Vomiting and diarrhea: what to know

Gastroenteritis, Food Poisoning, and Rotavirus Infection can inflame the digestive tract, leading to loose stools, cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Fever may occur but is not required. The symptoms can also follow contaminated food, close contact with someone who is unwell, or a medicine that irritates the gut.

Watch for dehydration: thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, unusual tiredness, dizziness, or passing urine less often. Severe abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen, blood in stool or vomit, or pain focused in one area needs medical review because conditions such as Gallstones or Pancreatitis can also cause vomiting.

Take small sips of water or an oral rehydration drink frequently. If vomiting settles, continue fluids and add easy-to-digest foods such as rice, toast, soup, or bananas. Avoid alcohol and rich foods for now. Wash hands with soap and water, clean contaminated surfaces, and avoid preparing food for other people while symptoms continue.

Record when symptoms started, how often you vomit or pass stool, your urine output, temperature, recent foods, and any medicines. Do not use anti-diarrhoeal medicine for bloody diarrhoea or severe illness without professional advice. For more general information, see Vomiting.

Seek urgent care for blood or black stool, bloody vomit, severe or persistent abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, or signs of serious dehydration. Arrange prompt advice if you cannot keep fluids down, symptoms are rapidly worsening, or diarrhoea continues and you are becoming weak. Babies, older adults, pregnant people, and those with significant medical conditions may need earlier assessment.

Ask which rehydration drink is suitable, whether any current medicine should be paused, how to reduce spread at home, and what duration or change in symptoms should prompt review. Mention recent travel, shared meals, sick contacts, pregnancy possibility, and underlying illness.