Diarrhea, Nausea & Vomiting Treatment

Causes

What Is Chronic Diarrhea A Symptom Of?

Acute diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts less than two weeks. Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than four weeks, and usually indicates a more serious problem.

Visit your nearest MD Now clinic if you:

Have diarrhea lasting longer than a few days
Become dehydrated
Develop severe abdominal or rectal pain
Have bloody or black stools
Develop a fever above 102ºF

What Causes Excessive Headache With Vomiting?

A migraine is a common type of headache that sometimes occurs with nausea and vomiting. Most people feel a throbbing pain on only one side of the head during a migraine.

Symptoms should be treated right away to lessen their severity. Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin, can be helpful if your migraine is mild.

For severe migraines, your MD Now provider can treat you acutely and may prescribe medicines, such as nasal sprays, rectal suppositories, or injections. Some medicines treat headaches with vomiting, as well as nausea.

When Should You Be Concerned About A Sudden Feeling Of Nausea?

The timing of nausea or vomiting can be an indication of the cause. If nausea or vomiting happen shortly after a meal, they could be linked to food poisoning, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), or an ulcer. Other causes of acute nausea include pain, morning sickness, medication side effects, alcohol toxicity, viral infections, motion sickness, and many others.

Effects

What Does Vomiting And Throwing Up Do To Your Body?

Vomiting and throwing up are essentially the same thing. They are usually mostly harmless, but can sometimes indicate a condition such as appendicitis or a concussion.

Vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration in children. Adults have a lower risk of dehydration, since they’re more likely to notice symptoms.

Adults should visit MD Now for nausea and vomiting if:

Nausea lasts for more than a few days
You may be pregnant
You suspect dehydration
A known injury has occurred, such as a head injury
Vomiting lasts longer than one day
Diarrhea and vomiting last longer than 24 hours

Infants and children under six years old should be seen for:

Vomiting lasting longer than a few hours
Diarrhea
Dehydration
A fever
No urination in the past 4–6 hours

Please note, MD Now providers evaluate patients ages 3 months and up.

Children over six years old should see a medical professional for:

Vomiting lasting for one day
Diarrhea with vomiting lasting for longer than 24 hours
Signs of dehydration
Fever higher than 101ºF
No urination for 6 or more hours

Is It Normal To Have Diarrhea All Day During Pregnancy?

Diarrhea can occur along with nausea and pregnancy for some women. Some of the causes can be diet and hormone changes, prenatal vitamins, and new food sensitivities.

Prolonged diarrhea can cause dehydration, which, in turn, could result in pregnancy complications. If your diarrhea lasts more than two to three days, you should see your MD Now provider.

Treatment

Should You Go To The ER With Stomach Pain And Diarrhea?

Visit MD Now for abdominal pain lasting more than a few days. Avoid over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can actually worsen abdominal pain.

Have someone drive you to MD Now if you experience:

Fever
Bloody stools
Severe pain
Persistent nausea and vomiting
Yellowish skin
Severe abdominal tenderness
Abdominal swelling
Weight loss

Call 911 or seek emergency care if your abdominal pain is severe and accompanied by:

Accident or injury trauma
Chest pressure or pain

When Should I Take My Toddler To The Doctor For Diarrhea?

In a toddler, diarrhea is defined by a watery stool, increased frequency of bowel movements, or both. In many cases, acute child or toddler diarrhea is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, and will go away on its own.

For adults, diarrhea lasting for weeks at a time is considered chronic diarrhea. Severe or chronic diarrhea could indicate a serious disease. Chronic diarrhea can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease, a malabsorption syndrome, or other condition.

In children, diarrhea lasting more than three days is considered chronic diarrhea and your child should be seen by an MD Now provider. Mild diarrhea can usually be treated at home.

Visit MD Now If Your Child Has:

Blood, mucus, or pus in the stool
Eight stools or more in eight hours
Vomiting lasting longer than 24 hours
Fever and diarrhea for longer than two to three days
Stomach pain or abdominal cramping
Diarrhea soon after a camping trip or traveling outside the US
Diarrhea that keeps returning
Weight loss

See a provider if your infant with diarrhea:

Becomes dehydrated
Has a fever above 102ºF (39C)
Has bloody or black stools