Diarrhoea can be acute (sudden onset and lasts less than two
weeks) or chronic (persistent). This leaflet deals with acute
diarrhoea, which is common in children. In most cases, diarrhoea
eases and goes within several days, but sometimes takes longer.
The main risk is dehydration. The main treatment is to give your
child lots to drink; this may be by giving special rehydration
drinks. Also, once any dehydration is treated with drinks,
encourage your child to eat as normally as possible. See a
doctor if you suspect that your child is dehydrating, or if they
have any worrying symptoms such as those which are listed below.
What causes acute diarrhoea? - Infection of the gut is the
common cause. (The medical term for infection of the gut is
gastroenteritis.) - A virus is the common cause of infective
diarrhoea in the UK. Sometimes it is just 'one of those germs
going about'. Various viruses are easily spread from person to
person by close contact, or when an infected person prepares
food for others. For example,