What Can Cause Diarrhea and Sweating? Exploring Common and Complex Reasons

October 1, 2025 •

5 min read

Millions of cases of foodborne illness occur each year in the United States, often causing unpleasant symptoms like diarrhea and sweating. The simultaneous occurrence of these two issues can be alarming, but it is a common response by the body to a variety of underlying factors, ranging from minor infections to more serious medical conditions.

Quick Summary

The combination of diarrhea and sweating can stem from infectious illnesses like food poisoning or the stomach flu, anxiety and stress responses, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, hormonal imbalances, and heat-related issues. Understanding the potential causes helps in determining the appropriate course of action and recognizing when to seek medical attention.

Key Points

Infectious Causes: Conditions like viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) and food poisoning are common, temporary causes of diarrhea and sweating as the body fights off pathogens.
Stress and Anxiety: The 'gut-brain axis' can trigger digestive upset and sweating as part of the body's fight-or-flight response during periods of anxiety or stress.
Chronic Illness: Long-term conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and hyperthyroidism can cause recurring episodes of diarrhea and sweating.
Medication Side Effects: Certain drugs, including some antibiotics and diabetes medications like metformin, can have diarrhea and night sweats as common side effects.
Heat-Related Illness: Conditions such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke involve heavy sweating and can also cause digestive problems like diarrhea.
When to Seek Medical Help: Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, if you notice bloody stools, or if you show signs of severe dehydration.

Infectious Causes: The Body's Fight Response

Many short-term infections are common culprits behind simultaneous diarrhea and sweating. When the body detects a pathogen, it activates a systemic inflammatory response, which can lead to fever, chills, and increased sweating as it tries to fight off the invader. Meanwhile, the digestive system works to expel the irritant, causing diarrhea.

Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

Viral gastroenteritis, often caused by norovirus or rotavirus, is a prime example of an infectious illness that produces both symptoms. This inflammation of the stomach and intestines leads to watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever or chills that trigger sweating. The illness is highly contagious and usually resolves within a few days.

Food Poisoning

Consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria (like Salmonella or E. coli), viruses, or parasites can lead to food poisoning. The body's immediate reaction is to purge the toxins, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting, often accompanied by sweating, fever, and abdominal pain. The onset of symptoms can be rapid, sometimes within a few hours of eating the contaminated item.

Bacterial Infections

More severe bacterial infections, such as those caused by C. difficile, can lead to persistent diarrhea and systemic symptoms like fever and sweating. These infections often require medical treatment with antibiotics and can cause more significant dehydration.

The Role of Stress and Anxiety

Your brain and gut are connected via the "gut-brain axis." The stress response, or "fight-or-flight" mode, can significantly impact your digestive system.

The Gut-Brain Axis and Fight-or-Flight

During high stress or a panic attack, the sympathetic nervous system ramps up, triggering a cascade of hormonal changes. This can accelerate your gastrointestinal motility, leading to an urgent need for the bathroom and resulting in diarrhea. Simultaneously, the same fight-or-flight response can increase heart rate and cause a flush of adrenaline, which often manifests as sweating.

Chronic Stress and Digestive Upset

Ongoing, chronic stress can also disrupt the balance of your gut microbiome and lead to inflammation. This can cause persistent digestive issues, including frequent bouts of diarrhea that occur alongside periods of heightened anxiety and sweating.

Chronic and Systemic Conditions

For some, the combination of diarrhea and sweating is not a temporary issue but a recurring symptom of a long-term health problem.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. During a flare-up, symptoms can include bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and systemic issues like fever, night sweats, and fatigue as the body responds to the inflammation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder marked by abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel movements. While sweating isn't a primary symptom, many people with IBS report sweating during flare-ups. This is often tied to the stress and anxiety that can trigger or accompany the bowel distress.

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can speed up your body's metabolism and produce a range of symptoms, including weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and increased bowel activity (leading to diarrhea). The metabolic overdrive also causes heat intolerance and excessive sweating.

Diabetes-Related Neuropathy

Long-term high blood sugar in people with diabetes can cause nerve damage, a condition known as autonomic neuropathy. If this affects the nerves controlling the digestive system and sweat glands, it can lead to both diabetic diarrhea and issues with excessive or reduced sweating.

