Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Vomiting anddiarrheaare common afflictions that can arise for many different reasons. Sometimes, a medical condition causes symptoms, but they can also develop because of infections or medications.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for people who develop vomiting and diarrhea.
Glasshouse Images / Getty Images
Symptoms of Vomiting and Diarrhea
The symptoms associated with vomiting and diarrhea can vary depending on the cause.
Symptoms related to vomiting include:
Diarrhea-associated symptoms can include:
When to Seek Emergency Medical HelpVomiting and diarrhea can be mild and may not be a cause for concern if they occur only once. However, if either affliction persists, it can lead to severe dehydration and require emergency medical care. Symptoms that can alert you to a need for emergency medical assistance include:HeadachesTiredness or fatigueDry mouth, lips, and eyesDark urineDizziness or light-headednessConfusionSeizuresLoss of consciousnessFeverRapid pulse or breathing
When to Seek Emergency Medical Help
Vomiting and diarrhea can be mild and may not be a cause for concern if they occur only once. However, if either affliction persists, it can lead to severe dehydration and require emergency medical care. Symptoms that can alert you to a need for emergency medical assistance include:HeadachesTiredness or fatigueDry mouth, lips, and eyesDark urineDizziness or light-headednessConfusionSeizuresLoss of consciousnessFeverRapid pulse or breathing
Vomiting and diarrhea can be mild and may not be a cause for concern if they occur only once. However, if either affliction persists, it can lead to severe dehydration and require emergency medical care. Symptoms that can alert you to a need for emergency medical assistance include:
What Causes Vomiting and Diarrhea?
Many conditions and illnesses can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, such as infections, psychological stress, orinflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritisis the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea. It is often called a “stomach bug” because a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, typically causes it.
In most cases, gastroenteritis isn’t severe, but in older adults, young children, and those living in underdeveloped areas, it can lead to severe health complications, including death.
Signs of Stomach Flu and When to See a Healthcare Provider
Food Poisoning
Food poisoningoccurs when you eat food that hasn’t been cooked adequately or is contaminated with some infectious pathogen. The most common pathogens that cause foodborne illness are:
Is Food Poisoning Serious?Many people can develop mild cases of food poisoning. However, the infection can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhea, depleting the body of nutrients and water. This can be life-threatening if left unchecked.
Is Food Poisoning Serious?
Many people can develop mild cases of food poisoning. However, the infection can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhea, depleting the body of nutrients and water. This can be life-threatening if left unchecked.
Psychological Stress or Anxiety
The mind and the gut are interconnected. When you experience stress or anxiety, your body undergoes physiological changes to prepare you to either fight the threat or flee the situation. This is known as the fight-or-flight response.
During that response in the body, the signaling between the gut and brain can cause contractions in the digestive system, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.
Medications
Certain medications cause vomiting and diarrhea as a side effect while the body adjusts to the new substance. Drugs that can lead to vomiting and diarrhea include:
Vomiting and Diarrhea and SupplementsIn some cases, nutritional supplements such as iron can aggravate the stomach and lead to vomiting and diarrhea.To avoid this, speak to a healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement.
Vomiting and Diarrhea and Supplements
In some cases, nutritional supplements such as iron can aggravate the stomach and lead to vomiting and diarrhea.To avoid this, speak to a healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBD develops when the gastrointestinal tract (GI) gets inflamed due to an autoimmune process. There are two types of IBD:Crohn’s diseaseandulcerative colitis.
The type of IBD most associated with diarrhea and vomiting is Crohn’s disease, which can occur anywhere in the GI tract. In contrast, ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon and is often associated with diarrhea.
Other Symptoms of Crohn’s DiseasePeople with Crohn’s disease may also develop other symptoms alongside vomiting and diarrhea, including:Abdominal painNauseaWeight lossFever and chills
Other Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease
People with Crohn’s disease may also develop other symptoms alongside vomiting and diarrhea, including:Abdominal painNauseaWeight lossFever and chills
People with Crohn’s disease may also develop other symptoms alongside vomiting and diarrhea, including:
Causes of Nausea and Vomiting
How to Treat Vomiting and Diarrhea
Treating vomiting and diarrhea often depends on what is causing it. However, some mainstay remedies are often used to control both, regardless of the cause.
