It may seem that certain illnesses only occur during certain seasons, like hay fever in the spring and fall, and the flu, in all its incarnations in the winter. The reality is that most illnesses that have as its symptoms nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, are for the most part viruses that can be around at any given time of the year. By learning more about what can cause these three symptoms, you will be able to forestall it happening to you by taking some very simple precautions.
Common Symptoms
Whenever someone claims to be feeling under the weather, even if they feel just a little sick, more often than not they will be sharing the same symptoms as someone suffering from food poisoning, stomach flu or even some allergic reactions. There are some people who will be healthy all year round, but once they go on vacation, to a new environment, they will fall ill. Like we said, the majority of these cases are viral based, caused by common bacteria and viruses that can strike without warning, no matter what time of year it is.
While most of these maladies share the same top three symptoms, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, you may also show some of the following classic symptoms, depending on the severity of your ailment: stomach pain, headaches, and even dizziness. Should any of these symptoms crop up, we recommend that you seek medical aid as soon as possible. Ignoring symptoms like these for too long can lead to dehydration, or something far more serious.
Common Causes
The most common viral infection that can strike at any moment is known as gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu. It has all the earmarks of the common flu but one symptom in particular is more virulent with this condition: diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs the intestines push the buildup of stool in your body out before the water that naturally occurs during this process can be reabsorbed. When this happens, you will have chronic watery stool, most times accompanied by a fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps and nausea.
During some seasons, especially summer, the chance of your coming down with food poisoning or some other bacteria based illness increases, mostly due to our increased use of water. We swim more, drink more, and eat more things that we normally do not include in our diet. One particular bacterium, the E. Coli bacteria, is especially active during this time of year. Anyone carrying the bacteria on their hands, hair or body can transmit it quite easily, especially if they have recently handled fecal matter, like changing a baby's diaper. Most outbreaks center around public swimming pools in the U.S. and unfiltered or untreated water systems in foreign countries.
Treatment options
The truth of the matter is, should you come down with the stomach flu, or any other viral or bacterial based illness, there is no real course of treatment that can be done for you other than keeping you hydrated and on as bland a diet as possible to give your stomach time to rally and heal. In fact, there are a lot of over-the-counter medicines, as well as antibiotics that can make your condition worse instead of better. Best to listen to your doctor for instructions on at home therapy.
Liquids are very important during this time. Because your body has not had time to reabsorb the water from processing stool, you are losing vital liquids you body needs to survive with every movement. Not to mention all that you lose whenever you vomit. It is recommended that you stick to sucking on ice chips or small sips of water or flat soda.
The BRAT diet
Very simply, the best diet for recovering from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea is the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. This diet will not irritate your stomach. Instead it keeps the proteins and other nutrients you need coming and help to reduce stomach acid. If it is a child who is sick, remember that what is good for an adult may not be for a child, so check with your pediatrician first. Avoid dairy, fried, spicy and citrus foods for a while, and no caffeine or alcohol.
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