Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies.
They’re often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.
Diarrhoea and vomiting can both be treated at home – the advice supplied by the NHS applies to both together or separate.
You should drink plenty of fluids, taking small sips if you feel unwell. This should be either water or squash. You also need to stay at home and get plenty of rest as you will not feel better otherwise. Eating if you feel able to will help your body to regulate itself as it normally would. It is best to avoid any foods that are fatty or spicy as this will not be helpful to your system. If you feel any discomfort throughout, take paracetamol.
Fruit juices and fizzy beverages such as Coke, Fanta or Lemonade should not be consumed as these can make your situation worse. Sticking to drinking only water or squash as mentioned previously is advised.
Vomiting, in a typical adult or child should last 1 to 2 days with diarrhoea lasting from around 5 to 7 days. Do not go to work and do not take your child to school unless you or they have not been sick/had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.
Always wash your hands with soap and water, clean things you use each day such as toilet seats and handles, taps and door handles. Towels, flannels or cutlery should not be shared. This is all to help minimise the risks of infection.
CALL 999 if you vomit blood, green vomit for adults or children, sudden severe headache or tummy ache, severe difficulty breathing.