Cold and nausea - what could be behind it?

introduction

A cold is caused by viruses. In most cases these are the typical cold viruses - the rhinoviruses. The infection inflames the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and airways and leads to the typical symptoms of a cold.

The viruses can also get into the gastrointestinal tract, which can also lead to slight nausea. Nausea with a cold is normal and usually doesn't need further treatment.

Why do colds and nausea come together so often?

A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that leads to typical symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and cough. Occasionally there is also a slight feeling of sickness (nausea).

The cold viruses can spread through the throat and throat into the gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation of the mucous membrane there. As a result, those affected feel an uncomfortable feeling in the epigastric region, nausea. In most cases, the nausea caused by a cold is only mild, but sometimes it can also lead to severe nausea and vomiting.

If diarrhea also occurs, this indicates an additional bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal area. The mucous membrane is already damaged by the cold viruses and can therefore be more easily colonized by pathogenic bacteria that cause diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs with a cold and persists for several days, a doctor should be consulted. Treatment with antibiotics may then be necessary.

Causes of nausea during a cold

The fact that a cold can often lead to slight nausea is due to the fact that the cold viruses enter the stomach from the upper respiratory tract by swallowing.

The lining of the stomach reacts with small inflammations that cause nausea. As a result of the inflammation, immune cells in the body release messenger substances that signal the brain to trigger the nausea. Nausea is a protective reflex of the body to get rid of pathogenic substances. The feeling of nausea can be intensified by the blocked nose and the associated shortness of breath.

Other causes of nausea with colds can be bacterial infections of the throat and throat, flu or earache.

Nausea during a cold from phlegm

The strong mucus build-up with a cold can also lead to nausea and nausea. The often tough mucus is transported from the nose towards the throat and then swallowed. In the stomach, the swallowed mucus and the viruses it contains cause nausea.

People with a cold should not drink milk or cocoa if possible, as this only increases the build-up of mucus. Water and warm tea are better. In addition, lozenges and expectorant cough syrup help the body to remove the mucus more easily and to reduce nausea.

What other symptoms can be accompanying it?

If you have a severe cold, you may feel a little sick. Other accompanying symptoms are pronounced nausea and vomiting.
If diarrhea and fever occur in addition to nausea, these are signs of a bacterial infection.

A cold is typically caused by viruses, and in severe cases, the inflamed mucous membranes are also infected with pathogenic bacteria.
Doctors then speak of a so-called superinfection. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted, as antibiotics are usually prescribed for treatment. The doctor must also rule out that it is flu, which, in addition to the cold-like symptoms, also causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Vomit

With a cold, the mucous membranes of the nose and the upper respiratory tract react with increased mucus formation.The mucus is swallowed and, together with the cold viruses it contains, gets into the gastrointestinal tract, where the viruses lead to inflammation of the mucous membranes. As a result, the body triggers nausea and vomiting via the vomiting center in the brain stem.

Severe vomiting associated with a cold that lasts for several days should definitely be clarified by a doctor.

diarrhea

If, in addition to the typical symptoms, nausea combined with diarrhea occur with a cold, it may be that it is not a common cold but a "real" flu. The flu is caused by influenza viruses and is more severe and aggressive than the common cold.

The viruses not only infect the upper respiratory tract, causing sore throats and coughing, but also lead to severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you have a cold with diarrhea, you must see a doctor in order to diagnose the disease and treat it accordingly. If left untreated, the flu can lead to serious complications, such as heart and brain infections.

In some cases, diarrhea is also caused by bacteria, which, because the immune system is already weakened by the common cold, can more easily penetrate the body and lead to infections. The doctor will then prescribe antibiotics.

Read more on this topic at: Inflammation of the brain

fever

Fever is a typical symptom accompanying colds. The combination of a cold, fever and nausea is also not uncommon. Due to the infection in the body, the immune system reacts with messenger substances that lead to an increase in temperature. This is a protective reflex of the body, since most pathogens cannot spread at higher temperatures.

Normally the temperature is only slightly increased with a cold and is below 39 ° Celsius. A high, rapidly rising fever over 39 ° Celsius in combination with a cold and vomiting is a sign of flu. The flu is highly contagious and the course of the disease cannot be compared to a conventional cold. Sufferers should always consult a doctor who will make the diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Circulatory problems

With a cold, circulatory problems and a pronounced feeling of weakness can often occur. Those with a cold suffer from fibrillation of the eyes, palpitations and sweats.

