Fever, Vomiting, and Diarrhea – Overview

Transcript

It can sometimes be difficult to identify the precise cause of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. And in most cases, the symptoms resolve before the specific cause is known. Many different illnesses start out with the same vomiting and abdominal pain followed by diarrhea. Some people have fevers and chills, especially when vomiting. Most of the time, when the symptoms go away, no further testing is needed. Some potential causes include the following: stomach flu or gastroenteritis can be caused by a number of contagious viruses or bacteria. There is sudden onset of vomiting, high fever and pains, and often diarrhea. Although it is called “stomach flu,” nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea without other symptoms is not typically caused by the influenza virus. Food poisoning is typically vomiting and diarrhea without a fever, and usually doesn’t last more than 24 hours. Urinary infections that spread into the kidneys can cause vomiting and usually, urinary infections are accompanied by urine that smells foul or burning pain with urination. There may or may not be diarrhea. Bladder and kidney infections can be treated with antibiotics. Intestinal obstruction is an uncommon cause of vomiting, but is very serious. If you have a history of previous abdominal surgeries and also haven’t moved your bowels or passed gas and have nausea and vomiting with lasting abdominal pain, come back to the ER. Bowel obstructions need urgent attention and usually require treatment as part of a hospital admission.