Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. They’re often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.
The advice is the same if you have diarrhoea and vomiting together or separately.
Treat at home and visit your community pharmacy
Do:
- stay at home and get plenty of rest
- drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick
- carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they’re being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual
- give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds
- eat when you feel able to – it may help to avoid foods that are fatty or spicy
- take paracetamol if you’re in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child
Don’t:
- do not give your child fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
- do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
- do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
- do not give aspirin to children under 16
Your community pharmacy team are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such. You do not need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call if you need some additional advice. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Call 111
If symptoms get worse or last longer than expected, then it’s time to ask for help. Call 111 as your first point of contact if your child has:
- not passed urine in 12-18 hours, or
- has blood in their diarrhoea or it lasts 7+ days, or
- has been vomiting for more than 2 days.
Call 999 or visit our nearest Emergency Department
Call 999 or go to the nearest emergency department (A&E) if your child has:
- bright yellow, green or brown vomit, or
- blood in their vomit, or
- swallowed something poisonous, or
- has a stiff neck and pain when looking at a bright light, or
- has a sudden severe headache or stomach pain.