Adult vomiting and diarrhea are common. It can be caused by various pathological processes occurring in the body (gastrointestinal diseases, viral infections). In addition, often this condition provokes mechanical damage, various intoxications. If such symptoms occur, seek medical attention.
Human body defense mechanism
Vomiting and diarrhea are natural processes that occur when harmful microorganisms enter the digestive organs. In a similar way, the stomach and intestines try to free themselves from the toxic substances that are formed as a result of the activity of bacteria and viruses. In the case when such phenomena do not stop for a long time, they pose a danger to humans. After all, with every act of vomiting and defecation, the body loses a significant amount of fluid and nutrients. If dehydration is pronounced, the patient may experience cramps, respiratory failure, or even die. Therefore, with a sharp deterioration in the condition, you should seek emergency medical help. A feeling of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occurring at the same time is quite rare. Only serious malfunctions in the work of organs and systems can provoke this set of symptoms.
What factors can cause the appearance of such symptoms?
There are many diverse reasons that lead to the development of these disorders. Moreover, pathologies can have both acute and chronic in nature. In the second case, the disease is constantly present, but manifests itself most clearly in the acute phase. So, what factors provoke vomiting and diarrhea? Among the mechanisms that trigger such processes, the following can be listed:
- The abuse of heavy dishes (fried, smoked or spicy foods, marinades, confectionery), as well as alcohol. The stomach and intestines become difficult to cope with their tasks due to congestion. Because of this, food is rejected by the body.
- Allergic reactions to certain foods or drugs.
- Infection with microorganisms. Such diseases are accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and fever. As a rule, a person in a similar condition requires specialist help and treatment with antiviral drugs.
- The presence of neoplasms in the digestive tract.
- Disorders of the central nervous system.
- Emotional overload, constant fatigue.
- Inflammation in the liver (with the appearance of light stool and dark urine).
- Diabetes (an additional sign is the smell of acetone from the mouth).
- Disorders of the functions of the stomach, gall bladder, pancreas and intestines, with a chronic course.
- The use of drugs that give an increased load on the body (for example, drugs to fight malignant neoplasms).
- Food poisoning after eating poor-quality, expired or poorly prepared foods, unwashed or rotten fruits, berries, vegetables.
Intoxication
This condition is familiar to every person. After all, no one can protect themselves from the use of spoiled foods, for example, in a cafe or kiosk with fast food.
This phenomenon is of two types:
- Bacterial food poisoning caused by the penetration of harmful microorganisms into the gastrointestinal tract, which are multiplied in spoiled food or dishes that have not undergone a sufficiently long heat treatment (especially in meat, fish or sea delicacies).
- Intoxication of a non-bacterial nature is a disease that occurs due to chemical compounds that adversely affect the body. These may be nitrates or other substances present in vegetables and fruits. This condition is characterized not only by disorders of the digestive organs, but also by impaired activity of the kidneys, central nervous system, and heart muscle.
Poisoning sometimes occurs after eating high-quality food, if a person suffering from an infectious pathology was engaged in its preparation. Therefore, experts do not recommend visiting dubious catering establishments.
Help in case of intoxication
If someone develops diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain of an acute nature, it is possible that these symptoms indicate the presence of poisoning. What to do when a similar condition occurs? First of all, it is necessary to help the digestive organs get rid of harmful compounds. For this purpose, washing is carried out. The stomach is cleaned with large amounts of water with the addition of salt or a small dose of potassium permanganate. An enema is used to stop intestinal cramps. After performing these procedures, it is important to make up for the lack of fluid. The patient should drink clean water (often, but in small portions) and take products that remove toxins from the body, such as activated charcoal. One of the main principles of helping a person with intoxication is to maintain a proper diet. It is recommended to exclude fatty foods, alcohol, dairy products, confectionery, fried foods. The diet should consist of a weak broth of wild rose hips or tea with the addition of sugar, porridge cooked in water, dried bread.
It must be remembered that vomiting, diarrhea and temperature, which do not go away for a long time and are accompanied by dehydration, weight loss, dry skin and weakness, cannot be ignored.
It is necessary to seek medical help. After all, these signs may indicate infection with botulism toxin or listeria. In the absence of therapy in a hospital setting, these pathologies often lead to death.
Gastrointestinal Disorders in Women: Causes
In the absence of pregnancy, a violation of the functions of the digestive organs in the fairer sex can be triggered by the following factors:
- Pathology of the liver, intestines or stomach.
- The consequences of surgical interventions.
- Intoxication (products, chemical compounds).
- Cancerous tumors.
- Inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system.
- Heart muscle disease.
Similar disorders in girls can also appear in the first phase of the monthly cycle. They are often accompanied by pulling pain in the lower abdomen, weakness, sweat.
