3. Nausea
One of the first symptoms many people experience when they have an intestinal infection is nausea. As the body starts to fight the pathogens, it can cause swelling and inflammation in the stomach. The pathogens can also attach the stomach and cause it to become painful and upset. Some people may experience nausea after eating a meal, or at certain times of the day. Others may get nauseous when they try to use the restroom.
Eating small meals or dry foods such as toast and crackers can help reduce the nausea. There are also medications that can treat it and make it so you can hold food down and do not actually vomit. Once the infection has been treated and the patient starts to recover, the nausea should go away. Some people will experience nausea after the other symptoms have subsided while the stomach recovers and heals and until they get back on a normal eating schedule.