Most individuals with gastroenteritis will experience both diarrhea and vomiting, but some experience only one of these symptoms. Diarrhea is often very watery (type 7 on the Bristol stool chart), and can be bloody if the source of gastroenteritis is bacterial.
Gastroenteritis (gastro) is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea (runny, watery poo) and sometimes vomiting. The vomiting may settle quickly, but the diarrhoea can last up to 10 days. Gastro can be caused by many different germs, although the most common cause of gastro is a viral infection.
Nausea, vomiting or both. Stomach cramps and pain. Occasional muscle aches or headache. Low-grade fever.
Gastroenteritis is often mistaken for stomach flu although it is actually an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites.
nausea and vomiting that may last a day or two. diarrhoea which usually lasts one to three days, but can last up to ten days. stomach cramps and pain. fever (temperature over 37.5 C in adults and over 38 C in children).
Depending on the cause, symptoms usually take between one and three days to start. Symptoms usually last one to two days, or sometimes longer.
Why does stomach flu hit at night? In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.
Causes of Vomiting with Diarrhea
The illness starts with vomiting. Watery loose stools follow within 12-24 hours. On cruise ship outbreaks, the most common viral cause is Norovirus.
The infected person may feel very sick and vomit often, sometimes without warning, many times a day. Sometimes people infected with norovirus have no symptoms at all, but can still pass the virus to others.
Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel movements — is a common problem. It may be present alone or be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss. Luckily, diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a few days.
For both norovirus and rotavirus, symptoms typically peak in the first day or two after they begin, and tend to be gone by the third day. This can take longer for some people (up to 10 days), and certain symptoms may last longer than others.
Testing data from NSW Health shows that the number of rotavirus cases, the most common cause of gastroenteritis, is at some of the “highest levels of the last decade”. The first two weeks of 2023 saw 197 cases of rotavirus reported, up significantly from the average 40 cases in the same period.
Prevention
All of the viruses that cause the stomach bug are highly contagious. Once one person in a daycare, school or office catches it, it's not unusual to see many others also get sick. If your child is healthy and not sick, the most important thing to do is to keep him/her that way.
Symptoms are usually brief and last only one or two days. However, during that period, people can feel very ill and vomit, often violently and without warning, many times a day. Symptoms usually begin 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, but can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.
Reduce your risk of catching or spreading gastro by washing your hands well after using the bathroom, changing nappies or handling food. Children should not return to school and adults should not return to work until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
Most individuals with gastroenteritis will experience both diarrhea and vomiting, but some experience only one of these symptoms. Diarrhea is often very watery (type 7 on the Bristol stool chart), and can be bloody if the source of gastroenteritis is bacterial.
Drinking fluids too quickly can worsen the nausea and vomiting, so try to take small frequent sips over a couple of hours, instead of drinking a large amount at once.
If your stomach issues are due to digestive conditions such as GERD or acid reflux, you will want to sleep on your left side with your head slightly elevated. Researchers have found a higher rate of acid reflux when sleeping on the right side because it relaxes the muscles between your esophagus and stomach.
Struggling with the stomach flu
Sleep on your side with your head elevated: If you find yourself vomiting a lot, then sleep on your side with your head elevated.
Norovirus. With norovirus — the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in adults — you're contagious when you begin to feel ill. Symptoms usually appear within one to two days of exposure. Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for a few days after you recover.