How long does diarrhoea last, and what can help?

This guide covers adults. Babies and children need age-specific advice because they can become dehydrated quickly, and adult anti-diarrhoeal advice does not apply to them. In adults, diarrhoea means loose or watery bowel motions that occur more often than is normal for you. You may also have urgency, cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, bloating or reduced appetite.

Many acute episodes caused by a stomach infection improve within a few days. Some infectious episodes last about five to seven days, while medicine effects, food intolerance, bowel conditions and other causes can last for different periods. A time range cannot confirm the cause or guarantee when you will recover.

Seek review if diarrhoea is not starting to improve after a few days, keeps returning, wakes you at night or affects eating and drinking. Do not wait for a duration threshold when you have blood, severe pain, dehydration or another warning sign below.

Short episodes commonly come from viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Bacterial or parasitic infections are more likely in some travel, food, water or outbreak settings, and can need different testing or treatment.

Antibiotics and other medicines can cause diarrhoea. Diarrhoea during or after antibiotics can occasionally reflect a more serious bowel infection, so contact a doctor rather than simply stopping a prescribed medicine or repeatedly treating the symptom yourself.

Persistent or recurring diarrhoea can also occur with food intolerance, coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, hormone or metabolic conditions and other bowel disorders. Symptoms alone do not identify which cause applies.

Replacing fluid is the main priority. Drink regularly and take small, frequent sips if nausea makes larger drinks difficult. Oral rehydration solution contains a measured balance of water and salts; prepare it exactly as the packet directs because changing the amount of water changes that balance.

Sports drinks, undiluted juice and very sugary drinks are not substitutes for oral rehydration solution and may worsen diarrhoea. If you have a prescribed fluid restriction for heart, kidney or another condition, ask a clinician how to replace losses safely before increasing your usual limit.

You do not need to fast. Eat small amounts of your usual food as your appetite returns and choose lighter food if that feels easier. Avoid alcohol and any food or drink that clearly worsens symptoms, but do not start a long-term restrictive diet based on one short episode.

A pharmacist can help you choose an oral rehydration product and explain how to prepare it. They can also check whether a short-term anti-diarrhoeal treatment is suitable with your age, pregnancy possibility, medicines and health conditions.

Do not use anti-diarrhoeal medicine without medical advice when you have blood in the stool or fever. These medicines are not suitable for every cause and should not be used long term to cover persistent or recurring symptoms.

Antibiotics are not useful for most acute diarrhoea. They may be considered after assessment for a specific bacterial infection. Do not use leftover antibiotics or another person's medicine.

When infection is possible, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food. Clean soiled bathroom surfaces and avoid sharing towels.

Stay home from work or study and do not prepare food for other people until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting when infectious gastroenteritis is suspected. Childcare, healthcare, aged-care and food-handling roles may have specific workplace or public-health rules, so check the rule that applies to your setting.

Continue careful hygiene after symptoms settle because some infections can still spread. Follow public-health advice if you are linked to an outbreak or a confirmed infection.

A HerDoc GP can review the duration and frequency, fluid intake, medicines, travel, food and water exposures, sick contacts, pregnancy possibility, other health conditions and warning signs. The GP can discuss care and whether testing, local examination or referral would add useful information.

HerDoc consultations are by phone. A local clinician may need to examine your abdomen, check hydration or arrange urgent care when pain, weakness or ongoing vomiting matters. A phone consultation cannot check these findings or replace emergency assessment.

A stool test is not needed for every short episode. It may help when diarrhoea is persistent, bloody, linked to travel or an outbreak, occurs after antibiotics, or when a particular infection would change treatment or public-health advice. Blood tests may be considered when dehydration, inflammation or another condition is possible.

Arrange GP review when diarrhoea is not starting to settle after a few days, lasts beyond a week, keeps returning, occurs at night or comes with weight loss. Earlier review is sensible after recent antibiotics or overseas travel, or if other people from the same meal or setting are unwell.

Pregnant people, older adults and people with kidney or heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease or reduced immunity can become unwell or dehydrated sooner. Seek individual advice early rather than relying on a standard duration.

Keep a simple record of bowel motions, fluid intake and possible exposures. Avoid a broad elimination diet unless a clinician or dietitian helps you test a specific possibility while maintaining nutrition.

A few practical details can help the GP decide whether supportive care, testing or local examination is the next step.

Do not wait for diarrhoea to reach a set number of days when you are becoming dehydrated, have significant bleeding or severe pain, or feel seriously unwell.

Further information about adult diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, hydration and infection control is available from these health services.