Vomiting and Diarrhea: Causes and Treatments

Vomiting and diarrhea are 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.

Symptoms of Vomiting and Diarrhea

The symptoms associated with vomiting and diarrhea can vary depending on the cause.

Symptoms related to vomiting include:

• Nausea
• Gagging or retching
• Abdominal pain
• Pale skin
• Drowsiness
• Uncontrollable expulsion of stomach contents
• An increase in saliva that leads to drooling or spitting
• Extreme thirst from dehydration

Diarrhea-associated symptoms can include:

• Cramping or abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Bloody stools
• Fever and chills
• Light-headedness or dizziness
• An urgency to use the bathroom that may result in a loss of bowel control

What Causes Vomiting and Diarrhea?

Many conditions and illnesses can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, such as infections, psychological stress, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is 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.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning occurs 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:

• Salmonella
• Listeria
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Norovirus
• Hepatitis A 

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:

• Antibiotics
• Chemotherapy medicines
• Heartburn and stomach ulcer drugs
• Immunosuppressant medications
• Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• The diabetes drug Glucophage (metformin)
• Opioid pain relievers
• Antidepressants

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 disease and ulcerative colitis.

The GI tract, including the intestines, esophagus, and stomach, can become damaged by the inflammation, which leads to symptoms.

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.

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.

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:

• Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)
• Dramamine or Gravol (dimenhydrinate)
• Compazine (prochlorperazine)
• Reglan (metoclopramide)
• Zofran (ondansetron)

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:

• Gabapentin (anticonvulsant)
• Zyprexa (olanzapine), an antipsychotic
• Remeron (mirtazapine), an antidepressant
• Ativan (lorazepam), a type of benzodiazepine antidepressant
• Cannabinoids (compounds in cannabis)
• Tricyclic antidepressants

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:

• Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)
• Imodium (loperamide)
• Racecadotril (acetorphan)
• Probiotics that contain Lactobacillus
• Valium (diazepam), a benzodiazepine antidepressant

Consuming certain foods or nutritional supplements can also help reduce or control diarrhea bouts. Some options include:

• Pectin, a binding agent to bulk the stool
• Green bananas
• Foods high in zinc (or zinc supplements)

What About Young Children?

The best way to treat children with vomiting and diarrhea is by monitoring their symptoms and ensuring they're getting enough fluids to counteract dehydration.

Once the child can drink fluids without vomiting or having another bout of diarrhea, you can reintroduce bland foods. The BRAT diet is often recommended for children and includes the following foods:

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

Children cannot safely take certain medications used by adults for vomiting and diarrhea. For example, children under the age of 12 should not use Imodium. If your child needs medication, you should see a healthcare provider.

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.

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.

That said, you can increase your chances of avoiding certain diseases or infections that cause vomiting and diarrhea by:

• Washing your hands thoroughly before you eat and throughout the day
• Ensuring that all your food is cooked to the appropriate temperature
• Getting the proper diagnosis and treatment for underlying health disorders, such as anxiety or IBD

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.

Preventing vomiting and diarrhea poses challenges simply because of the causes. Still, you can protect yourself from viral or bacterial illnesses by practicing good personal hygiene and ensuring your food is always cooked. See your healthcare provider if you experience vomiting or diarrhea for over two days.