How common is diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea in children
Diarrhoea can be especially common in babies and young children and almost every child in the UK will have experienced a bout by the time they are 5 years old. This is mainly due to the fact that their immune systems are not yet strong enough to fight off infections. Typically, you can expect a baby or toddler to have diarrhoea two or three times a year.
Diarrhoea in infants can be serious as they are more prone to dehydration. Oral rehydration solutions are suitable to help correct or prevent dehydration.
Children under 12 years of age should not be treated with an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeal medicine.
Diarrhoea in adults
Acute diarrhoea affects most people from time to time in their lives and is often accompanied by stomach pains and also sometimes feeling sick and vomiting. Viral or bacterial infections are often the reason, though there are various other causes.
Although the symptoms can be unpleasant, most otherwise healthy adults recover from acute diarrhoea in 1-5 days. There is usually no reason to worry but an antidiarrhoeal such as Imodium can shorten the episode and allow you to get on with your life. However, elderly patients are more at risk of dehydration, so may need extra care and medical attention. An oral rehydration therapy can help.
How does IMODIUM® work?
Contrary to popular belief, IMODIUM® does not act like a 'cork'. The active ingredient 'loperamide’, calms the digestive system and helps to restore your body’s harmony, leading to firmer stools.
Acute diarrhoea can be caused by lots of different things. Here are some of the main causes:
- Viral or bacterial infection
- Allergy or intolerance to certain foods
- Eating too much rich or spicy food
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Stress
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Menstruation
- Norovirus
Only people 12 years of age and over can use IMODIUM® products. Children below 12 years can use oral rehydration solutions to help prevent dehydration during diarrhoea.
Oral rehydration solutions are designed to replace lost fluids and electrolytes (‘salts’) from the body to prevent dehydration. Most do not control the symptoms of diarrhoea. Therefore you can use a diarrhoea treatment such as IMODIUM® products to control symptoms when needed.
For more information, visit our Causes of diarrhoea and Diarrhoea treatment sections.
| Immune System |
Our body’s natural system of defence. It distinguishes foreign substances and protects us against infections. |
| Dehydration |
When the body loses an excessive amount of water. Prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, as can heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise. |
| Rehydration |
The process of restoring lost water to the body, either by drinking fluids or by intravenous drip. |
| Symptom |
A physical or mental sign that a person has a condition or other ailment. Diarrhoea, headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, pain, and depression are all common symptoms. |
| Acute Diarrhoea |
The term diarrhoea is used when stools are passed more than three times a day and when the stools become loose or watery. In acute diarrhoea, symptoms come on suddenly but usually clear up within 5-10 days. |