The cold often weakens the circulation so that it leads to dizziness and nausea. The cause is usually low blood pressure (hypotension), which is caused by lack of fluids and the infection in the body. In the context of a cold, circulatory problems and the associated nausea are harmless and the symptoms disappear on their own after a short time. It is important for those affected to ensure adequate hydration and bed rest.

Earache

Severe earache can lead to nausea and nausea when you have a cold. An inflammation in the middle ear causes the mucous membranes to swell and the fluid that has formed can no longer drain into the pharynx. The hearing organ and the sense of balance are located in the middle ear, which is why the inflammation can often lead to hearing loss in the affected ear and dizziness. The dizziness leads to nausea and unsteady gait - unpleasant accompanying symptoms that normally disappear again after the inflammation has subsided and do not require special treatment.

In the case of severe earache and extreme nausea, otitis media is suspected. Those affected then have to see a doctor who will prescribe antibiotics or, in the worst case, open the eardrum through a small incision so that the accumulated pus can drain away. This means that the symptoms subside quickly. The small incision heals again without any problems.

This article might also interest you: Dizziness with a cold

Body aches

Pain in the limbs is a typical symptom of infectious diseases. The immune system reacts to the cold viruses with antibodies that also lead to headaches and muscle pain. Severe body aches and pains that occur along with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea indicate an infection with the influenza virus, i.e. the flu. In addition to the common cold symptoms, an extreme feeling of illness and pronounced exhaustion are typical.

Further information is available under our topic: Body aches

Sore throat

In rare cases, a sore throat can be accompanied by a pronounced feeling of nausea, nausea and vomiting. Usually these symptoms do not appear together, but they do do with certain medical conditions, such as the flu or bacterial sore throat. The doctor may take a swab from the throat and determine if bacteria are causing the inflammation. If the smear is positive, the treatment is carried out with antibiotics.

Read more on this topic at: Inflammation in the throat

Children who have a sore throat and nausea need to see a doctor to see if they have scarlet fever. This is a typical childhood disease caused by streptococcal bacteria. The so-called "raspberry tongue" is typical of scarlet fever: the tongue is very red and the taste papillae are swollen and clearly visible.

therapy

The therapy for nausea, which occurs in combination with a cold, depends on the respective cause.

If there is mild nausea caused by the mucus swallowed from the upper airways, treatment usually does not need to be given. The nausea will quickly go away on its own after the cold has subsided.

In the case of bacterial inflammation in the throat (e.g. from streptococci) that leads to pain and nausea, the doctor will take a smear and can thus determine which pathogen is involved. After the pathogen has been detected, a suitable antibiotic is selected for therapy.

In the case of serious illnesses and severe complaints, there is usually not enough time to wait for the pathogen to be detected. In such cases, the doctor will prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic that targets the common disease-causing bacteria. In the case of severe and prolonged nausea, the doctor may give medication against the nausea; these agents are called antiemetics.

These drugs can help

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat nausea for a cold. Drug therapy for nausea is only necessary if the symptoms are severe.

Most drugs contain active ingredients that prevent the transmission of signals by messenger substances in the brain's vomiting center. These include e.g. the dopamine receptor antagonist droperidol (trade name Xomolix®) or the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine.

Other substances such as Metoclopramide (Paspertin®, MCP-Ratiopharm®, Gastronerton®, Cerucal®) promote movement and emptying of the stomach and duodenum, which relieves nausea. This group of active ingredients is known as prokinetics.

In the case of severe nausea with vomiting, the patient cannot hold the medication with him long enough for it to take effect. In such cases, the antiemetic can be administered as a suppository or as a syringe by a doctor.

An overview of all drugs that can be used against nausea can be found at: Nausea medication

Home remedies

There are a number of home remedies that can help relieve nausea for colds. It is important that the sick pay attention to a sufficient supply of fluids in order to keep the mucous membranes moist and to compensate for any loss of fluid due to vomiting. Milk-containing drinks should be avoided, as these promote the formation of mucus and can exacerbate existing nausea.

Ginger tea in particular has a calming effect on the stomach and can relieve nausea. Chamomile tea or unsweetened fruit tea can also help. If you feel sick, fresh air also helps: the best thing is to take a short walk in nature or just open the window. If the nausea does not improve and persists for days, a doctor should definitely be consulted.

Further information can be found under our topic:

Home remedies for nausea
What home remedies help with a cold?

homeopathy

A heavy build-up of mucus in the upper respiratory tract is often the trigger for nausea when you have a cold. Homeopathic globules, which have an expectorant effect, can be taken to accelerate the healing process and relieve nausea.