Diarrhea and Vomiting
Diarrhea and vomiting are more common among all age categories, including babies, children, and adults. Stomach bugs often cause diarrhea and vomiting, usually, it stops within a few days. The remedies are probably the same, even if you have diarrhea and vomiting separately or together.
Diarrhea and vomiting causes
The most common causes are:
- Stomach bug
- A vomiting bug called norovirus
- Food poisoning
Diarrhea and vomiting self-treatments
Normally you can treat yourself at home, and drinking a lot of fluids is crucial to avoid dehydration.
- Stay home and get enough rest
- Drink a lot of fluids like water; try taking small sips if you feel sick
- carry on the bottle or breastfeed your baby if they are sick; try giving small feeds more frequently than usual
- Give babies formula or solid foods in small sips of water in between feeds
- Eat when you feel like you can, and there is no need to eat or avoid any particular foods
- Consider paracetamol if you are feeling discomfort (consult a doctor before giving it to your child)
- Don’t drink fizzy drinks or fruit juice, they both can make turn diarrhea severe
- Don’t make formula weaker for the baby; use it as standard strength
- Don’t give any medicine to children to stop diarrhea without a doctor’s consultation
- Don’t give aspirin to children under 16
Consult a doctor immediately if
- You vomit blood, or the vomit looks like ground coffee
- Your vomit turns green or yellow color
- You have swallowed something poisonous
- You have pain when you look at bright lights and a stiff neck
- You have abrupt severe stomach ache or headache
If you have further questions or need personalized guidance, don’t hesitate to take advantage of our online doctor consultation free, ensuring you receive the best care possible.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022