What should you give a person who has diarrhoea and vomiting?

Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)

ORS is a mixture of water, salts and sugars that helps to replace the fluids and electrolytes that are lost through diarrhoea and vomiting. ORS can be bought from pharmacies or made at home using clean water, salt and sugar.

Food

It is important to continue to eat while you are recovering from diarrhoea and vomiting, even if you do not feel hungry. Eating will help to replace the nutrients that you are losing and give you energy. Avoid foods that are high in fat, fibre or spices as these can irritate your stomach and make diarrhoea worse. Some good options include:

• Rice (white or brown)

• Porridge

• Bananas

• Applesauce

• Plain crackers

• Chicken noodle soup

Avoid

• Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, cola)

• Alcohol

• Milk and dairy products

• Fatty or spicy foods

• High-fibre foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains)

Medications

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat diarrhoea and vomiting. For example, antiemetics can help to control vomiting and antidiarrheals can help to slow down diarrhoea.

If you are experiencing severe diarrhoea and vomiting, it is important to seek medical attention as you may need to be given fluids and electrolytes intravenously (IV).