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Diarrhoea and/or Vomiting

(Gastroenteritis) - Advice for parents and carers of children

When should you worry?

If your child has any of the following:

  • Has dark green or blood stained vomit
  • Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs (recession), or noisy breathing (grunting)
  • Breathing that stops or pauses
  • Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
  • Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
  • Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
  • Has a fit (seizure)
  • Has a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)

You need urgent help.

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If your child has any of the following:

  • 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
  • Is vomiting and unable to keep down any fluids
  • Is drinking or breastfeeding much less than normal
  • Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
  • Dry skin, lips or tongue
  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
  • Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
  • Temperature less than 36°C
  • Getting worse and I am still worried

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111


If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to
either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features

If none of the above features are present

  • Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
  • If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.

Self care

Using the advice below you can provide the care your child needs at home

 

Survey for parents/carers - what was the outcome of you looking at this page?

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids – little and often. Water is not enough and ideally oral rehydration solution (ORS) is best. ORS can be purchased over the counter at large supermarkets and pharmacies and can help prevent dehydration from occurring.
  • Mixing the contents of the ORS sachet in dilute squash (not “sugar-free” squash) instead of water may improve the taste. Apple juice can also be used instead of ORS.
  • Continue to offer your child their usual feeds, including breast and other milk feeds.
  • Do not worry if your child is not interested in solid food. If they are hungry, offer them plain food such as biscuits, bread, pasta or rice. It is advisable not to give them fizzy drinks as this can make diarrhoea worse.
  • Your child may have stomach cramps; if simple painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen do not help please seek further advice.
  • Most children with diarrhoea and / or vomiting get better very quickly, but some children can get worse. You need to regularly check your child and follow the advice given to you by your healthcare professional and / or as listed on this sheet

  • Tummy bugs are extremely common in young children and are almost always caused by a virus.
  • They are easily spread, resulting in outbreaks in nurseries and schools.
  • Diarrhoea can often last between 5 – 7 days and stops within 2 weeks. Vomiting usually stops within 3 days. If your child continues to be ill for longer than these periods, seek advice.
  • Severe diarrhoea and / or vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is when the body does not have enough water or the right balance of salts to carry out its normal functions. If the dehydration becomes severe it can be dangerous.
  • Children at increased risk of dehydration include:
    • young babies under 1 year old (and especially the under 6 months)
    • babies born at a low birth weight and those who have stopped drinking or breastfeeding during the illness
    • children with faltering growth

Once your child is rehydrated and no longer vomiting:

  • continue breastfeeding, other milk feeds and fluid intake - give full strength milk straight away.
  • reintroduce the child’s usual food.
  • avoid giving fizzy drinks until the diarrhoea has stopped
  • if dehydration recurs, start giving ORS again
  • anti-diarrhoeal medicines (also called antimotility drugs) should not be given to children
  • your child cannot return to nursery / school until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea and / or vomiting

Preventing the spread of Gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and / or vomiting):

You and/or your child should wash your hands with soap (liquid if possible) in warm running water and then dry them carefully:

  • After going to the toilet
  • After changing nappies
  • Before touching food

Your child should not:

  • Share his or her towels with anyone
  • Go to school or any other childcare facility until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea and / or vomiting
  • Swim in swimming pools until 2 weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped