing it after being exposed to germs from previous sufferers, such as:

touching other objects around,
shaking hands with other people, or
feed the child.

Viruses and bacteria that cause vomiting can be found on the surface of any object you are likely to touch, not always from the toilet. Hands are an excellent agent for transferring disease-causing viruses and bacteria to other people.

3. Through vomiting of vomiting sufferers

One of the symptoms of vomiting that most sufferers experience is vomiting. The liquid can get on clothes, floors, sheets, or other objects around it.

Those of you who treat people with stomach flu need to be vigilant. The reason is, some vomiting viruses can be transmitted through the vomit. This can occur when vomit is not cleaned up or washed off properly.

For example, a spoon that has been splashed by vomit that is not cleaned properly and is used by other people to eat is a contaminated item. This is because the bacteria left on the surface of the spoon can enter the mouth when feeding food and infect the digestive system.

4. By air

Did you know that one of the viruses that cause vomiting, namely norovirus, can actually spread through the air?

According to research from the journal Clinical infectious disease, norovirus is found in aerosols and can spread through the air. Experts in this study tried to collect air samples from about 26 norovirus patients.

The sample will be analyzed for norovirus RNA and based on the last time the patient vomited and had diarrhea. As a result, norovirus RNA was found in 21 of 86 air samples from 10 different patients.

Even so, only air samples during infection or before subsequent infection tested positive for norovirus RNA. In addition, this virus also remains in the air for a short time since the patient vomits.

The experts then concluded that vomiting due to norovirus can be transmitted through the air through vomiting. The presence of norovirus RNA in vomiting is an important factor that makes airborne transmission possible.

However, further research is still needed to see airborne transmission of vomiting.

How to prevent infectious vomiting

After knowing how vomiting is transmitted, of course you want to know what needs to be done as a way to prevent gastroenteritis?

Although it is highly contagious, catching the stomach flu is actually quite easy to do. Here are some things that need to be considered so as not to be infected with viruses or bacteria that cause vomiting.

Rotavirus vaccine

Rotavirus is a virus that causes vomiting. By getting the rotavirus vaccine, you at least reduce the risk of transmitting vomiting. The rotavirus vaccine can usually be given to children aged one year.

Wash your hands frequently

One way to prevent vomiting is to wash your hands diligently. Washing your hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds can reduce the risk of viruses or bacteria sticking to your hands.

After washing your hands, it's best to avoid people who have recently vomited or have diarrhea whenever possible. When you come into contact with someone who is sick, always wash your hands immediately. This also applies to people who care for sick people.

When you're traveling, you can occasionally clean your hands with a hand sanitizer. Even so, it cannot completely replace your hand washing routine with soap.

Keep food clean

Apart from hands, you also need to pay attention to the cleanliness of food ingredients as an effort to prevent vomiting. Contaminated food and drink is one of the main reasons why vomiting can be transmitted.

So that viruses and bacteria do not stick to your food, there are a number of things that need to be considered, including the following.