Trosnant Lodge

Diarrhoea and/or Vomiting

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.

How to treat diarrhoea and vomiting yourself:

Diarrhoea and vomiting can usually be treated at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.

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 are in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving this to your child

DON’T

  • Do not have 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 medications to stop diarrhoea
  • Do not give Aspirin to children under 16

How long does diarrhoea and vomiting last:

In adults and children:

  • Diarrhoea usually stops within 5 to 7 days
  • Vomiting usually stops in 1 or 2 days

Diarrhoea and vomiting can spread easily:

Stay off school or work until you’ve not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.

If you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your usual activities. Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

To help avoid spreading an infection:

  • Wash your hands
  • Wash any clothing or bedding that has poo or vomiting on it separately on a hot wash
  • Clean toilet seats, flush, handles, taps, surfaces and door handles every day
  • Do not prepare food for other people, if possible
  • Do not share towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils
  • Do not use a swimming pool until at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop

A pharmacist can help with diarrhoea and vomiting:

Speak to your pharmacist if:

  • You or your child (over 5 years of age) have signs of dehydration such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
  • You’re an older person, have a weakened immune system, or have other health conditions that increase your risk of dehydration
  • You need to stop the diarrhoea for a few hours

They may recommend:

  • Oral rehydration power that you mix with water to make a drink
  • Medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours, like Loperamide

Which medications should I stop?

Taking certain medicines when  you are dehydrated or very unwell can result in  you developing a more serious illness. This is because they can increase the risk of dehydration and lead to potentially serious side effects. These medicines should be stopped if you are at risk of becoming dehydrated.

The following medications should be stopped:

  • ACE inhibitors – names ending in “pril” such as Lisinopril, Perindopril, Ramipril. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • ARB’s – names ending in “sartan” such as Losartan, Candesartan, Valsartan. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • Diuretics – sometimes called “water tablets” such as Furosemide, Bendroflumethiazide, Indapamide, Spironolactone. Used for excess fluid and high blood pressure. These medicines can make dehydration more likely.
  • NSAIDs – anti-inflammatory pain killers such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
  • Metformin – a medication for diabetes. Dehydration can make it more likely that you will develop a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.
  • SGLT2 inhibitors – names ending in “flozin” such as Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin, Ertugliflozin. A medicine used in the treatment of diabetes, kidney disease or heart failure. These medications can make dehydration more likely and if you have diabetes can cause acid to build up if you are unwell.

You should temporarily stop taking any medicine listed here. It is important that you then restart your medicine once you have recovered from the illness, usually after eating and drinking normally for 24-48 hours.

When you restart your medication, just take them as normal.. Do not take extra for the doses  you have missed.

Call 111 or the surgery for advice if:

  • If you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
  • You’re worried about a baby under 12 months
  • Your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
  • A child under 5 has signs of dehydration, such as dark smelly pee, peeing less that usual or less wet nappies
  • You or your child (aged over 5) still have signs of dehydration AFTER using oral rehydration sachets
  • You or your child cannot keep any fluids down
  • You or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from your bottom
  • You vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
  • Have green (adult and child) or yellow green (children) vomit
  • Have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
  • Have a sudden, severe headache
  • Have a sudden, severe stomach ache
  • Are confused or not responding as usual
  • You have diabetes

What we mean by severe pain:

  • Severe Pain:         –      always there and so bad it’s hard to talk or think
  • You cannot sleep due to the pain
  • It is very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the toilet, wash or dress
  • Moderate Pain:      –      Always there
  • Makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
  • you can manage to get up, wash and dress
  • Mild pain:         –      comes and goes
  • Is annoying, but does not stop you doing daily activities

Go to A+E or call 999 if:

  • You or your child have (or may have) swallowed something poisonous
  • You or your child are having severe breathing difficulties or hare taking lots of quick, short breaths
  • Your or your child have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue

Causes of diarrhoea and vomiting

The most common causes of diarrhoea and vomiting are:

  • A stomach bug
  • Food poisoning

Diarrhoea can also be caused by:

  • Medicines – check the leaflet to see if it’s a side effect
  • A food intolerance
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Appendicitis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Coeliac disease
  • Diverticular disease
  • Radiation treatment in the pelvic area

Vomiting can also be caused by:

  • Pregnancy
  • Migraine
  • Motion sickness
  • Inner ear infections
  • Medicines – check the leaflet to see if it’s a side effect
  • Reflux – where a baby brings feeds back up
  • Other infections such as urinary tract infection

Date published: 20th June, 2024
Date last updated: 20th June, 2024