Carnegie Mellon

Nausea Vomiting & Diarrhea

Vomiting

Vomiting often lasts from 12 - 24 hours. Medicine is usually not necessary. Rest the stomach by having nothing to eat or drink until the vomiting has stopped for at least two hours. When the vomiting has stopped, drink small amounts of clear liquids (see below) every half hour.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is frequent watery stools. Every time you eat or drink there will be a tendency to have a bowel movement. The most important thing to do is to rest your gastrointestinal tract and maintain hydration. Drink large amounts of clear liquids for the first 24 hours.

Treatment For Nausea and/or Vomiting and/or Diarrhea:

• Do not drink milk or use milk products, fresh fruit, raw vegetables, citrus juices, or tomato juice.
• Do not eat fried or spicy foods
• Select clear liquids from this list:
  • water
  • popsicles
  • apple juice
  • Coke
  • clear soup/broth
  • Gatorade
  • Jello
  • weak tea
  • Koolaid
• Once clear liquids are tolerated with no further vomiting or diarrhea, gradually add solid foods like rice, applesauce, bananas, toast/crackers without butter, and plain pasta.
• If the above foods are tolerated without the return of symptoms, continue to add bland, low-fat foods such as baked potatoes and white chicken meat.

Contact Student Health Service if:

1. Vomiting lasts more than 24 hours.
2. You experience severe abdominal pain or fever.
3. Condition gets worse or new symptoms develop.
4. Diarrhea lasts more than 3 days.
5. You feel weak or dizzy.