What causes sudden diarrhea and nausea? What are the symptoms of this condition? How can it be treated? Get the answers to these questions and more.

Causes of Sudden Diarrhea and Nausea

There are several potential causes for the sudden onset of diarrhea and nausea. Some of the most common include:

Viral Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

Viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, is a highly contagious condition caused by various viruses that can lead to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, and chills.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when you ingest contaminated food or drink, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Symptoms typically include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

Stress and Anxiety

Strong emotions like fear, stress, or anxiety can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to the activation of stress hormones that can disrupt the digestive system and cause diarrhea or vomiting.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of severe vomiting with no obvious cause. These episodes may be accompanied by diarrhea, intense sweating, and severe nausea.

Traveler’s Diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by consuming contaminated food or water while traveling, often in regions with subpar sanitary conditions. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Motion Sickness

Motion sickness can occur when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from the inner ear and other sensory systems about the body’s movement. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Pregnancy-Related Digestive Issues

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are common occurrences during pregnancy, often caused by hormonal changes and the physical demands on the digestive system.

Symptoms of Sudden Diarrhea and Nausea

The primary symptoms associated with the sudden onset of diarrhea and nausea include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Chills
• Dehydration

Treatment for Sudden Diarrhea and Nausea

The treatment for sudden diarrhea and nausea will depend on the underlying cause, but some general guidelines include:

Hydration

Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, broth, or electrolyte-rich beverages, is crucial to prevent dehydration.

Rest

Getting plenty of rest can help the body recover and allow the digestive system to heal.

Dietary Changes

Avoiding solid foods and consuming a bland, easy-to-digest diet, such as the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet, can help settle the stomach.

Medication

Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications or anti-nausea medications may provide relief in some cases. Prescription medications may be necessary for more severe or persistent symptoms.

Addressing the Underlying Cause

If the diarrhea and nausea are caused by a specific condition, such as food poisoning or a viral infection, treating the underlying cause is essential for recovery.

When to Seek Medical Attention

It’s important to seek medical attention if the diarrhea and nausea are accompanied by severe symptoms, such as:

• Persistent vomiting
• Bloody or severe diarrhea
• Severe dehydration
• Fever
• Abdominal pain

In these cases, it’s crucial to identify the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment to prevent complications and ensure a full recovery.

Prevention Tips

To help prevent the sudden onset of diarrhea and nausea, consider the following tips:

• Practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing
• Be cautious when consuming food or water while traveling
• Manage stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques
• Avoid potential triggers for conditions like cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet to support digestive health

Conclusion

The sudden onset of diarrhea and nausea can have a variety of underlying causes, ranging from viral infections and food poisoning to stress and pregnancy-related issues. Understanding the potential causes, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking appropriate treatment are crucial for managing this condition and ensuring a full recovery.

20 Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

You may experience nausea due to an infection, such as the stomach flu or food poisoning. It can also occur due to other health conditions, including food intolerances and heavy metal poisoning.

When your digestive system becomes irritated, or is exposed to something potentially damaging to your health, the nerves signal your system to expel its contents as quickly as possible. Vomiting, diarrhea, or both are the result.

These two symptoms often go together, and are typically linked to common conditions, such as a stomach virus or food poisoning.

Since diarrhea and vomiting are associated with many diagnoses, it may be hard to know what’s causing them. Here are some of the possible causes.

Viral gastroenteritis is a contagious, common condition caused by several different virus strains, such as the norovirus. Also known as the stomach flu, it’s not the same thing as the flu, which is a respiratory condition.

Viral gastroenteritis causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines. You can get it from close contact with people or contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms vary based on the underlying virus but typically include:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• achiness
• fever
• chills

Gastroenteritis usually clears up on its own within a few days. Treatment is centered on avoiding dehydration by sipping water or other fluids.

Food poisoning is caused by eating or drinking something contaminated with bacteria, a virus, or parasite. Mold and chemical or natural toxins can also cause food poisoning.

Millions of people come down with food poisoning annually in the United States. Symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps

In most instances, these symptoms are mild and resolve on their own within one to two days. Food poisoning can, however, cause severe symptoms which require medical treatment.

If you’ve ever had a nervous stomach, you already know that strong emotion can affect your gut. Your digestive system can be adversely affected by fear, stress, or anxiety. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or dry heaving.

Powerful emotions trigger the fight-or-flight response. This puts your body on high alert, activating stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones signal your intestines to empty.

They also divert blood away from your stomach to the vital organs you may need most in an emergency, and cause abdominal muscles to clench. All of these physical reactions can bring on diarrhea or vomiting.

Reducing stress with deep breathing exercises and addressing anxiety with a mental health professional can help.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is earmarked by episodes of severe vomiting that have no obvious cause. These episodes can last for hours or even days.

They often start at the same time of day, last for the same amount of time, and are uniform in severity. These episodes may be interspersed with periods of time when no vomiting occurs.

Other symptoms can include:

• diarrhea
• intense sweating
• retching
• severe nausea

The cause of cyclic vomiting syndrome is unknown, but stress or a family history of migraine may be a factor, especially in children.

Some triggers for this condition include caffeine, cheese, or chocolate. Avoiding these foods may help reduce or eliminate attacks.