Other Potential Causes

Heat-Related Illnesses: Overexposure to high temperatures can cause heat exhaustion or, in severe cases, heatstroke. Symptoms include heavy sweating, fatigue, and gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea. These are serious conditions that require immediate attention.
Medication Side Effects: Certain medications, such as some antibiotics, antidepressants, and diabetes drugs, can list diarrhea and night sweats as potential side effects. A discussion with your doctor about a drug's side effects is always recommended.
Menopause: Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can cause symptoms like hot flashes (which cause sweating) and changes in digestive health, leading to more frequent bouts of diarrhea or constipation.

Comparison Table: Common Causes of Diarrhea and Sweating


Cause	Onset	Associated Symptoms	Treatment	When to Worry
Gastroenteritis	Sudden, within hours to days	Nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps	Rest, hydration, bland diet	High fever, bloody stool, severe dehydration
Food Poisoning	Rapid, within hours	Vomiting, cramps, nausea, fever	Hydration, electrolytes, bland diet	Severe vomiting, signs of dehydration, high fever
Anxiety/Stress	Sudden (panic attack) or gradual (chronic stress)	Rapid heart rate, nervousness, stomach cramping	Stress management techniques, deep breathing	Persistent symptoms, significant disruption to daily life
Hyperthyroidism	Gradual, persistent	Weight loss, rapid heart rate, tremors	Medication to regulate thyroid hormones	Severe symptoms, rapid onset of anxiety/sweating
IBD (Crohn's, UC)	Recurring flare-ups	Bloody stool, fatigue, fever, night sweats	Anti-inflammatory medication, lifestyle changes	Signs of infection (fever, chills), significant pain
Diabetic Neuropathy	Gradual, persistent	Variable based on nerves affected	Blood sugar control, symptom management	Persistent diarrhea, symptoms of poor blood sugar control

Conclusion

While diarrhea and sweating can be uncomfortable, they are often a temporary reaction to an infection or stress. For many people, symptoms will improve with rest, proper hydration, and a bland diet. However, the persistence or severity of these symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying issue, such as a chronic condition or medication side effects. It is crucial to monitor your symptoms closely, especially for signs of dehydration, blood in the stool, or a high fever. If you experience any concerning symptoms, such as nocturnal diarrhea, fever, or weight loss, it is recommended to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and management.

For more information on digestive symptoms and when to consult a healthcare provider, resources like the Mayo Clinic can offer valuable guidance on a range of conditions.

When to See a Doctor

In many cases, episodes of diarrhea and sweating will resolve on their own. However, you should see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

Diarrhea lasts for more than two days in adults.
Signs of severe dehydration, such as dark urine, lightheadedness, or decreased urination.
Fever above 101°F (38°C).
Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
Bloody or black stools.
Diarrhea that wakes you up at night.
Unexplained weight loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, anxiety and panic attacks can cause both diarrhea and sweating. This occurs because the body's fight-or-flight response, triggered by stress, affects the gut-brain axis, leading to increased digestive activity and heightened physiological responses like sweating.

Food poisoning symptoms often appear more rapidly and can be more severe, including violent vomiting and sweating, usually within hours of eating contaminated food. The stomach flu (gastroenteritis) typically has a more gradual onset, taking 12 to 48 hours to develop, and may be accompanied by fever and body aches.

The most important steps are to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or electrolyte solutions, and to rest. For a few days, stick to a bland diet and avoid spicy, fatty, or high-fiber foods. If symptoms are severe or persistent, see a doctor.

Yes, many medications can cause these side effects. Common examples include antibiotics, some antidepressants, and drugs used to manage diabetes. If you've started a new medication and developed these symptoms, discuss it with your healthcare provider.

While not a primary symptom of IBS, some individuals report experiencing sweating during a flare-up. This is believed to be linked to the body's response to stress and anxiety, which can often accompany IBS episodes.

You should seek medical attention if your symptoms are accompanied by a high fever, bloody or black stools, severe abdominal pain, signs of significant dehydration (like dizziness or infrequent urination), or if they last longer than two days.

Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, increases your body's metabolic rate. This speeds up all bodily functions, including digestion, which can lead to diarrhea. The increased metabolism also causes a rise in body temperature, leading to heat intolerance and excessive sweating.