General Health

Sip small quantities of fluids frequently rather than have large amounts at once. Small children will often suck ice blocks, especially if flavored, and replace their fluid this way. Suck barley sugar and nibble on biscuits, either sweet or dry. When the condition has settled, slowly introduce simple bland foods.

Kaolin mixtures may be of some benefit in helping diarrhoea. Codeine, present in some pain-relieving tablets, is constipating and may relieve both the abdominal pain and the diarrhoea.

Specific drugs to reduce the spasms of the bowel are more effective and often prescribed by the doctor if you have to see him. If you are travelling, he may give you some to take with you. Anti-allergy pills are usually good for stopping both nausea and vomiting but there is some evidence that drugs which stop the diarrhoea may prolong the illness.

Dehydration can be severe in hot weather, particularly with children and the elderly. This may make you seek medical advice.

Persistent symptoms may be due to some more exotic infection such as amoebic dysentry or giardial infection.

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General health