£4.49
Diarrhoea is the passing of watery stools more than three times a day. It is often a symptom of an infection or long-term condition.
Diarrhoea can either be:
- acute: diarrhoea that comes on suddenly, and lasts for five to 10 days, or
- chronic: diarrhoea that lasts for more than two weeks.
Treat Discreet offers a range of the most effective treatments in the market.
Diarrhoea can either be:
- acute: diarrhoea that comes on suddenly, and lasts for five to 10 days, or
- chronic: diarrhoea that lasts for more than two weeks.
Treat Discreet offers a range of the most effective treatments in the market.
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Imodium instants 12 pack£6.49 -
Imodium capsules 18 pack£6.99£4.99
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Imodium capsules 12 pack£5.67£3.69
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Imodium plus caplets 12 pack£5.99£4.79
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Diocalm tablets 40 pack£5.49£4.49
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Dioralyte sachets blackcurrant 20 pack£11.99£8.99
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Dioralyte sachets citrus 20 pack£11.99£8.99
Symptoms can range from slightly watery stools and a brief upset stomach to longer-term, extremely watery stools and cramp.
Common symptoms associated with diarrhoea are:
- cramping stomach pains,
- an urgent need to go to the toilet,
- nausea or vomiting,
- fever,
- headache, and
- loss of appetite.
If your diarrhoea lasts for more than two weeks, it is considered chronic and you should see your GP. Advice for children is:
- If your child is between three months and one year old and has had diarrhoea for more than 48 hours, contact your GP.
- If your child is older than one and has had diarrhoea for more than five days, take them to see your GP.
Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from your bowel contents, or when extra fluid is secreted into the bowel, causing watery stools
Acute diarrhoea
Short-term diarrhoea is usually a symptom of gastroenteritis, which is an infection of the bowel. Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus,
- food poisoning, usually caused by salmonella, campylobacter or staphylococci bacteria,
- an Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacterial infection, which causes secretory diarrhoea,
- antibiotics, or
- contaminated food or water from a foreign country, causing 'traveller's diarrhoea'
Other short-term causes of diarrhoea include:
- emotional upset or anxiety,
- drinking too much alcohol,
- drinking too much much coffee, or
- the side effect from some medicines.
Chronic diarrhoea
Chronic (persistent) diarrhoea can be caused by:
- a bacterial or viral infection,
- laxatives,
- poor diet (too much coffee, alcohol or sweets), and
- a long-term condition (see below).
Long-term conditions that cause diarrhoea include:
- ulcerative colitis,
- Crohn's disease,
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
- lactose intolerance,
- coeliac disease,
- diabetes, and
- pancreatitis.
Acute diarrhoea
Short-term diarrhoea is usually a symptom of gastroenteritis, which is an infection of the bowel. Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus,
- food poisoning, usually caused by salmonella, campylobacter or staphylococci bacteria,
- an Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacterial infection, which causes secretory diarrhoea,
- antibiotics, or
- contaminated food or water from a foreign country, causing 'traveller's diarrhoea'
Other short-term causes of diarrhoea include:
- emotional upset or anxiety,
- drinking too much alcohol,
- drinking too much much coffee, or
- the side effect from some medicines.
Chronic diarrhoea
Chronic (persistent) diarrhoea can be caused by:
- a bacterial or viral infection,
- laxatives,
- poor diet (too much coffee, alcohol or sweets), and
- a long-term condition (see below).
Long-term conditions that cause diarrhoea include:
- ulcerative colitis,
- Crohn's disease,
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),
- lactose intolerance,
- coeliac disease,
- diabetes, and
- pancreatitis.
If you have acute (short-term) diarrhoea, the symptoms are likely to settle down within a week and tests are usually unnecessary. However, if your diarrhoea becomes more persistent or if you have other symptoms (such as blood in your stools or dehydration) your GP may ask for a stool sample to investigate for bacteria or parasites. Other tests for chronic diarrhoea may include blood tests or a sigmoidoscopy (a procedure that involves passing a thin fibre-optic tube, attached to a viewing lens, through the rectum to view the intestine).
Diarrhoea often goes away without treatment after a few days, because your immune system will automatically fight the infection.
In the meantime, you can ease your symptoms by following the steps below.
Drink fluids
You can avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking lots of fluids. You are more likely to be dehydrated if you are also vomiting.
Take small, frequent sips of water or diluted fruit juice. It is especially important that babies and small children do not become dehydrated. Even if your child vomits, still give them frequent sips of water. A small amount of fluid is better than none.
If your child shows signs of dehydration (drowsiness, passing little urine, few or no wet nappies, a dry mouth and tongue, unresponsiveness or glazed eyes) you should contact your GP immediately.
Rehydration drinks
If you are worried that you are becoming dehydrated, your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to take rehydration drinks. You can buy sachets of rehydration salts from your pharmacy and add them to water. They provide the correct balance of water, salt and sugar.
Rehydration drinks do not help to cure diarrhoea, but can prevent or treat dehydration.
