Diarrhea and nausea: what to know

These symptoms can occur when the gut reacts to contaminated food, a stomach infection, medication, or a food that is difficult to tolerate. Gastroenteritis and Food Poisoning can both present with diarrhea and nausea. Acid Reflux or Gastritis may add upper-abdominal discomfort, while Gallstones can cause pain beneath the ribs and nausea. Heat Exhaustion may cause nausea alongside fluid loss, weakness, headache, or heavy sweating. Hepatitis A can affect appetite and digestion and may also cause dark urine or yellowing of the skin. Hypoglycaemia is another possible explanation for nausea with shakiness, sweating, or confusion. The combination alone cannot identify one cause.

Take frequent small sips of water or an oral rehydration drink. If nausea makes drinking difficult, try a sip every few minutes rather than a large glass. When you can eat, choose small portions of bland foods such as rice, bread, soup, or bananas. Rest, wash your hands carefully, and avoid preparing food for other people while symptoms continue. Avoid alcohol and foods that clearly worsen cramps or loose stools. Keep track of urine, fever, pain, and whether fluids stay down; this gives a clinician useful information.

Seek urgent help for severe or worsening abdominal pain, fainting, confusion, blood or black material in the stool, repeated inability to keep fluids down, or signs of serious dehydration such as very little urine and marked weakness. Arrange medical advice if symptoms are not settling, keep returning, or occur with yellow skin, a high fever, or significant health conditions. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with reduced immunity can become dehydrated more quickly and should be assessed sooner.

Ask what cause is most consistent with the timing, recent meals, travel, medicines, and other symptoms. Ask which fluids and foods suit you, whether any regular medicine should be paused, and which changes mean you should seek same-day care.