A change in environment, especially to a place with less-than-optimal sanitary conditions, may result in traveler’s diarrhea. This condition is caused by eating or drinking something unclean or contaminated. Symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• stomach cramps
• nausea
• vomiting

Traveler’s diarrhea usually clears up on its own once you’re no longer eating or drinking the contaminated items. See your doctor to identify the bacteria or organism that is causing the diarrhea if:

• it persists for more than a few days
• it’s accompanied by severe dehydration
• you have bloody or severe diarrhea
• you have persistent vomiting

Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications can help. In some instances, prescribed medications may be necessary.

Motion sickness can happen at any age. It can be triggered by traveling in a car, boat, airplane or other vehicle.

Motion sickness happens when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from the inner ear and other sensory systems about your body’s flow of movement. That’s why turning your head or body in a moving vehicle can instigate an episode of motion sickness.

Symptoms include:

• feeling queasy
• breaking out in cold sweats
• getting urgent diarrhea
• vomiting

There are medications you can take prior to traveling which may help you avoid motion sickness. A few home remedies include:

• resting
• chewing gum
• drinking ginger ale
• taking a ginger supplement

Motion sickness usually dissipates within several hours.

Digestive issues are common occurrences during pregnancy. These include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation

Nausea and vomiting often occur during the first 16 weeks, when hormonal changes are taking place. It helps if you avoid strong-smelling foods and eat small, frequent meals.

Severe, unending nausea and vomiting during pregnancy may be caused by an uncommon disorder called hyperemesis gravidarum.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vaginal discharge and low back pain, let your doctor know immediately. Sometimes this triad of symptoms means you’re going into preterm labor.

Some prescription medications may cause vomiting and diarrhea as side effects. These include some antibiotics. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea may cause:

• loose stool
• frequent bowel movements
• nausea
• vomiting

These symptoms can occur a week or longer after you start taking the medication, and may last for weeks after you’ve stopped. Other prescribed medications can also cause these symptoms to occur.

Check the labels of your prescription medications to see if vomiting and diarrhea are listed. If so, make sure to stay hydrated if you experience these symptoms, and talk to your doctor about strategies for alleviating discomfort.

Taking antibiotics may also result in a C. difficile infection. C. diff is a type of bacteria which produces toxins that can cause antibiotic-associated colitis.

This can happen if antibiotic therapy throws off the balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestinal tract. Coming into contact with fecal matter or a contaminated surface can also cause a C. diff infection.

Common symptoms include:

• mild-to-severe vomiting
• diarrhea
• cramping
• low-grade fever

People with weakened immune systems and older individuals may be more susceptible to this type of infection. If you suspect that you have a C. diff infection, let your doctor know.

Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of toxic amounts of heavy metals in the body’s soft tissue. Heavy metals include:

• arsenic
• lead
• mercury
• cadmium

Heavy metal poisoning can be caused by:

• industrial exposure
• pollution
• medicines
• contaminated food
• exported good
• other substances

Symptoms vary based on the toxin. They include:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• muscles weakness
• abdominal pain
• muscle spasms

Lead poisoning is most common in children between 1 and 3 years old. If you suspect heavy metal poisoning, your doctor will run tests and try to identify the toxin so you can eliminate it from your environment.

Other treatments, such as taking a chelating medication or having your stomach pumped, may also be needed.

Overeating can be taxing on the digestive system. This may be more likely to occur if you eat quickly, or if you eat fatty or spicy food. Symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• indigestion
• nausea
• feeling overly full
• vomiting

Eating too much fiber can also cause these symptoms to occur, especially if you don’t typically eat a high-fiber diet.

Alcoholic beverages cause your stomach to secrete acid. Drinking to excess can cause inflammation in the stomach and digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Drinking less alcohol and watering down alcoholic drinks with mixers can help.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease. Its cause is unknown. There are several kinds of Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include:

• stomach pain
• diarrhea, which may be bloody
• excessive vomiting
• chills
• fever
• feeling faint

These symptoms can be signals that your condition is worsening or requires medical attention.

Crohn’s disease is typically treated with prescription medications. You may also feel relief from taking over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drugs. Smoking cigarettes makes Crohn’s symptoms worse and should be avoided.

Colon cancer, lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and some other types may cause gastric symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation. Some forms of cancer may go undiagnosed until gastric symptoms occur.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Let your doctor know if your symptoms are accompanied by:

• pain
• fever
• dizziness
• weight loss

There are medications and lifestyle changes that can help you alleviate nausea and other symptoms.

IBS is also known as spastic colon. It’s more common in women than in men. Symptoms can vary in intensity. They include:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• vomiting
• bloating
• stomach pain

IBS can be a chronic, long-lasting condition. There is no cure, but dietary changes and medication can help.

A peptic ulcer is an open sore which develops somewhere in the digestive system, such as in the stomach lining or lower esophagus. Drinking too much alcohol, cigarette smoking, and exposure to H. pylori bacteria are some potential causes.

Abdominal pain is the main symptom of a peptic ulcer. Other symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• vomiting
• nausea
• indigestion
• blood in the stool

Treatment may include lifestyle changes, antibiotics, and acid blockers.

Some people have trouble digesting lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products. This condition is more common in adults than it is in children. Lactose malabsorption can cause symptoms such as:

• gas
• bloating
• vomiting
• nausea
• diarrhea

Your doctor can diagnose lactose intolerance with a hydrogen breath test. Avoiding foods containing lactose is the best way to avoid symptoms.

Abdominal migraine is a subtype of migraine which includes diarrhea as a symptom. This condition can be debilitating. With abdominal migraine, the pain is centered in the stomach instead of in the head. Regular migraine attacks can also have diarrhea and vomiting as symptoms.

