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Diarrhoea and Vomiting

Tummy bugs are very common in young children and are almost always caused by a virus. They are easily spread around nurseries, schools and in families.

Diarrhoea often lasts between 5 to 7 days and stops within 2 weeks. Vomiting usually stops within 3 days. If your child continues to be ill for longer, seek advice.

Severe diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is when the body does not have enough water or the right balance of salts. If this becomes severe it can be dangerous. Dehydration happens more in small babies. It is important to make sure your child is drinking enough.

Operation Ouch - Diarrhoea and vomiting

Click here to watch this video in Gujrati

Click here to watch this video in Polish

Click here to watch this video in Punjabi

Click here to watch this video in Urdu

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, 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’)

  • Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features

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

  • Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)

  • Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)

  • Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)

  • Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)

  • Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months

  • Your child is jaundiced (whites of the eyes appear yellow)

  • Getting worse or you are worried about them

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today

Please call your GP surgery or contact NHS 111 - Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.(111 online does not currently take questions about children aged under 5, so if your child is 4 or younger,  please call 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

  • Additional advice is also available for families for help cope with crying in otherwise well babies

  • 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

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111

What should you do?

  • Make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluid. Small amounts often are best

  • Water is not enough and you need to make sure that your child is getting some sugar. This could be using diluted apple juice, squash containing sugar or Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). ORS can be purchased over the counter at large supermarkets and pharmacies and can help prevent dehydration from occurring

  • If using ORS, it is helpful add dilute squash (not “sugar-free” squash) to improve the taste

  • 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. Do not give them fizzy drinks

  • Your child may have tummy pain and you can use paracetamol. For more information please look at our tummy pain page.

  • Please do not use anti diarrhoea medicines in children 

  • Your child cannot return to nursery or school until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea and vomiting

  • You and your child should wash your hands with soap and then dry them carefully:

    • After going to the toilet

    • After changing nappies

    • Before touching food

  • Your child should not share their towels with anyone

  • Your child should not swim in a swimming pool until 2 weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped

How long will your child’s symptoms last?

  • Vomiting tends to last for 1-2 days, and diarrhoea tends to last for about 5 days
  • The charts below show how long diarrhoea and vomiting lasts in children when they have a tummy bug. The faces represent 10 children who have seen their GP with a tummy bug. Green faces are those children who have recovered within that time period
A chart showing that 5 out of 10 children with diarrhoea are recovered by day 5, and 8 out of 10 are recovered by day 10. Another chart showing that 8 out of 10 children with vomiting are recovered by day 2, and 9 out of 10 are recovered by day 4

The diagrams above are taken from www.whenshouldiworry.com

Where should you seek help?

For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between

Self-care

You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.

Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.

Sound advice

Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Sound advice

  • Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP
  • Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately
  • Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

The 0-19 Service for children and young people is delivered by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and offers a single point of access for Health Visiting, School Nursing and the Family Nurse Partnership. You can contact the teams using the details below:

Single Point of Access (SPA): 01865 903 800

Email: cyp0-19@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Chat Health Parentline

Text us any time for confidential advice and support and you will have a response the next working day (Monday-Friday exluding Bank Holidays).

Parents and carers for children aged 0-4: Text 07312 263 081

Parents and carers of children aged 5-11: Text 07312 263 227

Young people aged 11-19 and their parents and carers: Text 07312 263 08

Health Visitors

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. They provide a universal service, targeted to individual needs for children aged 0-5 years. Learn more about the Oxfordshire Health Visiting Service here!

School and college Health Nurses

School Health Nurses are specialist public health nurses and have offices across Oxfordshire. They work very closely with Health Visitors to support school aged children. They are available for young people to access in secondary schools and colleges, and offer a service to children who are home educated. They work closely with children, young people and their families to support and promote health and wellbeing. Learn more about the Oxfordshire School and college Health Nursing Service here!

Family Nurse Partnership

The Family Nurse Partnership service supports parents who are aged 19 years or under at conception, or under 21 years if they have been in care. The Family Nurse works alongside younger parents in their home, offering health, wellbeing and development support and information from the early stages of pregnancy, usually up until your child is two. Learn more about the Family Nurse Partnership service here!

GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.

Sound advice

You have a choice of service:

  • Doctors or GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, you can call 111 or use 111 online.

Please note that 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.

Sound advice

Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Emergency Departments (A&E) provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.

Sound advice

  • Many visits to A&E and calls to 999 could be resolved by any other NHS services
  • If your child's condition is not critical, choose another service to get them the best possible treatment
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about going to A&E or riding in an ambulance
Survey for parents and carers - what was the outcome of you looking at this page?