Viral or bacterial infection: gastroenteritis
Stomach infections and diarrhoea
Diarrhoea, often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, headaches and a mild fever, are common symptoms of an infection in your stomach and intestines known as bacterial or viral gastroenteritis. Bacterial or viral gastroenteritis affects approximately 20% of people in the UK every year. In most cases, you’ll get better in a few days without the need for a doctor but some vulnerable groups, including young children, the sick and the elderly, will need medical advice. You should seek medical advice if you experience fever or blood in your stool.
The main causes of bacterial or viral gastroenteritis
- Food poisoning or drinking contaminated water (also known as ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’, when abroad)
- ‘Winter vomiting disease’ (caused by the norovirus or other viruses)
Unfortunately, gastroenteritis can be extremely infectious, so if you are suffering, make sure you take extra care washing your hands after going to the bathroom and before preparing food for other people. If possible, stay at home as much as possible until the diarrhoea or vomiting has stopped for at least 48 hours.
Which treatment is right for you
Suffering from diarrhoea? Find out what you can do to help yourself feel better inside.
You can treat short-lived bouts of diarrhoea yourself, unless you are experiencing any additional symptoms such as fever or blood or mucus in your stools, when you should see a doctor. Symptoms of diarrhoea can be relieved by using IMODIUM®, IMODIUM® Instants or IMODIUM® Plus, which can often provide relief in just one dose. IMODIUM® has a range of products to suit you:
| Product | Available on the shelf in most pharmacies and supermarkets | Available over the counter in pharmacies |
| IMODIUM® Original capsules 6 | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Classic capsules 8, 12, 18 | No | Yes |
| IMODIUM® Instants 6 instant melt tablets | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Instant Melts 12 instant melt tablets | No | Yes |
| IMODIUM® Plus Caplets 6 | Yes | No |
| IMODIUM® Plus Caplets 6 and 12 | No | Yes |
For more information, visit our Which IMODIUM® do I need? section.
No. Some people believe that diarrhoea is the body's way of 'flushing out' the bugs that they think are causing the diarrhoea, and that anti-diarrhoea medicines act like a cork, keeping the bugs inside.
However, in reality, this is not how it works.
Although diarrhoea is often caused by bugs (bacteria or viruses), in many cases the cause can be non infectious such as stress and anxiety, IBS or menstrual symptoms. If an infection is present, the body’s immune system will normally get rid of it in a day or so. But in the meantime, IMODIUM® products can relieve your diarrhoea, help you feel better and carry on as normal. If symptoms persist, you should seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist...
| Nausea |
This is an urge to vomit, which can be caused by many things, including illness and imbalance in the inner ear. |
| Gastroenteritis |
An inflammation of the stomach and the intestines, which can cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Viruses, food poisoning and stress can all cause gastroenteritis. |
| Bacteria |
Can also be known colloquially as bugs; these single-celled microorganisms are often linked with infections but some are harmless and/or beneficial to humans.
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