What should you know about vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, body aches and headache?

Influenza and COVID-19 can cause chills, headache and body aches, with vomiting or diarrhoea in some people. Gastrointestinal infections can produce prominent vomiting and diarrhoea with feverishness and aches. Dengue fever and malaria are important possibilities after travel or mosquito exposure, while brucellosis may follow contact with infected animals or unpasteurised products. Fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism and Long COVID can cause aches or fatigue but do not explain every sudden illness pattern.

Rest and take frequent small sips of water or oral rehydration solution. Eat simple foods when able, and avoid alcohol. Check whether anyone nearby is ill, note recent travel, mosquito exposure, animal contact, new foods and respiratory symptoms, and stay away from others if an infection is possible. Use only medicines that are suitable for you; ask a pharmacist when vomiting prevents you keeping regular medicines down.

Seek urgent care for confusion, fainting, breathing trouble, a stiff neck, severe headache, severe belly pain, blood in vomit or stool, a rash with fever, or inability to keep fluids down. Get prompt advice after travel to a malaria area, after possible dengue exposure, or when urine becomes very infrequent and dizziness persists. Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with chronic illness may need earlier review.

Tell the clinician when symptoms began and ask whether testing is needed, how to rehydrate safely, which medicines are appropriate, and whether travel or exposure history changes the urgency.