Diarrhoea is usually caused by a stomach bug, food that didn’t agree with you, or something you ate while travelling. Most cases clear up on their own within 2 to 3 days. The goals are to stay hydrated, ease symptoms, and know when it’s time to get help.
1. Replace lost fluids first
The biggest risk with diarrhoea is dehydration, especially for children and older adults.
- Sip water regularly through the day.
- Use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace lost salts and sugar, especially if diarrhoea is frequent.
- Clear broths and diluted fruit juice can also help.
- Avoid alcohol, and limit caffeine and very sugary drinks, which can make diarrhoea worse.
2. Eat simple foods
You don’t need to stop eating. Start with small portions of plain foods such as rice, bananas, toast, crackers, plain pasta, potatoes and boiled chicken. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy and very sugary foods until you feel better. Some people find dairy harder to digest for a few days.
3. Anti-diarrhoeal medicine
For adults and children 12 and over, loperamide (Imodium) slows the gut so more water is absorbed, reducing the number of loose stools:
- Take 4 mg (2 tablets) after the first loose stool, then 2 mg (1 tablet) after each loose stool that follows.
- Don’t take more than 8 mg (4 tablets) in 24 hours. Higher doses can cause serious heart rhythm problems.
- Don’t use it if you have a fever, or blood or mucus in your stool. These can be signs of an infection that needs to clear naturally or be treated by a doctor.
- Stop and see a doctor if diarrhoea lasts more than 2 days.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics such as Lactic acid bacillus (Vizylac) may help restore healthy gut bacteria, particularly when diarrhoea follows a course of antibiotics.
When to see a doctor
Get medical advice if you have:
- Diarrhoea lasting more than 2 days (adults) or 24 hours (young children)
- Blood or black, tarry stools
- A high fever (over 102°F / 39°C)
- Severe stomach pain
- Signs of dehydration: very little urine, dark urine, dizziness, a very dry mouth, or in children, no wet nappies for 6 hours or more
- Diarrhoea after travel abroad, recent hospital stay, or a course of antibiotics
- A weakened immune system, or diarrhoea in a baby under 6 months
Travelling soon?
See our guide to preventing motion sickness, and pack an anti-diarrhoeal and rehydration salts in your travel kit.
This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.