Once they have stopped showing signs of dehydration, they can start eating their normal diet. If your child is not dehydrated, offer them their normal diet. If they refuse to eat, continue to give them fluids and wait until their appetite returns.
Antidiarrhoeal medicines may help reduce your diarrhoea and slightly shorten how long it lasts. However, they're not usually necessary. Loperamide is the main antidiarrhoeal medicine used, as it has been shown to be effective and causes few side effects. Loperamide slows down the muscle movements in your gut so more water is absorbed from your stools.
This makes your stools firmer and they're passed less frequently. An alternative to loperamide is a different type of antidiarrhoeal medicine called racecadotril, which works by reducing the amount of water produced by the small intestine. Evidence suggests this medication may be as effective as loperamide for treating diarrhoea.
Some antidiarrhoeal medicines can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription. Check the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine to find out whether it's suitable for you and what dose you should take. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you're unsure. Do not take antidiarrhoeal medicines if there is blood or mucus in your stools or you have a high temperature fever. Instead, you should contact your GP for advice.
Most antidiarrhoeal medicines should not be given to children. Racecadotril can be used in children over 3 months old if it's combined with oral rehydration and the other measures mentioned above, although not all doctors recommend it. Painkillers will not treat diarrhoea, but paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve a fever and a headache.
If necessary, you can give your child liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication to check if it's suitable for you or your child and find out the correct dose. Children under 16 years of age should not be given aspirin.
Treatment with antibiotics is not recommended for diarrhoea if the cause is unknown. This is because antibiotics:.
Antibiotics may be recommended if you have severe diarrhoea and a specific type of bacteria has been identified as the cause. They may also be used if you have an underlying health problem, such as a weakened immune system. Occasionally, hospital treatment may be needed if you or your child are seriously dehydrated.
Treatment will involve administering fluids and nutrients directly into a vein intravenously. If you've been diagnosed with a specific condition that's causing your diarrhoea, treating this may help improve your symptoms. Read more about common causes of diarrhoea. To prevent the spread of infections that cause diarrhoea, you should always maintain high standards of hygiene.
You or your child should also avoid swimming pools for 2 weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea. Practising good food hygiene will help avoid getting diarrhoea as a result of food poisoning. You can do this by:.
Read more about preventing food poisoning. 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 2 doses, with the first given at 2 months and another at 3 months. There is no vaccination that can protect you from all possible causes of travellers' diarrhoea. The best way to avoid it is to practise good food and water hygiene while abroad.
If you're planning a trip abroad, check health advice for the countries you will be travelling to. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About diarrhoea 2. Symptoms of diarrhoea 3. Causes of diarrhoea 4. Diagnosing diarrhoea 5. Treating diarrhoea 6. Preventing diarrhoea. About diarrhoea Diarrhoea is passing looser or more frequent stools than is normal for you. What causes diarrhoea? Gastroenteritis can be caused by: a virus — such as norovirus or rotavirus bacteria — such as campylobacter and Escherichia coli E. What to do if you have diarrhoea Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days without treatment, and you may not need to see your GP.
Diarrhoea self-help guide Complete this guide to assess your symptoms and find out if you should visit your GP, pharmacist or treat your condition at home. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as: blood in your or your child's stool persistent vomiting a severe or continuous stomach ache weight loss signs of dehydration — including drowsiness, passing urine infrequently, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy your stool is dark or black — this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem.
Preventing diarrhoea Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. 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 other household members It's also important to practise good food and water hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water and undercooked food.
Symptoms of diarrhoea Diarrhoea is where you frequently pass watery or loose poo. Associated symptoms can include: stomach cramps nausea and vomiting headache loss of appetite The excessive loss of water in your poo can also sometimes lead to dehydration , which can be serious if it's not recognised and treated quickly.
Signs of dehydration Signs of dehydration in children can include: irritability or drowsiness passing urine infrequently pale or mottled skin cold hands and feet they look or feel increasingly unwell Signs of dehydration in adults can include: tiredness and a lack of energy loss of appetite nausea feeling lightheaded dizziness dry tongue sunken eyes muscle cramps rapid heartbeat Read more about the symptoms of dehydration.
When to seek medical advice Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you are concerned about yourself or your child. Babies You should contact your GP or health visitor urgently if your baby has had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours. In adults, the most common cause of acute diarrhea is a norovirus infection. Preparing for colonoscopy also causes diarrhea. Your doctor will prescribe a laxative solution for you to start taking the day before your colonoscopy.
The type of laxative also known as prep medication your doctor will prescribe is designed to cause diarrhea without draining your own fluids out of your body. This helps prevent dehydration. You might also have bloating, abdominal cramps, or nausea. Your diarrhea should subside shortly before you have your colonoscopy.
You may have some gas and discomfort after your colonoscopy, but your bowel movements should return to normal within a day or two. In many cases, you can treat diarrhea at home. Typically, diarrhea starts to get better after about 2 days. If your diarrhea persists, or you notice the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away:. Possible treatments include:. Acute diarrhea can last anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. This form of diarrhea is usually mild and gets better with home remedies.
Chronic diarrhea, on the other hand, may last for 4 weeks or more. It typically indicates an underlying health condition, such as ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. While diarrhea often improves on its own within two to three days, a few remedies can help promote firmer stools faster. We'll discuss these…. The details of your poop can provide clues to your state of health. Several conditions can cause chronic diarrhea, including inflammatory bowel disease.
Dietary habits and allergies can also be contributing factors…. Diarrhea may resolve by itself, but it can also be painful and uncomfortable. Read on to learn about the causes, some treatments, and when to see a….
Diarrhea involves loose, runny stools, and it can be an indicator of digestive problems or an infection. This article introduces six foods that may…. Is it normal for diarrhea to last for a week? Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. How long does it last? Acute diarrhea causes Persistent and chronic causes Home treatment Medical treatment Seeing a doctor Summary Many cases of diarrhea resolve within a couple of days. How long does diarrhea usually last? Share on Pinterest Getty Images.
Causes of acute diarrhea. Causes of diarrhea that lasts more than a week. Coli Salmonella Shigella Through contaminated food or water Parasite Cryptosporidium enteritis Entamoeba histolytica Giardia lamblia Through contaminated food or water.
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Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. How to treat diarrhea at home Medically reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, M. What causes burning diarrhea?
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