Diarrhoea is a common disease that everyone sometimes suffers from. It can last a few days in most cases, but diarrhoea that lasts on for weeks might mean a severe health condition that requires medical care. In this article we talk about the causes of diarrhoea and when to call our home GP service for sickness and diarrhoea in Sotogrande.
Causes sickness and diarrhoea
A variety of factors will cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Viruses, bacteria , parasites, certain medications and certain conditions are some of them. Foods difficult to digest (such as excessive sweets), undercooked meat or fish (raw or partly raw) can also induce vomiting and diarrhoea. A list of triggers is given here:
1. Stomach flu (also known as viral gastroenteritis): causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
2. Food poisoning: caused by eating or consuming something infected with bacteria , viruses or parasites. Food poisoning may also result from fungi, chemical or environmental toxins.
3. Stress, fear, or anxiety
4. Cyclic vomiting syndrome: extreme vomiting episodes which do not have a specific cause. Episodes can last for hours or even days.
5. Traveler's diarrhoea: Environmental changes can result in a traveler's diarrhea, particularly in a place with poorer health conditions than an ideal. This disorder is triggered by eating or consuming something unclean or contaminated.
6. Motion sickness: caused by riding in a car, train, plane or other aircraft.
7. Pregnancy
8. Certain medications
9. Difficult infection: type of bacteria that develop toxins that can cause antibiotic-associated colitis. This will arise if antibiotic treatment discards the balance between good and poor bacteria in your digestive tract.
10. High metal poisoning: caused by the concentration of poisonous levels of heavy metals in body soft tissues such as arsenic.
11. Overeating
12. Drinking too much alcohol
13. Crohn’s disease: chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease. Its origin is not understood. There are a variety of forms of Crohn's disease. Symptoms include the following:
- pain in the stomach
- diarrhea, which may be bloody
- excess vomiting
- chills
- fever
- feeling faint
14. Certain types of cancer
15. Irritable bowel syndrome (also known as spastic colon): signs can differ in severity. They include:
- diarrhea
- constipation
- vomiting
- bloating
- stomach pain
16. Peptic ulcer: an open sore that occurs in the digestive tract, such as the stomach lining or the lower esophagus. Some potential causes are drinking too much alcohol, cigarette smoking, and exposure to H. pylori bacteria.
17. Lactose intolerance
18. Abdominal migraine: a subtype of migraine that involves diarrhea as a sign.
19. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: this unusual disease is caused by long-term, intensive consumption of THC rich marijuana.
20. Bowel obstruction: a potentially dangerous condition, caused by a blockage in the large or small intestine.
When to call our home GP service for sickness and diarrhoea in Sotogrande
Since diarrhea and vomiting can have several reasons, it is necessary to seek medical attention if the symptoms do not change or worsen. Those who should always call our home GP service for sickness and diarrhoea in Sotogrande include:
- infants
- toddlers
- children
- older adults
- those with compromised immune systems
Anyone should call our home GP service for sickness and diarrhoea in Sotogrande if they have:
- Diarrhea that is bloody which lasts more than three days.
- Uncontrollable vomiting or retching, which makes it difficult to hold liquid down for longer than a day.
- Symptoms of dehydration, including the following:
- light-headedness
- sunken eyes
- crying without tears
- inability to perspire or urinate
- very dark urine
- muscle cramps
- dizziness
- weakness
- confusion
- fever over 38.9°C
- extreme pain or cramping of muscle
- uncontrollable chills
The bottom line
Nausea and diarrhea can be caused by a wide variety of factors, but are most commonly related to viral infections or food poisoning.
These symptoms also react well to at-home care. If your symptoms last longer than a few days or are severe, call our home GP service for sickness and diarrhoea in Sotogrande.