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Diarrhoea usually goes away on its own within a few days. Make sure you or your child drink plenty of fluids.
Diarrhoea should go away on its own within a few days. It's normal to also have stomach cramps.
It's important that you drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration. Your pee should be light yellow or clear.
As soon as you feel able to eat, go back to your normal diet.
If you have a high temperature of 38C or more, take painkillers like paracetamol.
You can take medicines to help reduce the diarrhoea and shorten how long it lasts. But you don't have to take these and they won't cure your diarrhoea.
Describe your symptoms to the pharmacist. They can recommend the best medicine for you.
Frail or elderly people can dehydrate more easily. You can get sachets with salt, sugar and minerals at the pharmacy, which you can use in addition to your normal diet. They're called oral rehydration solutions.
Diarrhoea can be infectious. Check with the GP before you go in. They may suggest a phone consultation.
You can often safely look after your baby or toddler at home. But it's very important to watch out for signs of dehydration.
Babies and toddlers can become dehydrated more quickly than older children when they have diarrhoea and vomiting.
If dehydration becomes severe, it can be dangerous, particularly in young babies.
give them enough to drink in small sips – they dehydrate very quickly
continue breastfeeding or formula as normal
to ease the pain, you can give liquid paracetamol for children
if your child is eating solid foods, offer them their usual food if they want it
give them medicines to stop the diarrhoea
give them fruit juice and fizzy drinks (they can make the diarrhoea worse)
Diarrhoea can be infectious. Check with the GP before you go in. They may suggest a phone consultation.
Diarrhoea often lasts 2 to 4 days in adults and 5 to 7 days in babies or children.
Diarrhoea can be infectious.
To avoid giving it to other people, you should:
Symptoms for adults and children include:
Diarrhoea is usually caused by a bowel infection. Other causes can be things like a food allergy, alcohol or appendicitis.
If you're taking any medicine, check the side effects. Diarrhoea might be one of them.
Good food hygiene can reduce the risk of getting it.
While you have diarrhoea:
Children are vaccinated against rotavirus, which causes diarrhoea, as part of their routine childhood vaccination.
Find out how to prevent travellers' diarrhoea.
