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Diarrhoea & Vomiting

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Diarrhoea & Vomiting

What are the symptoms of acute infectious diarrhoea?

Symptoms can range from a mild stomach upset for a day or two with slight diarrhoea, to severe watery diarrhoea for several days or longer. Crampy pains in the abdomen are common; these may ease each time some diarrhoea is passed. Vomiting, high temperature and headache may also develop.

Can diarrhoea be prevented?

Good hygiene helps to prevent infectious diarrhoea. Always wash your hands:

• After you go to the toilet.
• Before you touch food.
• After gardening.
• After playing with pets (healthy animals can carry certain harmful bacteria).
• Between handling raw meat and food ready to be eaten. (There may be some bacteria on raw meat).

Recommendations until symptoms settle.

Regularly clean the toilet that you use. Wipe the flush handle and toilet seat with disinfectant (such as household bleach) after each time you use the toilet. Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet. Don't share towels and flannels. Do not prepare food for others. Stay off work until symptoms go. If you work with food or as a health carer you should stay off work until you have had no diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours.

What is the treatment for acute infectious diarrhoea?

Fluid intake even if you vomit, or don't feel like drinking, you should try to take frequent sips. Rehydration drinks may be advised. They do not stop diarrhoea, but they do prevent or treat dehydration. Eat as normally as possible, as soon as possible. Anti-diarrhoea medicines are not usually necessary. However, you may wish to reduce the number of trips to the toilet, as they work by slowing down the gut's activity. Paracetamol or ibuprofen are useful to ease a high temperature or headache.