What You Need to Know About Vomiting and Diarrhea in You & Your Kids
It’s flu season and if you haven’t experienced a bout of the flu in your household, it may still be on the horizon. Influenza, food poisoning or infection is often accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting and a feeling of nausea. At Medco ER in Plano, TX, our board-certified physicians know what to look for in the case of vomiting and diarrhea in you or your children.
Possible Causes
If you or your child are experiencing irrepressible bouts of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, there could be one of several conditions causing your discomfort.1
- Stomach flu or influenza – there are several different kinds and some trend more than others in our region and at certain times of the year.
- Food poisoning
- Motion sickness, dizziness, ear infection
- Blocked intestine
- Infection
- Illness such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, etc.
- Concussion or brain injury
- Migraines
- Parasites
- Heart attacks
- Kidney or liver conditions
- Central nervous system conditions
- Tumors
- Cancer
- Pregnancy
“Since your vomiting and diarrhea could be contributed to several different things, we usually test right away for flu and investigate the more common things like food poisoning,” said Medco ER’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan, “Those rapid results labs can often tell us pretty quickly what we are dealing with. After that, we can develop the right treatment plan for you or your child.”
Symptoms Defined
- Nausea is when your stomach feels queasy or unsettled and you may feel like you may soon vomit.
- Vomiting, or throwing up, is when your stomach forcibly empties itself of its contents.
- Diarrhea is loose, watery stools, sometimes explosive or hard to control.
At Home Treatment
Since fluid is being lost, it is important to continue drinking to prevent dehydration. Drink clear liquids and eat light, liquid foods. Avoid greasy or fried foods or solid food. Eat small amounts more frequently. Stay quiet and still and rest as much as possible. Drink a rehydrating solution such as electrolytes or sports drinks.
When to go to the ER
“If your diarrhea and vomiting won’t stop,” said Dr. Khan, “then it’s time to come to Medco ER and let us help you.”
Warning signs that mean you need to go to the doctor:
- Black, tarry stools or blood in stool
- Dry, cracked lips and dry mouth
- Sunken eyes
- Rapid breathing
- Fast pulse, racing heartbeat
- Decreased or stopped urination
- Sunken soft spot on top of baby’s head (fontanelle)
- Diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days for adults or 1 day for children
- Vomiting that lasts more than a half day
- Fever over 100˚F
- Blood in vomit (looks like coffee grounds)
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Abdominal pain
Get Help Fast at Medco ER
When vomiting and diarrhea are out of control, the expert team at Medco ER is ready to help you. Our in-house pharmacy has the hydrating IVs and the medicines to start to help you feel better. Come in anytime day or night to find a board-certified physician ready to go to work for you.
Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-747-0370
1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea–vomiting
When IBS is an Emergency
Does this sound familiar: you’ve just finished a long, stressful day and had a good dinner and now the cramping begins. You spend the evening vacillating between trying to ignore the growing pain in your abdomen and trying to find relief in the bathroom. If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
“IBS is an often painful and recurring condition that could be masking a more serious condition. It could be caused by something like a bacterial infection or it could be caused by changes in the muscle contractions of the intestine,” said Medco ER’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “Some people find their IBS symptoms are triggered by stress and others find certain foods contribute to their discomfort.”
Symptoms of IBS
According to the NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, any or all of these symptoms may be present with Irritable Bowel Syndrome:1
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Changes in bowel movements
- Bloating
- Gas
When IBS is an Emergency
If your abdominal pain or IBS is interrupting your life and the pain is so persistent that you can no longer function, go to the nearest emergency room. Your doctor will want to rule out other, more serious conditions.2
If you have a fever that accompanies abdominal pain or cramping, you should seek medical help.
Any unexplained and rapid weight loss needs to be discussed with your doctor.
If you have to get up in the night with diarrhea, that is something to discuss with your doctor.
When there are signs of any rectal bleeding or dark, tarry stools that indicate blood in the stool, you should go immediately to Medco ER.
If you have nausea and vomiting accompanying abdominal cramping, if you are dizzy or faint, if you have chest pain, or if you have difficulty breathing, go to the ER.
