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Published on: 7/15/2026

What could cause coughing, vomiting, and fever simultaneously?

Yoshinori Abe

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Coughing, vomiting, and fever often occur together as symptoms of a viral infection such as COVID-19, influenza, or gastroenteritis. These illnesses can affect both the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems simultaneously, causing overlapping symptoms. Other possible causes include whooping cough, pneumonia, or severe post-nasal drip triggering a gag reflex.

Because these symptoms can point to several different conditions—some mild, others more serious—it's important to identify the likely cause quickly. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you understand what may be behind your symptoms and guide you on the best next steps, whether that's home care or seeing a doctor. It takes only a few minutes and could save you hours of worry.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Coughing, vomiting, and fever happening at the same time can be caused by infections that affect different parts of the body. One example is COVID-19, which can affect the lungs and the stomach.

Causes:

  • COVID-19 in Children: COVID-19 can cause many symptoms, including cough, fever, and sometimes stomach problems like vomiting. This is because the virus can affect both the lungs and the stomach.
  • COVID-19 in Adults: Adults with COVID-19 can also show unusual symptoms like these. Sometimes, the virus can cause problems in the lungs and the stomach at the same time.

Other Factors:

  • Pregnancy: Pregnant women can have these symptoms too. They might get a fever and cough if they have an infection, and pregnancy can also cause stomach problems like vomiting.

If you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms, try our free AI symptom checker to help identify what might be causing them and determine if you need to seek medical care.

(References)

  • Jha N, Balachandran DM, & Jha AK. (2021). Fever, cough and gastrointestinal symptoms in a pregnant .... Clinical medicine (London, England), 34507938.

  • Melo MM, Neta MMR, Neto ARS, Carvalho ARB, Magalhães RLB, Valle ARMC, et al. (2022). Symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas, 35703681.

  • Rahman A, Alqaisi S, & Downing C. (2021). Unusual Presentation of COVID Pneumonia as .... Cureus, 34567889.

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