Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Diarrhea and FeverIdentifying Cause of SymptomsTips to Feel BetterSeeing a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes of Diarrhea and Fever
Identifying Cause of Symptoms
Tips to Feel Better
Seeing a Provider
Diarrhea and fever can leave you feeling pretty awful and wondering what causes diarrhea. Food poisoning symptoms and norovirus symptoms can both include fever and diarrhea.
Gastroenteritis (also known as the stomach bug or stomach flu), COVID-19, and other infections may also be to blame. In most cases, diarrhea and fever will resolve within a few days, but it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you become dehydrated or have a very high fever.
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1. Viral Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)
Diarrhea is a primary symptom of gastroenteritis, while fever is slightly less common. Other symptoms include:
A stomach bug usually comes on suddenly and resolves within three days or so.
Is Diarrhea Contagious?Many causes of diarrhea, including viruses and bacteria,are contagious. Wash your hands frequently and try to avoid sharing a bathroom while sick, in order to cut down on the risk of spreading your illness.
Is Diarrhea Contagious?
Many causes of diarrhea, including viruses and bacteria,are contagious. Wash your hands frequently and try to avoid sharing a bathroom while sick, in order to cut down on the risk of spreading your illness.
2. Food Poisoning
Other symptoms of food poisoning include:
Food poisoning usually comes on suddenly. It can last for a few hours, or a few days depending on what type of germ caused the illness.
3. COVID-19
Fever is one of the primary symptoms of COVID-19, and some people experiencediarrhea with COVIDtoo. Other symptoms include:
If you have COVID, you will notice that your symptoms start mild but build. This differs from other causes of fever and diarrhea, which often occur suddenly.
4. Chronic Gastrointestinal Issues
Some chronic gastrointestinal issues can cause both diarrhea and fever. Colitis ordiverticulitiscan both cause these symptoms.If you regularly have diarrhea and a fever, talk with your healthcare provider. They may be able to identify a chronic GI issue that might be causing your symptoms.
How to Tell What Causes Symptoms
In most cases, it doesn’t matter whether your symptoms are bacterial or viral, because the treatment will be the same. For example, you’ll need to try to manage the symptoms of diarrhea while avoiding dehydration.
If you need to see a healthcare provider, they may do tests on your stool (poop) that can help determine whether the illness is viral or bacterial. This can help them determine treatment, since antibiotics can fight bacterial infections like E. coli, but not viruses.
Usually, bouts of diarrhea and fever come on quickly but go away quickly too. You’ll likely be feeling better within two to three days, if not fewer.These tips can helpstop diarrheaand may make you feel better while you have it:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
When you have diarrhea and fever, the biggest risk is dehydration. Learn to spotthe signs of dehydration, and reach out to your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of them. You should also see a healthcare provider if you experience:
If you are pregnant and experience diarrhea and fever, give your healthcare provider a call as a precaution. Some conditions that cause diarrhea and fever, likelisteria(a type of food poisoning), can be especially dangerous to pregnant people. Also, talk to your healthcare provider if you are older, immunocompromised, or were recently hospitalized.
Summary
9 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Norovirus.Hodges K, Gill R.Infectious diarrhea: Cellular and molecular mechanisms.Gut Microbes. 2010;1(1):4–21. doi:10.4161/gmic.1.1.11036Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Food poisoning symptoms.MedlinePlus.Bacterial gastroenteritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of food poisoning.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular diseases.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diarrhea.
9 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Norovirus.Hodges K, Gill R.Infectious diarrhea: Cellular and molecular mechanisms.Gut Microbes. 2010;1(1):4–21. doi:10.4161/gmic.1.1.11036Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Food poisoning symptoms.MedlinePlus.Bacterial gastroenteritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of food poisoning.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular diseases.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diarrhea.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Norovirus.Hodges K, Gill R.Infectious diarrhea: Cellular and molecular mechanisms.Gut Microbes. 2010;1(1):4–21. doi:10.4161/gmic.1.1.11036Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Food poisoning symptoms.MedlinePlus.Bacterial gastroenteritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of food poisoning.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular diseases.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diarrhea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Norovirus.
Hodges K, Gill R.Infectious diarrhea: Cellular and molecular mechanisms.Gut Microbes. 2010;1(1):4–21. doi:10.4161/gmic.1.1.11036
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Food poisoning symptoms.
MedlinePlus.Bacterial gastroenteritis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of food poisoning.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Penn Medicine.Ulcerative colitis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular diseases.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diarrhea.
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