Diarrhoea in children and babies

Your child:

• may have swallowed something poisonous
• has a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
• has a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
• is having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
• has 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)
• feels unusually cold to touch
• has a fit (seizure)
• has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the "glass test" for meningitis)
• is difficult to wake up, confused or not responding as usual
• is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or above and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days
• is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 36°C (97°F) or less and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days

Contact a doctor urgently if your child:

• has blood in their poo or wee
• has tummy pain that doesn't go away for more than 1 day, even after paracetamol or ibuprofen
• keeps being sick and can't keep down any fluids
• is breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
• has dry skin, lips or tongue
• is drinking or breastfeeding much less than normal
• is under 5 years of age and has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies
• is aged 5 years or more and still has signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets
• is irritable (you can't settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs, even after their fever has come down)
• is over 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C (102°F) or above
• has a temperature less than 36°C (97°F)
• is getting worse and you're still worried
• has diarrhoea for more than 7 days
• is vomiting for more than 2 days

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

In most cases, children and babies with diarrhoea can be treated safely at home. The main thing is to make sure they keep drinking fluids, so they don't become dehydrated.

If your baby has diarrhoea, carry on with breastfeeding or milk feeds. Babies on formula or solid foods can have small sips of water between feeds. If they seem dehydrated, they'll need extra fluids.

Older children with diarrhoea can take small sips of clear fluid, like water or clear broth. Avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks until they're feeling better.

Don't worry if your child isn't interested in solid foods. If they're hungry, offer them plain foods like biscuits, bread, pasta or rice.

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

A pharmacist can help if your child has diarrhoea.

Speak to a pharmacist if your child:

• is aged 5 or over and has signs of dehydration, like dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
• has a weakened immune system, or has other health conditions that increase their risk of dehydration
• needs to stop diarrhoea for a few hours

They may recommend:

• oral rehydration powder that you mix with water to make a drink. It's helpful to add diluted squash (not "sugar-free" squash) to improve the taste
• 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 children, a common one is a bowel infection (gastroenteritis).

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

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

Diarrhoea can also be the result of:

• anxiety
• a food allergy
• medicine
• a long-term condition, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. You can lower your child's risk by making sure they keep up high standards of hygiene.

• Make sure your child washes their hands 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 share your child's towels, face cloths, cutlery or utensils with other people in the household
• do not let your child use a swimming pool until at least 2 weeks after their symptoms stop
• do not let your child drink any tap water that could be unsafe when travelling abroad