Tel: 01803 495400
Contact us
Our website uses cookies. Some of the cookies we use are essential for the site to work. We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information in an anonymous form for making reports and to help us improve the site.
Thank you. Your choice has been saved. You can change your preferences at any time.
Diarrhoea can be acute (sudden onset and lasts less than 2 weeks) or chronic (persistent). Also, diarrhoea can be caused by an infection and may be accompanied by vomiting. This is called gastroenteritis (a stomach bug).
Read expert advice about diarrhoea and vomiting including gastroenteritis. Check out the video about how to deal with your child's diarrhoea and vomiting.
Gastroenteritis is an infection of the gut. It causes diarrhoea, and may also cause vomiting, tummy pain and other symptoms. In most cases the infection clears within a few days, but sometimes takes longer. The main risk is dehydration. The main treatment is to give your child lots to drink.
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.
Contact us online
This may be used if you need to contact us for any reason, not just consulting a doctor.
Medical Care when we are closed
NON-EMERGENCY: Take a look at our "Get health information" page. Alternatively, call 111 for non-urgent medical advice.
MINOR INJURIES: We do not provide a minor injuries service. You should attend A&E or a local minor iunjuries unit. The LIVE WAITING times for these services are listed here.
EMERGENCY: Dial 999 or go to your nearest A&E Department (you must not dial 999 for anything other than an emergency)
If you do need to attend the emergency department at Torbay Hospital please read this leaflet.