Diarrhoea in adults

You:

• may have swallowed something poisonous
• have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
• have a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
• have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue (on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet)
• are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
• are confused or not responding as usual

Contact your doctor urgently if you:

• still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
• keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
• have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
• have diarrhoea for more than 7 days
• are vomiting for more than 2 days

If your doctor is closed, phone the 16263 health line.

Most cases of diarrhoea in adults clear up after a few days without any treatment.

Try to drink plenty of fluids so you don't become dehydrated. Take small sips of water often.

Start eating again as soon as you feel able to. Choose foods that are easy to digest, like:

• white fish
• mashed potatoes
• yoghurt
• jelly

Foods that are low in fibre help too, including:

• white bread
• white pasta
• white rice
• plain biscuits
• plain cereals

Avoid foods that are fatty or spicy.

Stay at home until at least 48 hours after your last episode of diarrhoea. This stops the infection from spreading to other people.

A pharmacist can help you with diarrhoea. Go and speak to one if you:

• have signs of dehydration, like dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
• are an older person
• have a weakened immune system
• have other health conditions that increase your risk of dehydration
• need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours

The pharmacist may recommend:

• oral rehydration powder that you mix with water to make a drink
• medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours, like loperamide (not suitable for children aged 11 years and under)

Diarrhoea has many different causes. In adults, a bowel infection (gastroenteritis) is one of the common ones.

Gastroenteritis can be caused by:

• a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus
• bacteria, such as campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. coli), which are often picked up from contaminated food
• a parasite, like the one that causes giardiasis, which is spread in contaminated water

You can sometimes catch these infections while travelling abroad, particularly in areas where standards of public hygiene are poor. This is known as travellers' diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea can also be the result of:

• anxiety
• a food allergy
• medicine

Diarrhoea can be a symptom of a long-term health condition, and some of these conditions are rare.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive condition, and it tends to stay with a person for a long time. The main symptom is a change in bowel habits. You may get diarrhoea, constipation, or sometimes both.

Symptoms of IBS can often get worse when you are under stress or after you eat certain foods.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for conditions that cause severe tummy pain and diarrhoea. The two main types are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

If you have IBD, you may get diarrhoea that keeps coming back. You may also notice blood or mucus (clear slime) in your poo.

Most diarrhoea in adults starts with an infection. You can lower your chance of getting it by keeping up good hygiene.

• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food
• clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps, surfaces and door handles with disinfectant after each bout of diarrhoea
• wash any clothing or bedding that has poo or vomit on it separately on a hot wash

• do not prepare food for other people, if possible
• do not share towels, face cloths, cutlery or utensils with other household members
• do not use a swimming pool until at least 48 hours after your symptoms stop
• do not drink any tap water that could be unsafe when you're travelling abroad

Don't include personal information, such as your name, location or any personal health conditions.