Migraine is more common in women than it is in men. Some women notice a pattern between their menstrual cycle and migraine. Migraine may also have a genetic link. Some people find relief by identifying and eliminating triggers in their environment.

This rare condition is caused by long-term, heavy use of THC-rich marijuana. Symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea

It causes a compulsion to bathe in hot water. If you suspect that you have this condition, eliminating marijuana use can help. You can also talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about lifestyle interventions which can help you to avoid this condition in the future.

A bowel obstruction is a potentially dangerous condition, caused by a blockage in the large or small intestine. Vomiting and diarrhea are early warning signs for this condition. Bloating, constipation, and cramping can also be symptoms.

There are many causes for this condition. They include impacted stool, postsurgical adhesions, and tumors. A bowel obstruction requires medical care. Treatments range from medication to therapeutic enemas or surgery.

While we’ve already discussed treatment for each condition, a few home remedies can also help reduce diarrhea and vomiting symptoms, including:

• Rest. Your body needs a chance to fight off the cause of your symptoms. Letting yourself rest can help alleviate the dizziness caused from motion sickness, too.
• Hydration. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you’re taking in. Dehydration can be dangerous, especially for infants, children, and older adults. Slowly sipping water, broth, or sports drinks that replace electrolytes can all help you to avoid dehydration. If you can’t keep liquids down, try sucking on ice chips or ice pops.
• Eat lightly. Once your appetite returns, eat sparsely and avoid spicy or fatty foods. Some people have trouble tolerating dairy but others can tolerate cottage cheese. Bland foods you may want to try include:
  • soft-boiled eggs
  • toast
  • bananas
  • apple sauce
  • crackers
• Medications. Avoid pain medications, such as ibuprofen, that may irritate the stomach. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications can help with diarrhea, and anti-nausea medications can also help reduce queasiness.

Since diarrhea and vomiting can have many causes, it’s important to seek medical help if your symptoms don’t improve or worsen. Those who should always see a doctor for chronic diarrhea and vomiting include:

• infants
• toddlers
• children
• older adults
• those with compromised immune systems

Anyone should check in with their doctor if they have:

• diarrhea that’s bloody or lasts longer than three days
• uncontrollable vomiting or retching, which makes it impossible to keep down fluids for more than one day
• symptoms of dehydration, including:
  • light-headedness
  • sunken eyes
  • crying without tears
  • inability to perspire or urinate
  • very dark urine
  • muscle cramps
  • dizziness
  • weakness
  • confusion
  • fever over 102°F (38.9°C)
  • extreme pain or muscle cramping
  • uncontrollable chills

Nausea and diarrhea can be caused by a wide range of conditions but are most often linked to viral infections or food poisoning.

These symptoms often respond well to at-home treatments. If your symptoms last longer than a few days or are severe, check in with your doctor.

20 Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

You may experience nausea due to an infection, such as the stomach flu or food poisoning. It can also occur due to other health conditions, including food intolerances and heavy metal poisoning.

When your digestive system becomes irritated, or is exposed to something potentially damaging to your health, the nerves signal your system to expel its contents as quickly as possible. Vomiting, diarrhea, or both are the result.

These two symptoms often go together, and are typically linked to common conditions, such as a stomach virus or food poisoning.

Since diarrhea and vomiting are associated with many diagnoses, it may be hard to know what’s causing them. Here are some of the possible causes.

Viral gastroenteritis is a contagious, common condition caused by several different virus strains, such as the norovirus. Also known as the stomach flu, it’s not the same thing as the flu, which is a respiratory condition.

Viral gastroenteritis causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines. You can get it from close contact with people or contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms vary based on the underlying virus but typically include:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• achiness
• fever
• chills

Gastroenteritis usually clears up on its own within a few days. Treatment is centered on avoiding dehydration by sipping water or other fluids.

Food poisoning is caused by eating or drinking something contaminated with bacteria, a virus, or parasite. Mold and chemical or natural toxins can also cause food poisoning.

Millions of people come down with food poisoning annually in the United States. Symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps

In most instances, these symptoms are mild and resolve on their own within one to two days. Food poisoning can, however, cause severe symptoms which require medical treatment.

If you’ve ever had a nervous stomach, you already know that strong emotion can affect your gut. Your digestive system can be adversely affected by fear, stress, or anxiety. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or dry heaving.

Powerful emotions trigger the fight-or-flight response. This puts your body on high alert, activating stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones signal your intestines to empty.

They also divert blood away from your stomach to the vital organs you may need most in an emergency, and cause abdominal muscles to clench. All of these physical reactions can bring on diarrhea or vomiting.

Reducing stress with deep breathing exercises and addressing anxiety with a mental health professional can help.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is earmarked by episodes of severe vomiting that have no obvious cause. These episodes can last for hours or even days.

They often start at the same time of day, last for the same amount of time, and are uniform in severity. These episodes may be interspersed with periods of time when no vomiting occurs.

Other symptoms can include:

• diarrhea
• intense sweating
• retching
• severe nausea

The cause of cyclic vomiting syndrome is unknown, but stress or a family history of migraine may be a factor, especially in children.

Some triggers for this condition include caffeine, cheese, or chocolate. Avoiding these foods may help reduce or eliminate attacks.

A change in environment, especially to a place with less-than-optimal sanitary conditions, may result in traveler’s diarrhea. This condition is caused by eating or drinking something unclean or contaminated. Symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• stomach cramps
• nausea
• vomiting

Traveler’s diarrhea usually clears up on its own once you’re no longer eating or drinking the contaminated items. See your doctor to identify the bacteria or organism that is causing the diarrhea if:

• it persists for more than a few days
• it’s accompanied by severe dehydration
• you have bloody or severe diarrhea
• you have persistent vomiting

Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications can help. In some instances, prescribed medications may be necessary.

