The causes of vomiting vary, but generally occur due to gastroenteritis or inflammation of the digestive tract. Vomiting is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by vomiting and diarrhea.
In mild stages, vomiting can be handled independently. But in severe stages, vomiting can cause dehydration that requires further treatment. Therefore, it is better to prevent it from the start, by knowing and avoiding the various causes of vomiting.
Recognizing the Causes of Vomiting
The causes of vomiting vary, ranging from viral infections, bacteria, to parasites. The following are the types of microorganisms that can cause vomiting:
viral infection
Vomiting caused by a viral infection is the most common type of vomiting. Some types of viruses that can be the cause are: Norovirus, Rotavirus, Astovirus, and Adenovirus.
These viruses can be transmitted through water or food contaminated with animal or human feces.
Bacterial infection
There are various bacteria that can cause vomiting, including: Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Yersinia.
The bacteria can be spread through undercooked food or unpasteurized milk, causing infections in the digestive tract and vomiting.
Parasitic infection
Some types of parasites, such as Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, Crystosporidium, and Cyclospora cayetanensis, can infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting. This parasite can be spread through the consumption of water that is not cooked properly.
In addition to the three pathogens above, chemicals and drugs, such as antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, can also cause vomiting.
Who is More at Risk of Suffering from Vomiting?
Anyone can experience vomiting, but people with weak immune systems are more at risk for vomiting. In addition, in communities that use shared toilets, the spread of germs that cause vomiting is also easier.
How to Prevent Vomiting
Once you know the cause, you can take the following steps to prevent vomiting:
- Wash your hands regularly, especially before and after preparing food, before and after eating, before and after changing a baby's diaper, and after defecating or urinating.
- Maintain food hygiene, starting from the process of washing, storing, cooking, and serving it. Also keep cooking utensils and cutlery clean, such as knives, cutting boards, spoons, glasses, and plates.
- Cooking food until it is completely cooked before consumption, especially meat and eggs.
- Maintain cleanliness of bathrooms and toilets.
- Drink water that has been boiled until cooked or bottled water that is guaranteed to be clean.
You can also prevent vomiting by getting a rotavirus vaccination. When experiencing vomiting, it is advisable not to go to work or school until fully recovered, so that the disease does not spread to other people.
Vomiting can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. This condition is easily contagious, so you need to take various efforts to prevent vomiting as described above. When experiencing vomiting, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