The period of bearing a child
Speaking of vomiting and diarrhea, the causes of this phenomenon, it should be added that they often occur in the early stages of pregnancy. This is due to a change in the content of certain substances in the body of the expectant mother.
Typically, these symptoms occur in the morning and are associated with hypersensitivity to certain odors or foods. And, although many argue that these signs do not pose a danger to the body, a woman should be careful about her health. Indeed, severe vomiting and diarrhea can upset the fluid balance in cells and tissues, as well as deprive the mother and child of the necessary substances. If these symptoms intensify and your health worsens, you should urgently contact a medical institution.
Factors that provoke the occurrence of gastrointestinal disorders in men
The body of the stronger sex is considered more resilient than the female. It is usually resistant to environmental hazards. However, vomiting and diarrhea are common in men quite often. Among the causes that provoke these symptoms are the following:
- Diseases of the stomach, intestines, urinary system, dysfunction of the heart muscle.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
- Disorders of the central nervous system (malignant brain tumors, mechanical damage).
- An unhealthy lifestyle, regular consumption of drinks containing ethyl alcohol, as well as fatty, fried or too spicy foods.
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
- Oncological pathologies and procedures that are aimed at combating them (for example, medications, radiation).
Gastrointestinal disorders in the stronger sex requires seeking medical help. Timely consultation of specialists and competent therapy can help preserve the life and health of the patient.
Symptoms in the elderly
Vomiting and diarrhea are associated with many ailments that are characteristic of older people.
Such phenomena are accompanied by a breakdown, dizziness, significantly deplete the body’s resources and worsen the physical condition. The reasons that provoke a similar condition in old age include the following:
- Complications after pathologies of an infectious nature or surgical interventions.
- Violation of the production of bile.
- Disorders of the digestive tract.
- Strong overwork.
- Severe mental disorders, problems of a neurological nature.
- Hot climate, lack of fresh air.
- Oncological pathologies and means aimed at combating them.
- Mechanical damage to the brain, abdominal cavity.
- Serious diseases of the heart muscle and blood vessels.
- Excessive use of drugs, dietary supplements.
- Overeating (especially in the evening).
Vomiting and diarrhea for no reason
Situations when such signs occur without the obvious influence of external factors are quite common. In such cases, digestive disorders are not accompanied by high fever. The cause of suddenly occurring phenomena may be an increase in pressure inside the skull, problems with blood circulation, drug intoxication. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea occurs under the influence of toxic gaseous substances. This condition is accompanied by a headache, sensitivity to environmental influences (smells, lighting), sharp weakness. Mechanical damage to the head can also cause severe nausea and diarrhea without fever.
Dysfunction of the digestive organs occurs during or after strong emotional experiences in response to sounds or visual images that caused severe shock.
Such phenomena are often found in women, children and people with a labile psyche.
Yellowish vomiting
This condition is often accompanied by bitter tastes in the mouth and pain in the abdominal cavity. It is due to many different factors. Vomiting of bile and diarrhea can be caused by such reasons:
- Disorders of the functions of the biliary tract.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- CNS pathology.
- The period of bearing a child.
- Regular use of products containing ethyl alcohol (alcoholics are characterized by morning bouts of vomiting containing bile).
- Pathological processes in the tissues of the liver.
Assistance Methods
If a person is suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, what to do in a similar situation? If these symptoms occur, try to determine their cause, if possible. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract caused by intoxication require the release of the body from harmful substances. If frequent and loose stools, as well as vomiting, do not stop for a long period, you should take funds that reduce contractile movements of organs.
However, you need to use such drugs only if the cause of the ailment is food poisoning. Diarrhea and vomiting caused by infection cannot be treated with such medications. At high temperatures, it is recommended that the patient use antipyretic drugs, as well as tablets that eliminate cramping. It is necessary to grind the human body with mustard and water (with strong chills and a feeling of coldness in the legs, it should be warm).
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract caused by chronic processes in the digestive system, require therapy with the means prescribed by the attending physician.
Other methods of treating nausea and vomiting include dill, lemon balm, tea with honey and ginger root, and mint candies.
Conditions requiring emergency medical attention
Many patients are interested in the question of how to treat vomiting and diarrhea. However, it should be remembered that some pathologies can not be tried to eliminate on their own.
If these symptoms are accompanied by the secretion of light stools and dark urine, a yellowish color of the skin, it is likely that a person suffers from an acute infection of the liver. He needs the help of a specialist in a hospital setting.
Calling an emergency service is also recommended if diarrhea, fever and vomiting last more than a day, and the patient’s condition does not improve. Severe weakness, staining of the stool black and sharp abdominal cramps are also dangerous conditions. The same can be said of the gastric contents, which are stained with blood.
You should contact a medical institution in the event that a person is a diabetic, and against the background of this disease, he suffers from diarrhea and nausea.