What does headache mean in combination with diarrhea, nausea, fever

1 The essence of the problem

In general, headache or cephalalgia arises from the stimulation or tension of the pain receptors located in the region of the head and neck. It is they who send the signal to the brain nerve cells, which provide the perception of the pain syndrome. Causes of pain can be associated with muscle spasms, blood vessels, compression or blood flow disorders.

Headache can be primary and secondary. Primary cephalalgia is an independent pathology. It can include migraine, painful tension syndrome, cluster pain. Secondary headache is a symptom of another disease. In this case, it is always accompanied by additional signs: nausea, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, temperature, etc. Headache differs in intensity, character( sharp, paroxysmal, constant, boring, compressive) and localization( occipital, temporal, frontal).

Diarrhea or diarrhea, which is a rapid defecation with a stool of liquid consistency. The main cause of this phenomenon is a violation of the functions of the gastrointestinal system. However, diarrhea can also be a symptom that is not directly related to dysfunction of digestion. Most often this is due to a violation of intestinal peristalsis or a violation of metabolic processes. The intestine is most sensitive to problems of an endocrine nature, but it often reacts to hypertension, taking certain medications. If there is a whole set of symptoms( diarrhea, fever, vomiting, nausea, weakness), then this can be signs of serious pathology.

2 Intestinal infections

Acute intestinal infections are a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal system caused by infection with pathogenic microorganisms. They are associated with general intoxication of the body and motor dysfunction of the intestine. Headache most often becomes the first sign and harbinger of the manifestation of other symptoms. The following characteristic infections can be distinguished:

1. Bacteria: salmonella, shigella, E. coli, Yersinia, clostridia. The main routes of infection are food, water, fecal-oral.
2. The simplest pathogenic microorganisms: dysentery amoeba, lamblia, isosporidium. The main way of infection is contact-household.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common diseases caused by bacteria. Most often, infection occurs when you use these products: dairy products;meat without proper heat treatment;bird;eggs;salads after the expiry date. The incubation period can be from 8-10 hours to 2-3 days. The main symptoms: headache, diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting. The fecal mass resembles a boggy vein of greenish tinge with mucus. Against the background of severe diarrhea and vomiting, general weakness and dehydration develops.

Infectious lesions such as dysentery are often manifested. The defeat of the colon is provided by the shigella. The most common method of infection is the use of contaminated food and water. The acute form of the pathology develops within 20-45 hours. The first signs: febrile state and watery diarrhea( blood and mucus impurities are possible).Headache occurs simultaneously with other signs of intoxication, incl.nausea, weakness. There is pain in the abdomen and symptoms of hemodynamic disorders. The danger of this pathology lies in the risk of complications: renal failure, colon dilatation, internal bleeding, prolapse of the rectum.

Typhoid fever is transmitted from an infected person by an alimentary route. The main symptoms of the disease: headache, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver, febrile condition, insomnia, a small rash on the skin, dry skin. The incubation period can reach 8-12 days. In the absence of proper treatment, a number of serious complications occur in different organs.

Acute intestinal infection can be caused by helminths, incl. The most common type is pinworms. Headache occurs as a result of intoxication from substances released by these worms. Diarrhea is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, swelling of it. Possible disorders of the neurological nature: irritability, drowsiness, weakness.

3 Viral lesion

Recently, more and more acute acute respiratory viral infections are accompanied by impaired functions of the gastrointestinal system. The cause of such pathologies are viral infections caused by rotaviruses, noroviruses, astroviruses and adenoviruses. The main route of infection is airborne or food.

One of the main culprits of a viral defeat is rotavirus, which provokes so-called gastric( intestinal) flu. Pathology can develop in people of any age, with frequent manifestations in infants the first year of life. The main signs of the disease: headache, abdominal pain syndrome, high fever, severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weakness of the whole body, darkening before the eyes. External manifestations of the pathology can be redness in the eyes and inflammatory reaction of the mucous throat and throat. The incubation period is 1-3 days. The disease usually occurs within 5-6 days after the onset of the first symptoms.

Another fairly common virus - adenovirus, transmitted by airborne, as well as fecal-oral route from the infected person. Usually, infection occurs in groups, for example, in children in school or kindergarten. In addition to diarrhea and headaches, other symptoms also appear: apathy, weakness, drowsiness, loss of appetite

In young children, laryngospasm, otitis, pneumonia are common complications.

4 Symptoms of poisoning

Headache in conjunction with diarrhea can be caused by food poisoning or drug poisoning. Among food factors, it is especially necessary to note poor-quality, spoiled or overdue products: meat and dairy products, semi-finished products, canned food, mayonnaise, etc. When the expiration date of their validity, the products of vital activity of various microorganisms - toxins - are produced.

Acute poisoning is expressed by such signs: severe abdominal pain in the form of attacks, weakness of the whole body, nausea and severe vomiting. There may be fever and chills. Dehydration causes dry mouth and thirst.

Acute poisoning requires emergency measures: gastric lavage, consumption of large amounts of liquid, sorbent intake( activated charcoal, polysorb), rehydration techniques( reception of Regidron, Hydrovita), therapeutic fasting for 1-2 days.

In addition to toxic poisoning, toxicinfections( bacterial toxins) can occur. Among such bacteria stand out the following: Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria of Bacillus cereus, clostridia of botulism. Staphylococcal lesion is accompanied by pain syndrome in the abdomen and epigastric zone, nausea, vomiting, lowering of arterial pressure, dizziness. When exposed to botulinum toxins, symptoms are added: muscle weakness, vision problems, difficulty swallowing.

Joint manifestation of headache and diarrhea often indicates the infectious nature of the lesion or poisoning. In people with hypersensitivity such signs can arise with causes of non-pathological nature: nervous tension, stress, sudden change in the weather. In any case, the prolonged course of the symptoms leads to dehydration of the body, weakens the body, which requires mandatory treatment to the doctor.