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS): How Treatment Helps Manage Episodes
Vomiting Remedies
There are many treatment options available for vomiting. They include both medications and natural-based treatments. Some drugs used to treat vomiting include:
Some drugs may be used off-label, meaning they aren’t intended to treat vomiting, but they can help reduce it. Some off-label options include:
Natural Treatments for VomitingPeople looking to take a more natural approach can try some of the following options:GingerLemonChamomileMintVitamin B supplementsPomegranate and spearmint syrupCardamom
Natural Treatments for Vomiting
People looking to take a more natural approach can try some of the following options:GingerLemonChamomileMintVitamin B supplementsPomegranate and spearmint syrupCardamom
People looking to take a more natural approach can try some of the following options:
Diarrhea Remedies
Remedies for diarrhea aim to reduce the amount of water pulled into the intestines and slow the digestive process. Some medicinal options include:
Consuming certain foods or nutritional supplements can also help reduce or control diarrhea bouts. Some options include:
Rehydration and DiarrheaReplacing fluids after having diarrhea is crucial because dehydration can lead to severe health outcomes. To ensure you are hydrated during bouts of diarrhea, you can drink oral rehydrating beverages that include electrolytes. If that is not enough, you must get fluids intravenously.
Rehydration and Diarrhea
Replacing fluids after having diarrhea is crucial because dehydration can lead to severe health outcomes. To ensure you are hydrated during bouts of diarrhea, you can drink oral rehydrating beverages that include electrolytes. If that is not enough, you must get fluids intravenously.
Treating Gastroenteritis With Medication, Diet, and Self Care
What About Young Children?
Once the child can drink fluids without vomiting or having another bout of diarrhea, you can reintroduce bland foods. TheBRAT dietis often recommended for children and includes the following foods:
There are medications used to help with vomiting and diarrhea for children, such as Children’s Gravol, but they aren’t always needed. It’s essential to find out the cause with a healthcare provider before giving your child medication they may not need.
When to Take Your Child to the Emergency RoomYou must take your child to the emergency room if they experience vomiting and diarrhea along with:DehydrationVomit that is yellow or greenBlood in the vomit or vomit that looks like coffee groundsBlood in the stool or urineCannot stand because of weaknessA loss of consciousnessVomiting that lasts for longer than eight hoursA stiff neckAbdominal pain lasting for longer than two hoursA fever above 101.4 degrees F
When to Take Your Child to the Emergency Room
You must take your child to the emergency room if they experience vomiting and diarrhea along with:DehydrationVomit that is yellow or greenBlood in the vomit or vomit that looks like coffee groundsBlood in the stool or urineCannot stand because of weaknessA loss of consciousnessVomiting that lasts for longer than eight hoursA stiff neckAbdominal pain lasting for longer than two hoursA fever above 101.4 degrees F
You must take your child to the emergency room if they experience vomiting and diarrhea along with:
Treating Diarrhea and Vomiting in Kids and Babies
How to Prevent Vomiting and Diarrhea
Preventing vomiting and diarrhea isn’t always easy because most cases aren’t avoidable. For example, if you have IBD or get food poisoning, you cannot prevent the ensuing illness.
Summary
Vomiting and diarrhea are incredibly common. When they occur, it is not always a cause for concern and could be due to a mild illness. If that’s the case, monitoring symptoms and taking medications to manage the symptoms can help you cope until they have passed. Sometimes, severe vomiting and diarrhea warrant a trip to the emergency room because they can cause dehydration.
In children, it is vital to monitor symptoms and avoid giving them any medications until you have spoken to a healthcare provider. Children cannot take many drugs adults use for vomiting and diarrhea, so a different treatment approach must be taken.
Throwing Up Yellow Bile: What Does It Mean and What Should You Do?