Motion sickness can happen at any age. It can be triggered by traveling in a car, boat, airplane or other vehicle.

Motion sickness happens when the central nervous system receives conflicting information from the inner ear and other sensory systems about your body’s flow of movement. That’s why turning your head or body in a moving vehicle can instigate an episode of motion sickness.

Symptoms include:

• feeling queasy
• breaking out in cold sweats
• getting urgent diarrhea
• vomiting

There are medications you can take prior to traveling which may help you avoid motion sickness. A few home remedies include:

• resting
• chewing gum
• drinking ginger ale
• taking a ginger supplement

Motion sickness usually dissipates within several hours.

Digestive issues are common occurrences during pregnancy. These include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation

Nausea and vomiting often occur during the first 16 weeks, when hormonal changes are taking place. It helps if you avoid strong-smelling foods and eat small, frequent meals.

Severe, unending nausea and vomiting during pregnancy may be caused by an uncommon disorder called hyperemesis gravidarum.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vaginal discharge and low back pain, let your doctor know immediately. Sometimes this triad of symptoms means you’re going into preterm labor.

Some prescription medications may cause vomiting and diarrhea as side effects. These include some antibiotics. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea may cause:

• loose stool
• frequent bowel movements
• nausea
• vomiting

These symptoms can occur a week or longer after you start taking the medication, and may last for weeks after you’ve stopped. Other prescribed medications can also cause these symptoms to occur.

Check the labels of your prescription medications to see if vomiting and diarrhea are listed. If so, make sure to stay hydrated if you experience these symptoms, and talk to your doctor about strategies for alleviating discomfort.

Taking antibiotics may also result in a C. difficile infection. C. diff is a type of bacteria which produces toxins that can cause antibiotic-associated colitis.

This can happen if antibiotic therapy throws off the balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestinal tract. Coming into contact with fecal matter or a contaminated surface can also cause a C. diff infection.

Common symptoms include:

• mild-to-severe vomiting
• diarrhea
• cramping
• low-grade fever

People with weakened immune systems and older individuals may be more susceptible to this type of infection. If you suspect that you have a C. diff infection, let your doctor know.

Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of toxic amounts of heavy metals in the body’s soft tissue. Heavy metals include:

• arsenic
• lead
• mercury
• cadmium

Heavy metal poisoning can be caused by:

• industrial exposure
• pollution
• medicines
• contaminated food
• exported good
• other substances

Symptoms vary based on the toxin. They include:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• muscles weakness
• abdominal pain
• muscle spasms

Lead poisoning is most common in children between 1 and 3 years old. If you suspect heavy metal poisoning, your doctor will run tests and try to identify the toxin so you can eliminate it from your environment.

Other treatments, such as taking a chelating medication or having your stomach pumped, may also be needed.

Overeating can be taxing on the digestive system. This may be more likely to occur if you eat quickly, or if you eat fatty or spicy food. Symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• indigestion
• nausea
• feeling overly full
• vomiting

Eating too much fiber can also cause these symptoms to occur, especially if you don’t typically eat a high-fiber diet.

Alcoholic beverages cause your stomach to secrete acid. Drinking to excess can cause inflammation in the stomach and digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Drinking less alcohol and watering down alcoholic drinks with mixers can help.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease. Its cause is unknown. There are several kinds of Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include:

• stomach pain
• diarrhea, which may be bloody
• excessive vomiting
• chills
• fever
• feeling faint

These symptoms can be signals that your condition is worsening or requires medical attention.

Crohn’s disease is typically treated with prescription medications. You may also feel relief from taking over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drugs. Smoking cigarettes makes Crohn’s symptoms worse and should be avoided.

Colon cancer, lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and some other types may cause gastric symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation. Some forms of cancer may go undiagnosed until gastric symptoms occur.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Let your doctor know if your symptoms are accompanied by:

• pain
• fever
• dizziness
• weight loss

There are medications and lifestyle changes that can help you alleviate nausea and other symptoms.

IBS is also known as spastic colon. It’s more common in women than in men. Symptoms can vary in intensity. They include:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• vomiting
• bloating
• stomach pain

IBS can be a chronic, long-lasting condition. There is no cure, but dietary changes and medication can help.

A peptic ulcer is an open sore which develops somewhere in the digestive system, such as in the stomach lining or lower esophagus. Drinking too much alcohol, cigarette smoking, and exposure to H. pylori bacteria are some potential causes.

Abdominal pain is the main symptom of a peptic ulcer. Other symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• vomiting
• nausea
• indigestion
• blood in the stool

Treatment may include lifestyle changes, antibiotics, and acid blockers.

Some people have trouble digesting lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products. This condition is more common in adults than it is in children. Lactose malabsorption can cause symptoms such as:

• gas
• bloating
• vomiting
• nausea
• diarrhea

Your doctor can diagnose lactose intolerance with a hydrogen breath test. Avoiding foods containing lactose is the best way to avoid symptoms.

Abdominal migraine is a subtype of migraine which includes diarrhea as a symptom. This condition can be debilitating. With abdominal migraine, the pain is centered in the stomach instead of in the head. Regular migraine attacks can also have diarrhea and vomiting as symptoms.

