Final answer:
The time needed for a person to return to normal activities after experiencing vomiting and diarrhea varies. For mild cases, at least 24 hours may suffice, but for moderate to severe cases with additional symptoms or severe dehydration, recovery could take from 48 hours to 7 days or more, depending on the severity and effective treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duration for a person to return to their routine after experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea can vary based on the severity and cause of the illness. In less severe cases, where symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting last less than 24 hours and are not accompanied by fever, a person might be able to resume normal activities within 24 hours after symptoms subside. However, for symptoms that last 24-48 hours, possibly with dehydration and changes in blood pressure and heart rate, a longer recovery time might be needed. In moderate to severe cases, where there are additional symptoms such as jaundice, petechial rash, and other complications, recovery could take up to 7 days or longer. Carli's case, which involved a recovery period with rehydration therapy and her symptoms fading over 2 days, suggests that with appropriate treatment, full activity may be resumed after symptoms are fully resolved, which, according to her case, took about a week.