DIARRHOEA AND VOMITING
Diarrhoea and vomiting are symptoms of many possible causes.
Possible Causes
- Gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines of a viral, bacterial or parasitic origin, resulting in diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Under lying medical condition such as meningitis in the case of a sudden onset vomiting. Pregnancy, migraines and travel sickness can also cause vomiting. One of the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease and cancer is recurring diarrhoea.
- Diarrhoea and vomiting can also be caused by overindulging in too much greasy or spicy food and alcohol or by certain medicines such as antibiotics and anti-arthritis medications such as Voltaren.
Signs and Symptoms of Gastroenteritis
Symptoms
|
Viral |
Bacterial |
Parasitic |
| Loose watery stool |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Bloody, mucousy or smelly stool |
No. Very rare |
Yes in severe cases. |
Yes in severe cases. |
| Abdominal cramps |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Flatulence (passing wind) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes. Can be smelly. |
| Heals on its own |
Yes. Can take up to 10 days. |
Yes. Can take up to 1 month. |
Yes, depending on the parasite. Can take up to 1 month. |
| Requires antibiotics |
No |
Yes, in severe cases such as
bloody stool or mucousy stool.
|
No |
| Requires antiparasitics |
No |
No |
Yes, in severe cases as it can lead to malnutrition. But there is no effective treatment for cryptosporidium infections. |
| Vomitting |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Headache |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Fever |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Contagious |
Yes. The viruses that cause
gastroenteritis are spread through
close contact with infected persons (for example, by sharing food, water,
or eating utensils) and fecal-oral route.
|
Yes, through ingesting contaminated food, drinks and
close contact and fecal-oral route.
|
Yes, through ingesting contaminated food, drinks and close contact and fecal-route. Wild animals may also be a source of contamination. |
| Common culprits |
Rotavirus (in winter),
Enterovirus (in summer). |
e. coli, salmonella, shigellae and campylobacter jejuni. |
cryptosporidium, giardia. |
Treatment
In the majority of cases, gastroenteritis is short lived that settles without specific treatment. However, there is an associated risk of dehydration which can be life threatening, especially in young babies and the elderly as they lose fluid very rapidly. Signs of dehydration to be wary of are:
- Drowsiness
- Decreased skin elasticity
- Sunken eyes
- Restlessness or irritability
- Dry mouth or tongue
- Sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on top of a baby’s head)
It is therefore very important to keep up the fluid intake with electrolytes fluid such as Gastrolyte in small frequent sips in order to prevent dehydration. Sugary fluids such as flat lemonade and undiluted fruit juices should be avoided as they can sometimes exacerbate the diarrhoea.
Anti-motility medications to stop the diarrhoea such as Imodium has its place but should be used judiciously as diarrhoea is our body’s own defense mechanism to flush our body clean of toxins. They should definitely be avoided in the case of a bacteria or parasitic diarrhoea that is bloody, black or tarry and foul smelling.
Slippery elm could also be of benefits as it will help to soothe the inflamed mucosal membrane in our gastro-intestinal tract. Nature’s Way Primadophilus Bifidus enteric coated capsules or Solgar Advanced Acidophilus Plus 60 V capsules are useful to replenish the bacterial flora and to boost the defensive mechanism of our digestive tract
Dietary Restrictions
Clear soup and light food if they can be tolerated. E.g. dry biscuits, toasts, cooked mashed vegetables such as potatoes and boiled rice. Slowly return to normal food after twenty four hours as the diarrhoea and/or vomiting improves. For the first few days avoid milk and other dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, raw fruit and vegetables, whole grain bread, and fried or spicy food as they may upset the stomach.
Prevention
- Wash hands after going to the toilet and before handling food
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood.
- Avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
- Avoid leaving dairy products out of the fridge.
- In babies, follow proper sterilisation procedures on baby bottles and teats and refrigerate made-up baby formula straight away. Throw out any leftover formula.
- When traveling, avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables.
- When traveling, avoid drinking tap water and ice cubes. Drink only bottled water or water that has been boiled or purified with purifying tablets such as PURITABS. Wine and hot beverages are also safe. It is important to note that parasites such as giardia are resistant to routine levels of chlorination.
- When traveling, avoid swimming in local water supply.
- Infected individuals should not share food and drinks with other people.
- When traveling, take Nature’s Way Primadophilus Bifidus enteric coated capsules or Solgar Advanced Acidophilus Plus 60 V capsules to boost the defensive mechanism of our digestive tract.
Caution
Consult your family doctor immediately if there is diarrhoea and/or vomiting with any of the following symptoms
- Sign of dehydration
- Bloody, black, tarry or foul smelling stool
- More than ten diarrhoea in one day
- Vomiting heavily for more than six hours
- High fever
- Weight loss
Disclaimer: This information is intended for New Zealand residents and is of a general nature only. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided and at all times should obtain specific advice from a health professional. To the extent permitted by law, ibuy pharmacy Limited, their employees and agents accept no liability (even if negligent) for any injury, loss or damage caused by reliance on any part of this information. All rights reserved. In particular no alterations, additions or adaptions of this publication are permitted without written consent of ibuy pharmacy Limited.