Migraine is more common in women than it is in men. Some women notice a pattern between their menstrual cycle and migraine. Migraine may also have a genetic link. Some people find relief by identifying and eliminating triggers in their environment.

This rare condition is caused by long-term, heavy use of THC-rich marijuana. Symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea

It causes a compulsion to bathe in hot water. If you suspect that you have this condition, eliminating marijuana use can help. You can also talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about lifestyle interventions which can help you to avoid this condition in the future.

A bowel obstruction is a potentially dangerous condition, caused by a blockage in the large or small intestine. Vomiting and diarrhea are early warning signs for this condition. Bloating, constipation, and cramping can also be symptoms.

There are many causes for this condition. They include impacted stool, postsurgical adhesions, and tumors. A bowel obstruction requires medical care. Treatments range from medication to therapeutic enemas or surgery.

While we’ve already discussed treatment for each condition, a few home remedies can also help reduce diarrhea and vomiting symptoms, including:

• Rest. Your body needs a chance to fight off the cause of your symptoms. Letting yourself rest can help alleviate the dizziness caused from motion sickness, too.
• Hydration. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you’re taking in. Dehydration can be dangerous, especially for infants, children, and older adults. Slowly sipping water, broth, or sports drinks that replace electrolytes can all help you to avoid dehydration. If you can’t keep liquids down, try sucking on ice chips or ice pops.
• Eat lightly. Once your appetite returns, eat sparsely and avoid spicy or fatty foods. Some people have trouble tolerating dairy but others can tolerate cottage cheese. Bland foods you may want to try include:
  • soft-boiled eggs
  • toast
  • bananas
  • apple sauce
  • crackers
• Medications. Avoid pain medications, such as ibuprofen, that may irritate the stomach. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications can help with diarrhea, and anti-nausea medications can also help reduce queasiness.

Since diarrhea and vomiting can have many causes, it’s important to seek medical help if your symptoms don’t improve or worsen. Those who should always see a doctor for chronic diarrhea and vomiting include:

• infants
• toddlers
• children
• older adults
• those with compromised immune systems

Anyone should check in with their doctor if they have:

• diarrhea that’s bloody or lasts longer than three days
• uncontrollable vomiting or retching, which makes it impossible to keep down fluids for more than one day
• symptoms of dehydration, including:
  • light-headedness
  • sunken eyes
  • crying without tears
  • inability to perspire or urinate
  • very dark urine
  • muscle cramps
  • dizziness
  • weakness
  • confusion
  • fever over 102°F (38. 9°C)
  • extreme pain or muscle cramping
  • uncontrollable chills

Nausea and diarrhea can be caused by a wide range of conditions but are most often linked to viral infections or food poisoning.

These symptoms often respond well to at-home treatments. If your symptoms last longer than a few days or are severe, check in with your doctor.

prevention and treatment of infectious diarrhea with IMODIUM®

Author, editor and medical expert – Zavgorodnyaya Ekaterina Alexandrovna.

Editor and medical expert – Harutyunyan Mariam Harutyunovna.

Number of views: 104 477

Date last updated: Contents:

Bacterial diarrhea
Food poisoning (FTI)
Viral diarrhea
Traveler’s diarrhea
How to treat bacterial and viral diarrhea in adults?
Prevention of bacterial and viral diarrhea

According to statistics, infectious diarrhea ranks second in prevalence, second only to acute inflammation of the respiratory tract ² . The causative agents of acute intestinal infection (AII) can be bacteria, viruses, parasites and protozoa ^3.6 . But more than half of cases of acute diarrhea are associated with a viral infection, less often (in 20-25%) – bacterial ¹ .

At the first sign of diarrhea, you should consult a general practitioner. The specialist will assess the severity of the condition, and most importantly, establish the cause of the disorder, which is important for prescribing the correct treatment.

What pathogens often cause acute intestinal infection, how to prevent infection and what treatment a doctor can prescribe – we will tell in the article.

Bacterial diarrhea

Among bacteria, acute diarrhea is most often caused by Salmonella (in 50% of cases), less often by Shigella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter, Yersinia and others ¹ . Usually, infection occurs through contact with a patient with an intestinal infection, neglect of personal hygiene measures, and consumption of contaminated food or water ¹ . Most often, AII occurs with the use of multi-component salads, confectionery with cream and minced meat dishes ⁹ . An increase in the incidence is noted in the summer-autumn period ⁴ .

Bacterial diarrhea usually caused by exposure to toxins produced by bacteria ⁸ . Toxins increase the release of water into the intestinal lumen, as a result of which the feces become liquid ³ .

The main symptoms of bacterial diarrhea, in addition to loose stools, include:

• fever ² ;
• impurities in the feces (mucus, blood) ¹ ;
• cramping pains in the abdomen ¹ .

But diarrheal syndrome can proceed in different ways, depending on the pathogen².

Food poisoning (FTI)

Food poisoning is a separate group of acute intestinal infections associated with the consumption of food contaminated not only with bacteria, but also with their toxins ¹⁰ . This condition is commonly referred to as food poisoning or “dirty food” disease ¹¹ . Most of the bacteria that can cause PTI are opportunistic, that is, they can live in the intestines of absolutely healthy people. But when these bacteria multiply and produce toxins in food, it leads to food spoilage ¹¹ .

Microorganism-contaminated food often does not change appearance, taste or smell ⁹ .

In people aged 17 to 35, foodborne illness is the most common cause of acute diarrhea. It does not have a pronounced seasonality ⁴ and often causes group outbreaks of diarrhea (among those who have used an inferior product) ¹¹ .

