Most acute diarrhoea in adults and children is viral or self-limiting. Oral rehydration solution is the mainstay, and zinc is recommended for children under five.
Antibiotics are for specific situations: dysentery with blood, suspected cholera, high fever with systemic illness, or immunocompromise. Loperamide should be avoided when there is blood in the stool or high fever.
- Assess dehydration first and start oral rehydration solution.
- Give zinc to children under five with diarrhoea.
- Reserve antibiotics for bloody diarrhoea, suspected cholera, systemic illness or immunocompromise.
- Avoid loperamide when there is blood in the stool or high fever.
- Advise hand washing and safe food handling to protect the household.
Why it matters
Routine antibiotics for diarrhoea add side effects and resistance without shortening most illnesses.
Read the rest in the app
You have read your two free briefings this month. The app carries all 27 specialties, every morning, free — and this finding is waiting in it.
Scan to keep reading on your phone. No account needed to start.
Tomorrow morning, before your first patient
One edition a day for family medicine, written by the desk, every claim tied to its paper. Six minutes.
Get the app — free