Diarrhoea and vomiting: preventing dehydration

What are we talking about?

Diarrhoea and vomiting lead to fluid and electrolyte losses. In infants and young children, dehydration can set in quickly.

WHO/UNICEF recommendations stress oral rehydration, continued feeding (including breastfeeding) when possible, and referral when danger signs are present.

What you may observe

Monitor the frequency of stools and vomiting, the ability to drink, the appearance of tears, skin elasticity, alertness and urine output.

Intense thirst, a very dry mouth, apathy, sunken eyes or absence of urine are signs that should prompt rapid help.

Good practices

The priority is to give regularly an oral rehydration solution (ORS) prepared correctly, according to professional instructions or the leaflet.

Continue breastfeeding if the child is breastfed. In older children and adults, offer adapted fluids and light food as soon as tolerated.

• ORS first for rehydration
• Continue breastfeeding when possible
• Monitor general condition and urine output

What to avoid

Avoid interrupting breastfeeding or withholding food for long without advice.

Avoid antidiarrhoeal medicines or antibiotics at random, especially in children, without professional assessment.

Do not invoke an “epidemic” or a precise cause without official information: each case deserves individual appraisal.

Medicines: what you need to know

ORS are the pillar of managing diarrhoea-related dehydration in international reference recommendations.

Any other medicine (antiparasitic, antibiotic, antiemetic) requires a precise indication after assessment — not systematic self-medication.

When to ask the pharmacist?

The pharmacist can explain how to prepare and use ORS, help choose forms suited to age, and refer if signs of dehydration or worsening appear.

When to seek medical care?

Seek professional help promptly if the person can no longer drink, vomits everything ingested, shows marked signs of dehydration, blood in the stools, high fever with impaired general condition, or if it is an infant.

Diarrhoea that worsens or persists despite rehydration warrants reassessment.