Diarrhoea
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Key facts
Diarrhoea is common in adults, children and babies. It is often caused by a stomach bug and usually stops within 5 to 7 days. The most important thing is to drink plenty of fluids so you do not get dehydrated.
Most often affects:AdultsChildrenBabiesAnyone after a stomach bug or food poisoning
What commonly causes diarrhoea
- A stomach bug, such as norovirus — one of the two most common causes
- Food poisoning — the other most common cause
- Medicines — check the leaflet to see if diarrhoea is a side effect
- A food intolerance or food allergy
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Anxiety
- Less often, conditions such as appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease or diverticular disease — which is why diarrhoea that lasts or comes with blood needs checking
What helps at home
- Stay at home and get plenty of rest
- Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash — take small sips if you feel sick
- Eat when you feel able to; it may help to avoid fatty or spicy food
- Take paracetamol if you are uncomfortable
- Do not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks — they can make diarrhoea worse
- A pharmacist can suggest oral rehydration sachets, and medicine such as loperamide if you need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours. Loperamide is not suitable for children under 12
When to get help
These three levels are different. Getting the level right is the single most useful thing this page can do for you.
Non-urgent advice: see a GP if
- Diarrhoea keeps coming back, or you have had it on and off for weeks
- You think a medicine you take may be causing it
- You are an older person, or have a weakened immune system or another condition that makes dehydration more likely — speak to a pharmacist or GP early
Urgent advice: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if
- You still have signs of dehydration, such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual, after using oral rehydration sachets
- You keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
- You have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from your bottom
- You have had diarrhoea for more than 7 days, or vomiting for more than 2 days
- A child under 5 has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, or you are worried about a baby under 12 months
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- You vomit blood, or your vomit looks like ground coffee
- You have green vomit (adults), or yellow-green or green vomit (children)
- You may have swallowed something poisonous
- You have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights, or a sudden, severe headache
- You have a sudden, severe tummy ache
- Your skin, lips or tongue are blue, grey, pale or blotchy — on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- You are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
- You are confused or not responding as usual
What to do next
Not sure whether diarrhoea needs a doctor? These are your options, cheapest and fastest first.
Questions people ask about diarrhoea
Reducing the chance of it coming back
- Wash your hands with soap and water often — especially after using the toilet and before preparing food
- Stay off school or work until you have not had diarrhoea or been sick for at least 2 days
- Do not prepare food for other people while you are ill, if you can avoid it
- Do not use a swimming pool until at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop
- Wash clothes or bedding with poo on them separately, on a hot wash
Conditions this can be part of
Listed alphabetically, not by likelihood — this page does not tell you which one you have.
- Dehydration
- Food poisoning
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Norovirus
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
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