If your abdomen is painful to the touch or is hard and distended, go to Medco ER right away.
“Persistent abdominal pain that doesn’t lessen with trips to the bathroom can indicate a serious condition,” said Dr. Khan. “Come to Medco ER right away when you think something is wrong and let us take a look. We have full diagnostic capabilities at Medco ER, we have rapid results labs, and our doctors are board-certified and experienced in treating IBS.”
Treatment for IBS
If IBS is diagnosed and other, more serious conditions are ruled out, your doctor will have ideas to help you start to feel better. Since IBS is not a form of cancer and doesn’t damage the intestines, treatment usually begins with diet modifications. Your doctor may discuss a diet low in gluten and high in fiber.
Lifestyle changes, probiotics, exercise, sleep, and fluids could be recommended. Laxatives, fiber supplements, antidepressants, anti-diarrheal medications, and pain medications are some pharmaceuticals that your doctor may consider.2
Get Help Fast at Medco ER
While IBS may not seem like an emergency most of the time, when the pain interferes with your life, increases dramatically, or has accompanying symptoms like fever, nausea or chest pain, the team at Medco ER are ready to help you any time, day or night.
- Plano: 3960 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-747-0370
- Carrollton: 2745 E Belt Line Road, Carrollton, TX 75006
Call us @ 469-840-4600
1 https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome
2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360064
Is it Appendicitis?
A sharp, piercing side pain is obviously appendicitis—or inflammation of the appendix—but what if your pain is more of a general throbbing, vague abdominal pain, or upset stomach? One of the greatest emergency room challenges is figuring out what is causing your abdominal pain. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we are experienced in pinpointing the source of your abdominal pain and finding the treatment that’s right for you.
“Appendicitis doesn’t always manifest in a simple way,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “But our board-certified emergency medicine physicians are able to use our in-house diagnostic tools to find the root of the pain.”
Causes of Appendicitis
While the cause of appendicitis may not always be clear, here are some common reasons:1
- Blockage of the opening of the appendix
- Enlarged wall tissue in the appendix caused by an infection in gastrointestinal system
- Disease such as inflammatory bowel disease
- Parasites
- Growths in the appendix
- Matter that clogs the appendix
- Abdominal trauma
Symptoms of Appendicitis
- Pain or discomfort in abdomen, often near the belly button
- Pain localized on lower right side
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal tenderness
- Loss of appetite
- Malaise
- Stiff abdomen
Diagnosis of Appendicitis
To diagnose your abdominal pain to determine if it is appendicitis, your physician will do a physical exam including checking for abdominal stiffness and the tendency to guard or react when pressed. A rectal or pelvic exam may be performed to locate the source of the pain. A blood test may show an elevated white blood cell count which may mean you have an infection. A urine test will eliminate a urinary tract infection or kidney stone that would be causing pain. Finally, an imaging exam, such as a CT scan, X-ray or ultrasound may be used in diagnosis.2
Treatment for Appendicitis
“There is really only one treatment for appendicitis – an appendectomy,” said Dr. Khan. “If the appendix hasn’t ruptured, it is a straightforward procedure that can be done as a minimally invasive surgery to remove the appendix. Recovery should be rapid and antibiotics may be prescribed to ward off infection. However, if the appendix ruptured, the surgery and recovery will be more extensive.”
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Appendicitis is a serious medical condition. If left untreated, sepsis may occur, which is life-threatening. If you are experiencing pain or have any of these symptoms, come to Medco ER & Urgent Care right away:
- Abdominal pain or back pain
- Intense pain on your right side
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills
Get help fast at Medco ER & Urgent Care
With little-to-no wait time, you can get right into an exam room and be seen by a board-certified physician within minutes. At Medco ER & Urgent Care, we offer you top-quality care from physicians rather than PAs, CNPs or assistants. Our ER is equipped with the imaging and lab equipment needed to quickly diagnose and to treat your abdominal pain. Open 24/7 every day of the year, we’re here when you need us.
- Plano location:
3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)
Call us @ 469-392-4000
1 https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/appendicitis/symptoms-causes
2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/appendicitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369549