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of cyclic vomiting syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Mount Sinai.Dehydration.Lacey J, Corbett J, Forni L, Hooper L, Hughes F, Minto G, Moss C, Price S, Whyte G, Woodcock T, Mythen M, Montgomery H.A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications.Ann Med.2019 May-Jun;51(3-4):232-251. doi:10.1080/07853890.2019.1628352Fleckenstein JM, Matthew Kuhlmann F, Sheikh A.Acute bacterial gastroenteritis.Gastroenterol Clin North Am.2021 Jun;50(2):283-304. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.002U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association.Most common foodborne illnesses.Chang YM, El-Zaatari M, Kao JY.Does stress induce bowel dysfunction?Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2014 Aug;8(6):583-5. doi:10.1586/17474124.2014.911659My Health Alberta.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.Medline Plus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Pereira DI, Couto Irving SS, Lomer MC, Powell JJ.A rapid, simple questionnaire to assess gastrointestinal symptoms after oral ferrous sulphate supplementation.BMC Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 4;14:103. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-103Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn disease: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.Mayo Clin Proc.2017 Jul;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010Davis J, Kellerman R.Gastrointestinal Conditions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease.FP Essent. 2022 May;516:23-30.Cangemi DJ, Kuo B.Practical perspectives in the Tteatment of nausea and vomiting.J Clin Gastroenterol.2019 Mar;53(3):170-178. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001164Khorasani F, Aryan H, Sobhi A, Aryan R, Abavi-Sani A, Ghazanfarpour M, Saeidi M, Rajab Dizavandi F.A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.J Obstet Gynaecol.2020 Jan;40(1):10-19. doi:10.1080/01443615.2019.1587392Semrad CE.Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption.Goldman’s Cecil Medicine.2012:895–913. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1604-7.00142-1Anigilaje EA.Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries.Front Pediatr. 2018;6:28. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00028Hatchette TF, Farina D.Infectious diarrhea: when to test and when to treat.CMAJ. 2011;183(3):339-44. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091495UK National Health Service.Diarrhoea and vomiting.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of cyclic vomiting syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Mount Sinai.Dehydration.Lacey J, Corbett J, Forni L, Hooper L, Hughes F, Minto G, Moss C, Price S, Whyte G, Woodcock T, Mythen M, Montgomery H.A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications.Ann Med.2019 May-Jun;51(3-4):232-251. doi:10.1080/07853890.2019.1628352Fleckenstein JM, Matthew Kuhlmann F, Sheikh A.Acute bacterial gastroenteritis.Gastroenterol Clin North Am.2021 Jun;50(2):283-304. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.002U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association.Most common foodborne illnesses.Chang YM, El-Zaatari M, Kao JY.Does stress induce bowel dysfunction?Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2014 Aug;8(6):583-5. doi:10.1586/17474124.2014.911659My Health Alberta.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.Medline Plus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Pereira DI, Couto Irving SS, Lomer MC, Powell JJ.A rapid, simple questionnaire to assess gastrointestinal symptoms after oral ferrous sulphate supplementation.BMC Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 4;14:103. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-103Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn disease: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.Mayo Clin Proc.2017 Jul;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010Davis J, Kellerman R.Gastrointestinal Conditions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease.FP Essent. 2022 May;516:23-30.Cangemi DJ, Kuo B.Practical perspectives in the Tteatment of nausea and vomiting.J Clin Gastroenterol.2019 Mar;53(3):170-178. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001164Khorasani F, Aryan H, Sobhi A, Aryan R, Abavi-Sani A, Ghazanfarpour M, Saeidi M, Rajab Dizavandi F.A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.J Obstet Gynaecol.2020 Jan;40(1):10-19. doi:10.1080/01443615.2019.1587392Semrad CE.Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption.Goldman’s Cecil Medicine.2012:895–913. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1604-7.00142-1Anigilaje EA.Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries.Front Pediatr. 2018;6:28. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00028Hatchette TF, Farina D.Infectious diarrhea: when to test and when to treat.CMAJ. 2011;183(3):339-44. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091495UK National Health Service.Diarrhoea and vomiting.