# COVID symptoms, vomiting blood? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210 "2020-04-20T19:00:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/1 "2020-04-20T19:00:13Z")
I don’t need an answer fast, but I heard about a college kid (friend of my son) who had to take his mom to the hospital today because she was vomiting blood. Unfortunately the mom has multiple health conditions but I don’t have any more details. I just feel bad for the son, who is a nice guy and has really stepped up to help his mom over the past couple of years; he’s the health care proxy for her and manages all health related issues. If it were coughing up blood I would suspect COVID more strongly. With vomiting maybe it’s “just” an ulcer and not Covid? Googling is coming up with spitting up blood as a symptom but not throwing up? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/2 "2020-04-20T19:14:07Z")
Serious question: why in the world would you be worried whether this woman has covid-19? No, as your google search showed, vomiting blood isn’t a recognized symptom of covid-19 but it is a fucking scary symptom of whatever the hell it is. “Hey, this buddy of mine just started bleeding from his eyes. Should we be worried about covid-19?” ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/3 "2020-04-20T19:23:06Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Serious question: why in the world would you be worried whether this woman has covid-19? Seriously? Why in the world? Because the son is worried that his mom has it. In this climate and with spitting up blood I can see why someone would be worried. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/4 "2020-04-20T19:30:25Z")
No, it’s a silly worry. I don’t blame a young guy taking care of his mom for that worry but there’s shitloads worse things than covid-19 that she is probably at least as high risk of with her multiple health issues. And what if someone comes in here and tells you “you can’t find this on Google but 1/1000 people with covid-19 vomit blood” you’re going to send him a message saying “yes, it’s not impossible that it’s covid”. Then what? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/5 "2020-04-20T19:32:28Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > No, it’s a silly worry. Can you please stop being a dick? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/6 "2020-04-20T19:35:27Z")
Not if being a dick is appropriate. Thanks for the suggestion though. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/7 "2020-04-20T19:39:14Z")
OP, I don’t know if vomiting blood is a sign of COVID-19, but I understand your very normal and appropriate concern. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/8 "2020-04-20T19:40:27Z")
_Coughing_ blood can be a sign of a pulmonary embolism or pneumonia which is associated with COVID. _Vomiting_ blood comes from a different bag and is likely something else. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/9 "2020-04-20T19:48:55Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > OP, I don’t know if vomiting blood is a sign of COVID-19, but I understand your very normal and appropriate concern. It’s only normal because of the top of the charts concern about this virus throughout society. It is still, without a doubt, silly. If this woman started vomiting blood six months ago, her son would rightly freak out because it’s a scary sign of internal damage. A bunch of scary things could be going on. Covid-19 is not the scariest. “Don’t worry, it’s only stomach cancer not covid”. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/10 "2020-04-20T20:12:51Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Not if being a dick is appropriate. Thanks for the suggestion though. **Moderator Instructions** Being a dick is never appropriate. Since you appear to concede that your posts amount to being a dick, I’m instructing you to stop posting in this thread. You don’t seem to have anything to contribute except thread-shitting. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/11 "2020-04-20T20:16:52Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Can you please stop being a dick? Thanks. **Moderator Warning** This is a warning for insults and junior modding. If you see someone engaging in obnoxious behavior, report it rather than insulting them. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/12 "2020-04-20T20:22:15Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Instructions** > > Being a dick is never appropriate. Since you appear to concede that your posts amount to being a dick, I’m instructing you to stop posting in this thread. You don’t seem to have anything to contribute except thread-shitting. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Bullshit that I conceded anything and double bullshit that you’re essentially backing up the post that you subsequently warned. But fine with me, everyone can discuss vomiting blood without me. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/13 "2020-04-20T21:51:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Bullshit that I conceded anything and double bullshit that you’re essentially backing up the post that you subsequently warned. But fine with me, everyone can discuss vomiting blood without me. **Moderator Warning** Ok, the first one was an instruction, but this one is a warning for violating moderator instructions and being a jerk. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/14 "2020-04-21T02:40:14Z")
As above. There is a big difference between coughing up blood and vomiting blood. Both are bad. However vomiting blood is a “get to ER right now” condition. Life threatening medical emergency. It is quite unlikely to have anything to do with Covid-19. Hope your friend’s Mum is OK. Not much fun. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/15 "2020-04-21T03:00:00Z")
Why is it weird to ask this? Stomach cancer or ulcers would suck, but wouldn’t be as contagious, and therefore wouldn’t put OP’s friend at risk. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/16 "2020-04-21T03:10:19Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > As above. There is a big difference between coughing up blood and vomiting blood. Both are bad. However vomiting blood is a “get to ER right now” condition. Life threatening medical emergency. It is quite unlikely to have anything to do with Covid-19. > > Hope your friend’s Mum is OK. Not much fun. Yeah…the last time I saw my maternal grandmother was shortly after informing my parents that she was throwing up blood. (I was too young to visit her in the ICU, barely seven, before…). It’s how my folks and she and my grandfather definitively learned that her breast cancer had spread a lot. It’s definitely time for a hospital visit. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/17 "2020-04-21T03:25:13Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > As above. There is a big difference between coughing up blood and vomiting blood. Both are bad. However vomiting blood is a “get to ER right now” condition. Life threatening medical emergency. It is quite unlikely to have anything to do with Covid-19. > > Hope your friend’s Mum is OK. Not much fun. It’s a “call 911 and do not drive yourself to the hospital” kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/18 "2020-04-21T03:46:26Z")
I hope your friend and son are alright. Horrible time to have to go to the ER for anything. Scary stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/19 "2020-04-21T04:57:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I hope your friend and son are alright. Horrible time to have to go to the ER for anything. > Scary stuff. I’ll have to try and find the article. Doctors like cardiologists are concerned they are not seeing the normal amount of patients coming in for emergencies. It’s not that people are suddenly better, they are afraid to go to the hospital and may put it off until it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210/20 "2020-04-21T04:58:53Z")
Thanks to all who expressed concern! My son hasn’t heard any updates yet after his friend rushed his mom to the hospital. To add context to the worries, they’re 30 minutes from NYC; Nassau County where they live currently has 30,677 confirmed COVID cases and 1329 deaths. Hospitals in the county are very busy; we know someone who works in the hospital closest to them who says that in spite of the area supposedly being past the peak of infections, things still haven’t slowed down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-symptoms-vomiting-blood/852210.md?page=2)