DIARRHOEA & VOMITING

This usually settles in 1-3 days without treatment. Drink plenty of fluids, particularly squash to prevent dehydration. Small amounts often are best whilst the vomiting continues. Avoid food for 12-24 hours if you do not feel like eating.

If the vomiting is very frequent, special fluids such as Dioralyte prevent dehydration for babies, children and adults and are available at the chemist. If breast feeding the unwell baby, continue to do so. Baby milk may be diluted to half or quarter of the strength until the symptoms settle, when the strength can be increased back to the normal strength over 24 hours.

Other than as mentioned above, milk, dairy produce and fatty/spicy foods should be avoided at first when starting to eat again. Instead try dry bread, toast, thin soups, potato, chicken, etc. If the diarrhoea doesn't settle, try natural yoghurt (you can flavour it if you like). Tummy colic (griping pains) can be eased by Paracetamol and will settle in a few days. In most situations avoid treatment like Kaolin and Morphine, Immodium or Arret as it often prolongs the symptoms and increases cramps.

In babies/young children watch out for:-

* Not wetting nappies/passing urine at least twice in 24 hours.
* Lethargy (drowsiness most of the time despite being awake).
* Large amounts of blood in the vomit/diarrhoea.


If any of these problems are noticed then phone your GP straight away.