Your doctor or pharmacist may also recommend rehydration drinks for your child, if you are worried they may become dehydrated. Do not use homemade salt or sugar drinks. Always consult your pharmacist.
Eat as soon as you can
The old advice was to not eat anything for a day or two, but now it is recommended that you eat foods high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice or potatoes) and other foods as soon as you feel like it. Salty foods such as soup can help replace salt lost from your system.
If you feel you cannot eat, it shouldn't do you any harm, but make sure you continue drinking fluids and eat as soon as you are able.
If your child wants to eat, offer soups and foods high in carbohydrates at first. Your child can eat normally as soon as possible. If your child refuses to eat, continue to offer drinks and wait until their appetite returns.
Anti-diarrhoea medicines
Anti-diarrhoea drugs such as loperamide can relieve symptoms by slowing down the movement of bowel contents, and sometimes by increasing water absorption from the gut. The treatments provided by Treat Discreet include Dioralyte Sachets and Imodium Capsules.
Loperamide can be taken once or twice a day, over a long period. However:
- Do not take anti-diarrhoea drugs if there is blood in your stools or if you have a high temperature (check with your pharmacist).
- Do not give anti-diarrhoea drugs to your child.
Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
If you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your child and they have diarrhoea, continue if they will still feed (use their normal-strength feed if they are bottle-fed). Rehydration drinks should also be given if necessary.
Painkillers
You can take recommended doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have a fever or headache. Do not take ibuprofen if you are asthmatic, or if you have stomach, liver or kidney problems.
Liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen can also be given to your child if necessary. Children aged 16 or under should not take aspirin.
In the meantime, you can ease your symptoms by following the steps below.
Drink fluids
You can avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking lots of fluids. You are more likely to be dehydrated if you are also vomiting.
Take small, frequent sips of water or diluted fruit juice. It is especially important that babies and small children do not become dehydrated. Even if your child vomits, still give them frequent sips of water. A small amount of fluid is better than none.
If your child shows signs of dehydration (drowsiness, passing little urine, few or no wet nappies, a dry mouth and tongue, unresponsiveness or glazed eyes) you should contact your GP immediately.
Rehydration drinks
If you are worried that you are becoming dehydrated, your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to take rehydration drinks. You can buy sachets of rehydration salts from your pharmacy and add them to water. They provide the correct balance of water, salt and sugar.
Rehydration drinks do not help to cure diarrhoea, but can prevent or treat dehydration.
Your doctor or pharmacist may also recommend rehydration drinks for your child, if you are worried they may become dehydrated. Do not use homemade salt or sugar drinks. Always consult your pharmacist.
Eat as soon as you can
The old advice was to not eat anything for a day or two, but now it is recommended that you eat foods high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice or potatoes) and other foods as soon as you feel like it. Salty foods such as soup can help replace salt lost from your system.
If you feel you cannot eat, it shouldn't do you any harm, but make sure you continue drinking fluids and eat as soon as you are able.
If your child wants to eat, offer soups and foods high in carbohydrates at first. Your child can eat normally as soon as possible. If your child refuses to eat, continue to offer drinks and wait until their appetite returns.
Anti-diarrhoea medicines
Anti-diarrhoea drugs such as loperamide can relieve symptoms by slowing down the movement of bowel contents, and sometimes by increasing water absorption from the gut. The treatments provided by Treat Discreet include Dioralyte Sachets and Imodium Capsules.
Loperamide can be taken once or twice a day, over a long period. However:
- Do not take anti-diarrhoea drugs if there is blood in your stools or if you have a high temperature (check with your pharmacist).
- Do not give anti-diarrhoea drugs to your child.
Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
If you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your child and they have diarrhoea, continue if they will still feed (use their normal-strength feed if they are bottle-fed). Rehydration drinks should also be given if necessary.
Painkillers
You can take recommended doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have a fever or headache. Do not take ibuprofen if you are asthmatic, or if you have stomach, liver or kidney problems.
Liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen can also be given to your child if necessary. Children aged 16 or under should not take aspirin.
Complications are uncommon, but see your GP if you or your child have the following symptoms:
- dehydration (signs in children include passing little urine, a dry mouth and tongue, unresponsiveness, glazed eyes, drowsiness and confusion),
- blood in your stools,
- vomiting that continues for more than a day,
- diarrhoea that does not clear up after five days, or
- an infection that was caught while travelling abroad.
You or your child may be admitted to hospital if symptoms are severe, or if complications develop. Sometimes an intravenous fluid drip might be needed if dehydration occurs.
- dehydration (signs in children include passing little urine, a dry mouth and tongue, unresponsiveness, glazed eyes, drowsiness and confusion),
- blood in your stools,
- vomiting that continues for more than a day,
- diarrhoea that does not clear up after five days, or
- an infection that was caught while travelling abroad.
You or your child may be admitted to hospital if symptoms are severe, or if complications develop. Sometimes an intravenous fluid drip might be needed if dehydration occurs.
