At a glance

• Offer frequent small amounts of fluid; use oral rehydration solution when losses are significant.
• Resume usual suitable foods as tolerated rather than forcing food.
• Use careful hand hygiene and avoid preparing food for others while infectious.

Fluids and food

• Take small, frequent sips if larger drinks trigger vomiting.
• Commercial oral rehydration solution has an appropriate salt and glucose balance; prepare it exactly as directed.
• Continue breastfeeding and seek age-specific advice for babies and young children.
• Avoid relying on alcohol, caffeinated drinks or very sugary drinks for rehydration.

Avoid common mistakes

• Check before using anti-diarrhoeal or anti-vomiting medicines, especially for children or when there is fever or blood in the stool.
• Antibiotics are only appropriate for selected causes and should not be taken without assessment.
• Wash hands with soap and water and follow current exclusion advice for work, school, childcare, healthcare and food handling.

When to book a GP review

• Fluids will not stay down, urine is reduced, the mouth is very dry or dizziness occurs on standing.
• There is blood or mucus in stool, persistent fever, worsening abdominal pain or repeated vomiting.
• A baby, frail older person or high-risk patient is affected, or symptoms are not settling.

Returning to normal

• Increase food and activity gradually as fluids stay down and energy returns.
• Arrange review if diarrhoea persists, symptoms recur or there has been recent travel or antibiotic use.
• Follow any test-result or public-health advice provided to you.

Emergency advice

Call 000 for severe dehydration with collapse, confusion or unusual drowsiness, severe constant abdominal pain, a rigid abdomen, vomiting blood, heavy rectal bleeding or another severe or rapidly worsening symptom.

Rochedale Family Practice is not an emergency service.