Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea treatment

MinuteClinic providers can discuss your symptoms and health history. They can create a treatment plan that helps prevent dehydration, and they will offer testing if needed. They can also provide advice for prevention and refer you to other providers when necessary.

1. Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit.
   

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment.

   If you made your appointment online:

   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:

   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:


   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
   
   
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
   
   
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, a receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send information about your visit to your primary care provider.

• Allergies
• Bacteria such as salmonella
• Excessive alcohol consumption or tobacco use
• Intestinal parasites such as giardia
• Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, antibiotics and corticosteroids
• Viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus

When they appear soon after a meal, nausea or vomiting may be from gastritis or food poisoning. Illness caused by food-borne bacteria such as salmonella and parasites such as giardia can take longer to develop into symptoms. In addition to the main symptoms, you might also experience:

• Abdominal cramps
• Dehydration
• Feelings of weakness
• Fever or chills
• Loss of appetite

After a COVID-19 infection, some people may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea symptoms that last weeks to months. This is sometimes called long COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome. If you’ve had COVID-19 and have new or ongoing symptoms weeks to months after your initial recovery, a MinuteClinic provider® can help.

MinuteClinic providers can assess symptoms and assist you in creating a treatment plan to reduce discomfort and help promote recovery.

The primary goal is to prevent dehydration by drinking water and fluids. Follow these home care steps to help speed up recovery:

• For 1 to 2 hours after your most recent vomiting episode: Refrain from eating or drinking.
• After 1 to 2 hours: Try ice chips or small amounts of water.
• For the first 12 hours: Sip clear fluids, especially water, to help prevent and treat dehydration. Other options include ginger ale, sports drinks containing electrolytes, flat soda or clear soup broth.
• After 12 hours: Try some bland foods like crackers, pretzels, dry toast, rice, potatoes, applesauce, soups and bananas.
• Over the next 24 to 48 hours: Avoid foods and drinks that may be tough to digest, such as alcohol (for example, beer, wine and spirits), milk and other dairy products, raw fruits and vegetables, and spicy or fatty foods like pizza.

• Avoid sharing eating utensils, drink containers and plates
• Clean hard surfaces: When someone in your home has viral gastroenteritis, disinfect areas such as counters, faucets and doorknobs. Use a sanitizing mixture of 2 cups (0.47 liters) of bleach to 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
• Have sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizer ready: For situations or places when soap and water aren't available
• Keep your distance and avoid close contact with people who have viral gastroenteritis
• Use separate personal items around your home: Such as towels in the bathroom
• Wash your hands thoroughly, especially after using the toilet: Scrub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water, then rinse thoroughly. Take care to clean around your cuticles, beneath fingernails and in the creases of the hands.

While traveling in other countries, you can become sick from contaminated food or water. Reduce the risk by going to a MinuteClinic® for a travel health visit before your trip. You can also follow these tips in areas where tap water may not be clean:

• Bottled or canned carbonated drinks such as club soda and sparkling water: Drink these.
• Food: Make sure that it’s cooked and served while hot.
• Fruits and vegetables: Wash and peel using clean water.
• Hands: Keep them clean. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer). Do this especially after using the bathroom and before eating.
• Raw or undercooked meat and fish: Do not eat these.
• Sealed and purified bottled water: Drink and also use to brush your teeth.
• Tap or well water (including beverages with ice made from tap or well water): Do not drink. Boil tap water when bottled water is not available.
• Unpasteurized dairy products: Avoid these.