Diarrhoea usually clears up without treatment after a few days, particularly if it’s caused by an infection. In children, diarrhoea usually passes within five to seven days and rarely lasts longer than two weeks. In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within two to four days, although some infections can last a week or more. While waiting for your diarrhoea to pass, you can ease your symptoms by following the advice outlined below.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, particularly if you’re also vomiting. Take frequent small sips of water. Ideally, adults should drink a lot of liquids that contain water, salt and sugar. Examples are soup broth or water mixed with juice. If you’re drinking enough fluid, your urine will be light yellow or almost clear. It’s also very important for babies and small children not to become dehydrated. Give your child frequent sips of water, even if they’re vomiting. A small amount is better than none. Fruit juice or fizzy drinks should be avoided as they can make diarrhoea worse in children. If you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have diarrhoea, you should continue to feed them as normal. Contact your GP immediately if you or your child develop any symptoms of dehydration…..more