Food poisoning is characterized by:

• sudden onset ⁵ ;
• nausea ⁵ ;
• repeated vomiting with relief ⁶ ;
• watery stools, foul smelling ⁶ .

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Viral diarrhea

Its main pathogens are noroviruses and rotaviruses ¹ . Children are the most affected. The maximum rise in the incidence of viral diarrhea is observed in the winter-spring period with peaks in April (rotavirus) and February (norovirus) ⁴ .

Viruses that cause AII can remain on the surface of poorly washed fruits and vegetables ⁹ . Penetrating into the intestine, they damage the cells of its mucous membrane, causing diarrhea ³ .

Viral diarrhea is characterized by a combination of stool disorder with fever and dyspepsia – a feeling of heaviness, bloating, belching, heartburn and nausea. With rotavirus infection, upper respiratory tract infections can occur, that is, the appearance of symptoms such as nasal congestion and sore throat ^1.2 .

In contrast to bacterial diarrhea, viral stools are watery, without impurities, and pain is mild or completely absent ¹ . The duration of the infection usually does not exceed 3-5 days, and it tends to self-heal ² . Despite the relatively favorable course, consultation with a specialist is required.

Traveler’s diarrhea

Diarrhea is the most common symptom that bothers people during the first week of travel ⁵ . Due to the prevalence, such cases are classified as a special form of acute intestinal infection – traveler’s diarrhea ² . In 80% of cases it is caused by bacteria. Approximately 15% of episodes are related to viruses, for example, noroviruses and rotaviruses can cause outbreaks of acute diarrhea in resorts or cruise ships ⁵ .

In addition to loose stools, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, or painful urge to defecate are common. Similar symptoms may also occur in those who have just returned home from a trip or have recently changed their place of residence ⁵ . Climate change, dietary changes and nervous stress are of additional importance in their development ² .

The risk of travelers’ diarrhea remains even when traveling within the country ¹³ .

How to treat bacterial and viral diarrhea in adults?

Regardless of the causative agent, acute diarrhea can cause significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract, intoxication (dysfunction of various organs) and dehydration ⁶ .

Dehydration can be manifested by the following signs ³ :

• thirst;
• restlessness, irritability;
• decreased skin elasticity and pallor;
• decreased or no urine output;
• rapid and weak pulse;
• low blood pressure.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent dehydration and other complications ³ .

Treatment of bacterial and viral diarrhea must be prescribed by a physician. Only a specialist can correctly assess the condition, identify the pathogen and recommend taking medications.

Therapy prescribed by a physician usually includes:

• Drugs directed against the pathogen. When bacteria are found, antibiotics are often required ² . Antibiotics are not prescribed to treat viral diarrhea. In addition, antibacterial drugs themselves can cause diarrhea, therefore, without consulting a specialist, they should not be taken categorically ⁸ .
• Measures to prevent and eliminate dehydration. In mild cases, it is sufficient to drink as much liquid as possible. It can be mineral water, tea, or a special rehydration solution prescribed by a doctor. Severe dehydration may require intravenous fluids through a ² drip.
• Diet. When diarrhea is recommended for 2-3 days to exclude from the diet of dairy and fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruits), as well as coffee and alcohol. It is better to use boiled slimy soup with rice, toasted bread, crackers, baked potatoes and eggs ² .
• Relief agents. In addition to controlling the infectious agent, in some cases of bacterial or viral diarrhea, symptomatic therapy, i. e. antidiarrheal drugs, may be prescribed. They eliminate discomfort and reduce the number of bowel movements, which is especially important for diarrhea ² .

Important!

Antidiarrheals should not be used as the primary treatment for acute infectious diarrhea. Also, they are not prescribed for high fever, severe intoxication and the presence of blood in the stool ² .

Imodium® Express may be prescribed as an adjuvant for acute infectious (bacterial or viral) diarrhea. Its active ingredient, loperamide, slows down the contractions of the intestines and the release of fluid into its lumen, slows down the movement of feces, and also increases the tone of the anal sphincter, helping to reduce diarrhea and better retain stool ⁷ . Imodium® Express lyophilisate tablets dissolve on the tongue in a few seconds, do not require drinking water ⁷ and help reduce diarrhea from the first use of ¹² .

The drug should not be used in children under 6 years of age, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and also as the main therapy ⁷ :

• in patients with acute dysentery, which is characterized by bloody stools and high fever;
• in patients with bacterial enterocolitis caused by pathogens including Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter.

Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any medicine for bacterial or viral diarrhea.

Prevention of bacterial and viral diarrhea

For the prevention of acute intestinal infections, the World Health Organization recommends ¹⁴ :

• raw, eat only well-washed vegetables and fruits, buy pasteurized milk.
• Monitor the heat treatment of food. Frozen meat products must be thoroughly thawed before being boiled or fried. It is also important that there are no moist areas left in the meat in which live bacteria can remain.
• Eat cooked food right away. As food cools, micro-organisms begin to multiply, increasing the risk of food poisoning.
• Separate raw from cooked. If you put raw vegetables or fruits next to well-done meat, there is a possibility of contamination of the latter with bacteria.
• Wash your hands often – before cooking, if you take a break and return to cooking, and before eating.
• Use clean water . If you are not sure about the safety of drinking water, it is better to boil it.

If you are a frequent traveler, if possible, book accommodation with meals included – this way you are much less likely to get infected than when you buy food from street vendors or eat in various establishments ¹³ .

