Overview
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
Contact your GP or call NHS 111 for advice if you're 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.
Read more about diagnosing the cause of diarrhoea.
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)
Read more about the causes of diarrhoea.
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 until it passes.
It's 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.
Read more about treating diarrhoea.
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:=read more
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