Diarrhoea and vomiting
Children may develop diarrhoea and/or vomiting for a variety of reasons. Most commonly it is due to viral gastroenteritis. Vomiting usually settles after a few days. Diarrhoea can persist for several days. Abdominal cramps and a high fever may also occur.
What should I do at home?
Most children get better and can be safely managed at home. It is important to ensure your child drinks more than normal. This is to prevent them becoming dehydrated.
Give water, dilute juice or rehydration drinks regularly. ‘Dioralyte’ is a rehydration drink, it can be bought from the pharmacy but some children won’t like the taste. Encourage them to drink as much as they want. While they are vomiting, small frequent sips are best.
If you are breastfeeding, increase the length and frequency of feeds. Extra water or dioralyte should be given between feeds.
If your baby is formula fed, continue these feeds. Extra water or dioralyte should be given between feeds.
Return to a normal diet as soon as your child is able for it.
Is it ok to give paracetamol?
You can use paracetamol to ease fever, headache or stomach pains. With any pain relief take it as prescribed. Make sure the instructions on the packet or bottle are followed.
Will they pass it on to others?
Good hygiene helps prevent gastroenteritis. Careful hand washing after using the toilet or before touching food is important.
When your child has gastroenteritis, keep them away from others as the illness spreads easily.
Contact your child's nursery or school to check their illness policy.
When should I seek medical attention?
Occasionally children need admitting to hospital if they become too dehydrated.
The following are warning signs of dehydration:
- unable to keep any fluids down
- going 8 hours without passing urine
- sleepy or floppy child
- sunken eyes
- soft spot on top of babies head sunken more than usual
- changed breathing, either faster or slower or deeper
- dry tongue and lips or no tears
If your child has any of the above, bring them back to the Emergency Department.
How long will it last?
Most cases settle in a few days. If diarrhoea persists more than 10 days or has blood in it see your own doctor so a sample can be sent to investigate for unusual causes.
Most cases of diarrhoea and vomiting do not need antibiotics.
Reviewed by Dr T Shaw in October 2023, next review in October 2026.
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