Compliance with these principles does not guarantee complete protection, since there are a huge number of ways for the spread of intestinal infection and the mechanisms for the development of acute diarrhea. But these preventive measures significantly reduce the incidence of bacterial and viral diarrhea in adults and children ³ .

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, contact a qualified specialist.

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Diagnosis and treatment of diseases accompanied by diarrheal syndrome at the prehospital stage » Medvestnik

Ya.M. EREMUSHKINA, Associate Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Candidate of Medical Sciences

The problem of acute intestinal infections (AII) and, in general, diseases accompanied by diarrheal syndrome, is a topical issue in Russian healthcare. Unfortunately, in the treatment of these pathologies, many mistakes are made, caused by insufficient qualifications of specialists; obsolete dogmatic ideas about the essence of the pathological process; misunderstanding of the essence of rehydration therapy.

Act urgently

First of all, it is necessary to define the concept of acute diarrhea.

Acute diarrhea is watery loose stools more than 3 times a day (more than 200 g / day), or watery loose stools with blood more than 1 time per day.

Its main causes may be:

– infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: viral, bacterial, parasitic, travelers’ diarrhea;

– non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn’s disease, non-specific ulcerative colitis;

– acute surgical pathology, ischemic colitis: thrombosis of the arteries of the colon, obliterating atherosclerosis of the arteries of the colon, acute appendicitis;

– drug therapy: intoxication when taking pharmaceuticals, overdose of laxatives of various mechanisms of action, pseudomembranous colitis with antibacterial and immunosuppressive therapy, dysfunction of the anorectal zone in senile diseases, stroke, acute psychogenia;

– abdominal form of myocardial infarction.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases accompanied by diarrheal syndrome is very important to start urgently, even at the prehospital stage.

The most common cause is acute intestinal infections

The risk group for adverse course and outcome of acute diarrhea is formed by children under 5 years of age, persons over 60 years of age, as well as persons with impaired immunity, that is, those who abuse alcohol, take corticosteroids, have undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy, suffering from systemic diseases of the blood and connective tissue, HIV-infected; cases of hemorrhagic colitis or after antibiotic treatment, cases of acute diarrhea with sepsis, acute diarrhea with severe and / or intractable dehydration, acute diarrhea in people with severe underlying diseases.

The most common cause of acute diarrhea is acute intestinal infections, in which this syndrome becomes the leading one along with intoxication (the number of such clinical forms of acute intestinal infections exceeds 30 nosological units). Deciphering AII at the prehospital stage is of no fundamental importance, with the exception of three exceptions: suspicion of cholera, botulism and dysentery.

Cholera is an infection accompanied by severe complications, which requires anti-epidemic measures. The detection of botulism requires urgent hospitalization in an infectious disease hospital and the introduction of anti-botulinum serum. Dysentery is one of the acute intestinal infections, in the treatment of which etiotropic therapy is used.

AII develop either immediately after exposure to an infectious agent or toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, or after a short incubation period and lead to the development of acute gastroenteritis, enterocolitis or gastroenterocolitis.

Diseases accompanied by nausea and vomiting, moderate or high fever, general malaise, myalgia, diarrhoea, headache, abdominal pain, tenesmus, false urgency, marked mucous or bloody diarrhea; muscle and joint pain and cramps; irritation of the meninges.

Patients with acute bacterial diarrhea sometimes develop Reiter’s syndrome (arthritis, conjunctivitis, urethritis). In severe or severe dehydration, as well as in children and patients at risk, diarrhea may be complicated by the development of dehydration, toxic shock or acute renal failure.

Illness of imprudent tourists

Now let’s consider separate nosological forms accompanied by acute intestinal infections.

Botulism is more often a group disease associated with the use of home or industrial canning products. The onset is acute, against the background of subfebrile or normal temperature, the phenomena of gastroenteritis, which are replaced by persistent constipation, intestinal motility increases, and ophthalmoplegic syndrome develops. Paresis and paralysis of the respiratory muscles leads to acute respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, which can lead to death. Early administration of polyvalent antibotulinum serum is required.

Cholera is characterized by an acute onset of the disease, body temperature is normal or subfebrile. Defecation is painless, stools are watery, cloudy white with floating flakes, reminiscent of rice water, vomiting. Loss of fluid and salts quickly leads to dehydration and the development of dehydration shock, acute renal failure. Finally, for such patients, as a rule, arrival from an endemic focus is characteristic.

Shigellosis is also characterized by an acute onset of the disease, pronounced symptoms of intoxication. According to the nature of the leading syndrome, clinical variants of the disease are distinguished: colitis, gastroenterocolitic, gastoenteric. The frequency and nature of pathologically altered stools, the presence of tenesmus and false urges, painful and spasmodic sigmoid colon matter. It is also possible the development of dehydration shock.

The most common clinical manifestation of yersiniosis is enterocolitis. Stool fecal, plentiful, brown-green, frothy, with mucus, does not exceed 5-6 times a day. Characterized by pain in the right iliac region. Other manifestations of the disease may be observed – rash, catarrhal phenomena, polyarthritis, polyadenopathy, hepatolienal syndrome.

Traveler’s diarrhea is a special case of acute infectious diarrhea that develops in people traveling to places with unsatisfactory hygienic living conditions. In most cases, the clinical picture is determined by the pathogen characteristic of the area.

Protozoal diarrhea often affects travelers returning from endemic areas with contaminated water supplies and homosexuals. The disease proceeds for a long time and is often accompanied by bloody diarrhea. In amoebiasis, there is a high risk of potentially fatal complications: colon perforation with the development of peritonitis or the formation of an amoebic abscess of the liver, lungs, and brain.

