Possible causes of diarrhoea
As well as the causes of vomiting, the causes of diarrhoea are also diverse. In the vast majority of cases, diarrhea is related to a gastrointestinal disorder that occurs after eating spoiled or contaminated food. But also poisonous fungi or chemical substances can lead to diarrhoea.
In general, one speaks of diarrhoea when more than three bowel movements are made daily, mostly in aqueous form. In the case of serious bacterial diseases, such as cholera or a Campylobacter infection, diarrhoea is possible up to 20 times a day and more. Dysentery, typhoid, and cholera have become very rare in our latitudes, however, and only play a role when travelling to developing countries.
In our latitudes, infections with Salmonella, the Noro virus, and rotaviruses (especially in children) are particularly common. A rotavirus infection occurs in 90% of children up to the age of three. In adults, the infection is less frequent and occurs mainly in nursing homes or while travelling.
The cause is almost always contaminated drinking water or food, which the highly infectious rotaviruses use for transmission. But also in toilets the viruses can easily jump from one sick person to the next. No less infectious is the norovirus, which is often accompanied by torrential vomiting.
Its transmission pathways are similar to those of rotaviruses. For this reason, special attention must be paid to hygiene in the toilet area, when cleaning dishes – for example in kindergartens or other public institutions – and washing hands regularly. Usually it remains with the diarrhea, however also member pain and headache can occur.
After 2-3 days of illness, the worst is usually over.It is important to compensate for the resulting loss of fluid with plenty of water. Specially designed electrolyte solutions, such as Elotrans, also help to bring the electrolyte balance back into balance. Salmonella enteritis is – unlike rotavirus and norovirus – a bacterial infection.
It is based on the two bacteria Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. The classic Salmonella infection takes place at summer barbecue parties, where animal products such as eggs, poultry, pork and beef have been in the sun for too long. Also dishes with raw eggs, like creams and tiramisu are ideal breeding grounds for Salmonella, if they are not cooled sufficiently.
Bacterial growth is exponential, and after only a few hours the number of bacteria is sufficient to cause Salmonella poisoning. Since the incubation period is up to 3 days, the food from the previous day is often consumed the next day, so that even more patients become infected. After a maximum of 3 days, diarrhea, headache, nausea and possibly also chills occur.
Salmonella poisoning is only dangerous at a very high or very low age, it can also be very easy. As with other diarrheal diseases, water, soup and electrolyte solutions help against electrolyte and fluid loss. Salmonella poisoning must be reported, even though this obligation is often not fulfilled.
It is estimated that only 20% of salmonella infections are reported. However, infection with spores of the Clostridia group poses a particular risk. Its best-known representative is the bacterium “Clostridium botulinum”, which produces the botulinum toxin.
In common parlance this is known as “BTX”, or “Botox”, and is used in plastic surgery to tighten wrinkles. The background is that this nerve toxin inhibits muscle activity, thus making the annoying wrinkles on the face disappear. However, if the poison is absorbed orally into the body, 100 nanograms (100 billionths of a gram) are enough to kill a person.
Early symptoms include muscle paralysis, speech and breathing disorders, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Botulism can be caused relatively easily by the consumption of expired canned food, and therefore also belongs to the category of food poisoning in the broadest sense. Clostridium botulinum is formed under warm, low-oxygen conditions, such as those prevailing in a tin can.
If pressure is released when opening a tin can, or if the can is already bulging outwards before opening, it must be disposed of immediately and under no circumstances consumed. The treatment of Botox poisoning is only promising within a few hours, and ends 100% lethal if not treated. For most types of botulinum toxin there are antidotes, but in 2013 another strain was found in the USA for which there is no antiserum yet.
The combination of vomiting and diarrhea usually indicates the presence of a gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis). Many different pathogens can be triggers for such an infection. In most cases, the disease is harmless and self-limiting, and the affected person recovers within a few days.
If bloody diarrhoea occurs or if vomiting and fever occur at the same time, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible so that causes requiring treatment can be ruled out. In general, gastrointestinal infections are initially treated by abstinence from food (no food intake), which is usually observed as a matter of course in view of the frequent additional loss of appetite. In addition, a sufficient fluid intake of 2-3 liters per day is strongly recommended.
In cases of pronounced dehydration, an electrolyte solution may be useful. This can also be prepared from household products. It is best to consult the treating family doctor. Another important rule in gastroenteritis is to wash your hands after each visit to the toilet and, if possible, to use separate toilets if you live with a partner family, otherwise the risk of infection is relatively high, depending on the pathogen. Household remedy against vomiting