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of cyclic vomiting syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Mount Sinai.Dehydration.Lacey J, Corbett J, Forni L, Hooper L, Hughes F, Minto G, Moss C, Price S, Whyte G, Woodcock T, Mythen M, Montgomery H.A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications.Ann Med.2019 May-Jun;51(3-4):232-251. doi:10.1080/07853890.2019.1628352Fleckenstein JM, Matthew Kuhlmann F, Sheikh A.Acute bacterial gastroenteritis.Gastroenterol Clin North Am.2021 Jun;50(2):283-304. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.002U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association.Most common foodborne illnesses.Chang YM, El-Zaatari M, Kao JY.Does stress induce bowel dysfunction?Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2014 Aug;8(6):583-5. doi:10.1586/17474124.2014.911659My Health Alberta.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.Medline Plus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Pereira DI, Couto Irving SS, Lomer MC, Powell JJ.A rapid, simple questionnaire to assess gastrointestinal symptoms after oral ferrous sulphate supplementation.BMC Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 4;14:103. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-103Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn disease: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.Mayo Clin Proc.2017 Jul;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010Davis J, Kellerman R.Gastrointestinal Conditions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease.FP Essent. 2022 May;516:23-30.Cangemi DJ, Kuo B.Practical perspectives in the Tteatment of nausea and vomiting.J Clin Gastroenterol.2019 Mar;53(3):170-178. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001164Khorasani F, Aryan H, Sobhi A, Aryan R, Abavi-Sani A, Ghazanfarpour M, Saeidi M, Rajab Dizavandi F.A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.J Obstet Gynaecol.2020 Jan;40(1):10-19. doi:10.1080/01443615.2019.1587392Semrad CE.Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption.Goldman’s Cecil Medicine.2012:895–913. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1604-7.00142-1Anigilaje EA.Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries.Front Pediatr. 2018;6:28. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00028Hatchette TF, Farina D.Infectious diarrhea: when to test and when to treat.CMAJ. 2011;183(3):339-44. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091495UK National Health Service.Diarrhoea and vomiting.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of cyclic vomiting syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.
Mount Sinai.Dehydration.
Lacey J, Corbett J, Forni L, Hooper L, Hughes F, Minto G, Moss C, Price S, Whyte G, Woodcock T, Mythen M, Montgomery H.A multidisciplinary consensus on dehydration: definitions, diagnostic methods and clinical implications.Ann Med.2019 May-Jun;51(3-4):232-251. doi:10.1080/07853890.2019.1628352
Fleckenstein JM, Matthew Kuhlmann F, Sheikh A.Acute bacterial gastroenteritis.Gastroenterol Clin North Am.2021 Jun;50(2):283-304. doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.002
U.S. Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association.Most common foodborne illnesses.
Chang YM, El-Zaatari M, Kao JY.Does stress induce bowel dysfunction?Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2014 Aug;8(6):583-5. doi:10.1586/17474124.2014.911659
My Health Alberta.Medicines that can cause nausea and vomiting.
Medline Plus.Drug-induced diarrhea.
Pereira DI, Couto Irving SS, Lomer MC, Powell JJ.A rapid, simple questionnaire to assess gastrointestinal symptoms after oral ferrous sulphate supplementation.BMC Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 4;14:103. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-14-103
Feuerstein JD, Cheifetz AS.Crohn disease: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.Mayo Clin Proc.2017 Jul;92(7):1088-1103. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.010
Davis J, Kellerman R.Gastrointestinal Conditions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease.FP Essent. 2022 May;516:23-30.
Cangemi DJ, Kuo B.Practical perspectives in the Tteatment of nausea and vomiting.J Clin Gastroenterol.2019 Mar;53(3):170-178. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001164
Khorasani F, Aryan H, Sobhi A, Aryan R, Abavi-Sani A, Ghazanfarpour M, Saeidi M, Rajab Dizavandi F.A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.J Obstet Gynaecol.2020 Jan;40(1):10-19. doi:10.1080/01443615.2019.1587392
Semrad CE.Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption.Goldman’s Cecil Medicine.2012:895–913. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4377-1604-7.00142-1
Anigilaje EA.Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries.Front Pediatr. 2018;6:28. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00028
Hatchette TF, Farina D.Infectious diarrhea: when to test and when to treat.CMAJ. 2011;183(3):339-44. doi:10.1503/cmaj.091495
UK National Health Service.Diarrhoea and vomiting.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
