Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is where you
frequently pass watery or loose poo. Some people may also have other symptoms,
depending on the cause. It affects most people from time to time and is
usually nothing to worry about. However, it can be distressing and unpleasant
until it passes, which normally takes a few days to a week. The excessive loss of water in your poo can also
sometimes lead to symptoms of dehydration, which can be
serious if it's not recognised and treated quickly.
When to seek medical advice
You must contact your doctor/ GP or call NHS 111 for advice if you are concerned
about yourself or your child. You should also contact your GP in the situations
outlined below, as they may mean an increased risk of a
more serious problem.
Babies
You should contact your GP or health
visitor urgently if your baby has had six or more episodes of diarrhoea in
the past 24 hours, or if they've vomited three times or more in the past
24 hours. You should also seek advice if your baby has
any symptoms of dehydration.
Children
Contact your GP if your child has:
- had
six or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours
- diarrhoea
and vomiting at the same time
- watery poo
- blood
in their poo
- a severe
or continuous stomach ache
- symptoms
of dehydration.
You should also contact your GP if your child has
persistent diarrhoea. Most cases will pass in five to seven days.
Adults
Contact your GP if you have diarrhoea and:
- there's
blood in your poo
- you're
vomiting persistently
- you've
lost a lot of weight
- you've
passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea
- it
occurs at night and is disturbing your sleep
- you've
recently taken antibiotics or been treated in
hospital
- you
have symptoms of dehydration
- your
poo is dark or black – this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach.
You should also contact your GP if you have
persistent diarrhoea. Most cases in adults will pass in two to four days.
Causes of diarrhoea
There are many different causes of diarrhoea, but a
bowel infection (gastroenteritis) is a common cause in
both adults and children. Gastroenteritis can be caused by:
- a virus – such as norovirus or rotavirus
- bacteria – such
as campylobacter or Escherichia coli (E. coli), which are often
picked up from contaminated food
- a parasite – such
as the parasite that causes giardiasis, which is spread in
contaminated water.
These infections can sometimes be caught during
travel abroad, particularly to areas with poor standards of public hygiene.
This is known as travellers' diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can also be the result of:
- anxiety
- a food allergy
- medication
- a
long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Treating diarrhoea
Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days
without treatment, and you may not need to see your GP. However, diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, so you should drink
plenty of fluids – frequent small sips of water – until it
passes.
It is very important that babies and small children
don't become dehydrated. Your pharmacist may suggest you use an oral
rehydration solution (ORS) if you or your child are particularly at risk of
dehydration. You should eat solid food as soon as you feel able
to. If you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have
diarrhoea, you should try to feed them as normal.
Stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last
episode of diarrhoea to prevent spreading any infection to others. Medications to reduce diarrhoea, such as
loperamide, are available. However, these aren't usually necessary, and most types
shouldn't be given to children.
Preventing diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. You can
reduce your risk by making sure you maintain high standards of hygiene. For example, you should:
- wash your hands thoroughly with
soap and warm water after going to the toilet and before eating or
preparing food
- clean
the toilet, including the handle and the seat, with disinfectant after
each bout of diarrhoea
- avoid
sharing towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils with others
- wash
soiled clothing and bed linen separately from other clothes and at the
highest temperature possible – for example, 60C or higher for
linen – after first removing any poo into the toilet
- avoid returning
to work or school until at least 48 hours after the last episode of
diarrhoea.
Traveller's
diarrhoea
It is important to practise good food and water
hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water
and undercooked food. If you're planning a trip abroad, check health
advice for the countries you'll be travelling to.
Rotavirus
vaccination
Rotavirus is a virus that commonly causes diarrhoea
in children. A vaccine that helps protect children against rotavirus is
now part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. This vaccine is given as a liquid that's dropped
into a baby's mouth. It's given in two doses, with the first given at two
months and another at three months.
Source: NHS Choices