What are the symptoms of acute infectious diarrhoea?
Symptoms can range from a mild stomach upset for a day or two with slight diarrhoea, to severe watery diarrhoea for several days or longer. Crampy pains in the abdomen (tummy) are common. Pains may ease each time some diarrhoea is passed. Vomiting, high temperature (fever), and headache may also develop. Can infectious diarrhoea be prevented? Proper storage, preparation and cooking of food, and good hygiene helps to prevent infectious diarrhoea. In particular, always wash your hands, and teach children to wash theirs: • After going to the toilet (and after changing nappies). • Before touching food. And also, between handling raw meat and food ready to be eaten. (There may be some bacteria on raw meat.) • After gardening. • After playing with pets (healthy animals can carry certain harmful bacteria). If a child has infectious diarrhoea, the following are also recommended until symptoms go. • Regularly clean the toilets they use. Also, wipe the flush handle and toilet seat with disinfect
