Vomiting and diarrhea at the same time usually signals gastroenteritis (a "stomach bug") from viruses (like norovirus) or bacteria (food poisoning), where your body rapidly expels harmful invaders; it's a defense mechanism, but leads to dehydration, requiring fluids like water, broth, or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and bland foods like crackers, with rest being key. It can also stem from food intolerances, medications, or other conditions, but infections are most common, and it's highly contagious.
Caring For Vomiting, Diarrhea and Dehydration At Home
It's usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. It affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children. Most cases in children are caused by a virus called rotavirus. Cases in adults are usually caused by norovirus (the 'winter vomiting bug') or bacterial food poisoning.
Food poisoning may be accompanied by bloody diarrhea or severe abdominal pain. Compared to food poisoning, stomach flu tends to present with more nausea and vomiting, but less diarrhea. Flu primarily affects your nose, throat and lungs while stomach flu affects your stomach and intestines.
Symptoms involving your intestines (diarrhea, cramps), together with symptoms involving your stomach (nausea, vomiting) are the hallmarks of gastroenteritis. You'll know it if it's “coming out both ends.” Gastroenteritis symptoms may include: Diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting.
Should I keep drinking water if I throw it up? Yes. Vomiting can cause your body to become dehydrated very quickly, so it's important to keep up your water intake as much as possible.
For Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea:
Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and fruit juice. Over the next 24-48 hours, advance to the BRAT diet (B-bananas, R-rice (white) A-apple sauce (no juice), T-toast) but choices may also include chicken soup, plain pasta, saltine crackers and pretzels.
How long diarrhoea and vomiting last. Diarrhoea caused by gastroenteritis usually starts to improve within 3 days but can last up to 7 days. Vomiting usually lasts 1 to 2 days. This is the same for both adults and children.
have yellow-green or green vomit (children)
How to treat diarrhoea and vomiting yourself
Symptoms
Signs of food poisoning can kick in within two to six hours after you ingest contaminated food or liquids. But it depends on the germ you get. Some types need more time in your body before they become harmful. Symptoms tend to go away quickly, too.
There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.
Resting propped up in a seated position with the head elevated at least twelve inches above the feet is ideal. Remain in this seated rested position for a minimum of an hour, or until you are no longer experiencing nausea. Do not lie down all the way. Resting in a fully flat position could trigger vomiting.
The most important treatment for diarrhea is to drink fluids that contain water, salt, and sugar, such as oral rehydration solution (ORS). Sports drinks (eg, Gatorade) may be acceptable if you are not dehydrated and are otherwise healthy.
A 24-hour stomach bug, often referred to as the stomach flu, makes individuals feel unwell with a wide range of symptoms, mostly related to the gastrointestinal tract. This condition leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines, resulting in abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and headaches.
While drinking soft drinks like Sprite can be soothing to the stomach for some, its carbonation can be irritating for others. Soda's high sugar content means it's maybe not the healthiest or best drink for nausea, but it can provide quick relief.
If you have an upset stomach, try to lie with your upper body upright or prop up your head, neck and chest with pillows.
Certain foods make an upset stomach worse
“With food poisoning, rapid diarrhea and vomiting will begin within three to six hours of eating a contaminated food source. With a stomach flu, it's a slower course, and the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea may not show up for 12 to 24 hours. A person will start feeling unwell and queasy first.”
Bacteria can cause explosive diarrhea to occur after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Bacteria that can cause diarrhea include Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli, which is commonly called E. coli. These bacteria can spread from person to person via unwashed hands and surfaces.
Gastroenteritis (gastro) typically lasts a few days, with vomiting often resolving in 1-2 days, but diarrhea can linger for up to 10 days, depending on the germ (virus, bacteria, parasite) causing it. While many recover quickly, severe cases or those in vulnerable groups (young children, elderly, immunocompromised) might experience longer symptoms, sometimes up to a week or more, with norovirus usually lasting 1-2 days and other causes varying.
Watery diarrhea is when you pass loose, liquid stool. It often occurs due to a viral or bacterial stomach infection. It can also be from food intolerances, medication side effects, and gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Six common signs of norovirus are vomiting, watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain/cramps, headache, and fever/chills, often appearing suddenly and lasting 1-3 days, though symptoms like muscle aches and tiredness are also frequent.