Pseudomembranous colitis occurs when the colon is affected by Clostridium difficile 10–45 days after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. It is characterized by a symptom complex of severe colitis with severe bloody diarrhea.

Idiopathic non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) develop more slowly than infectious diarrhea, do not have an epidemiological history and are characterized by the development of acute diarrhea against the background of symptoms of systemic connective tissue disease or chronic sepsis. Accurate history information is current or past corticosteroid or salazopyridazine therapy.

Diarrhea caused by ischemia of the colon usually develops in elderly and senile patients with severe atherosclerosis of the aorta and peripheral vessels. Characterized by the simultaneous appearance of diarrhea and sudden pain in the abdomen or a transient disturbance of consciousness. Most often, ischemic disorders develop in the left half of the colon and lead to ulceration, erosion and hemorrhage in the mucosa, which becomes edematous and very fragile. The intensity of bloody diarrhea varies up to profuse intestinal bleeding with the development of acute posthemorrhagic anemia.

Acute appendicitis is characterized by pain in the left iliac region or lower abdomen, repeated loose stools, false urges. The pains precede the rise in temperature, are of a long-term nature, the patient spares the stomach when breathing and coughing, there is local pain on palpation of the abdomen, positive symptoms of peritoneal irritation.

If diarrhea is prolonged and recurrent for 2 weeks, and the stool contains blood and mucus during exacerbation, then it is more often the result of chronic inflammatory rather than infectious bowel disease.

It is necessary to assess dehydration

When examining and questioning the patient, the doctor should do the following:

1. Assess the general condition of the patient.

2. Look for signs of acute blood loss.

3. Determine the signs of peritonitis: pain on palpation, tension or rigidity of the abdominal muscles.

4. Identify and assess the severity of systemic intoxication according to the following signs: nausea and vomiting, hypotension, impaired consciousness, headache.

5. Diagnose clinically significant dehydration according to the data presented in the table.

After identifying any of the syndromes listed in the table and classifying the general condition as moderate or severe, the patient must immediately begin drug therapy!

When the condition stabilizes

The following signs of acute diarrhea are detected after the patient’s condition has stabilized and are aimed at finding indications for hospitalization and choosing the direction of hospitalization of the patient.

1. Peculiarities of diarrhea: consistency and color of feces, stool frequency per day, volume of each bowel movement, soreness and imperativeness, blood admixture, flatulence.

2. Manifestations of an acute infectious process and severity of intoxication syndrome: fever, mucocutaneous rash, myalgia, articular syndrome, Reiter’s syndrome, headache.

3. Anamnestic data: did the patient suffer from diarrhea before the present illness; whether you have traveled to other countries or cities during the month before the present illness; whether the patient has recently eaten food of questionable quality in catering establishments, on the street and in public transport; whether the patient was taking antibiotics; whether the patient has risk factors for an adverse outcome of diarrhea.

Diagnosis of infectious diarrhea is based on bacteriological examination of faeces, which are sent for analysis immediately after the patient’s hospitalization.

Differential diagnosis in the AII group at the prehospital stage is carried out only to identify 3 nosological forms: cholera, botulism and shigellosis. In other nosological units, a differentiated approach is justified in diagnosing the severity of dehydration and intoxication syndromes.

Tasks of rehydration therapy

Rehydration therapy (RHT) is used to combat water and electrolyte imbalance in patients with acute intestinal infections.

The tasks of the RHT are the correction of disturbances in the water-electrolyte balance; restoration of disturbed hemodynamics and microcirculation; elimination of hypoxia of organs and tissues; elimination or prevention of the development of DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome); detoxification in order to remove toxins and decay products of substances from the patient’s body.

This therapy is preceded by gastric lavage, which is carried out with a 2% sodium bicarbonate solution or a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution until clean washings are discharged.

RGT, both intravenous and oral, is done in two stages. The purpose of the first stage is to eliminate existing fluid losses, the purpose of the second stage is to correct ongoing fluid losses. With mild diarrhea, a patient who is not at risk does not need emergency prehospital therapy and does not require hospitalization and observation by EMS and epidemiological control services. In case of severe diarrhea or an unsatisfactory condition of the patient, first aid involves emergency pharmacotherapy of intoxication, hypotension, and full pre-hospital rehydration of the patient.

While maintaining the patient’s ability to take liquids independently, rehydration is carried out with a solution prepared from clean drinking water with the addition of 3.5 g NaCl, 40 g glucose, 2.5 g NaHCO3, 1. 5 g KCl per 1 liter of water. From ready-made solutions for oral rehydration, drugs citroglucosalan, rehydron can be used. It must be remembered that oral rehydration therapy should not be performed in case of:

1) infectious-toxic shock;

2) II-III degree dehydration occurring with unstable hemodynamics;

3) uncontrollable vomiting;

4) fluid loss with vomiting and diarrhea greater than 1.5 l/h;

5) oligoanuria as a manifestation of acute renal failure;

6) diabetes mellitus;

7) disorders of glucose absorption.

An alternative in all these cases is intravenous RGT, and sometimes a combination of intravenous and oral rehydration. It is carried out parenterally by infusion of polyionic crystalloid solutions (trisol, quartasol, chlosol, acesol) with a volumetric rate of administration of 60-90 ml/min. After stabilization of blood pressure, the infusion rate is reduced to 10-20 ml / min. Its total volume should correspond to the loss of fluid with vomiting and diarrhea in accordance with the degree of dehydration.