Preventing diarrhoea
Infection control
You can help prevent diarrhoea caused by infections by taking steps to prevent the infection spreading. These include:
- washing your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food
- cleaning the toilet, including the handle and the seat, with disinfectant after each bout of diarrhoea
- not sharing towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils with other household members
- not returning to work until 48 hours after your last bout of diarrhoea
How long should I stay at home?
If you or your child has diarrhoea, you should stay at home until at least 48 hours since the last episode of diarrhoea.
If it was suspected or confirmed that the parasite cryptosporidium caused the diarrhoea, you or your child should not go in swimming pools for two weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea.
Food hygiene
Practising good food hygiene will help you to avoid getting diarrhoea as a result of food poisoning. Some ways of doing this are:
- regularly washing your hands, surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water
- never storing raw and cooked foods together
- making sure that food is kept properly refrigerated
- always cooking your food thoroughly
- never eating food that is past its sell-by date
For more information, see preventing food poisoning.
Preventing travellers diarrhoea
If you are travelling in a country where the standards of public hygiene are low and there is a risk of water contamination, such as in some African or Asian countries, you may need to avoid the following food and drink:
- tap water
- fruit juices (if sold by a street vendor)
- ice cream or ice cubes
- shellfish
- eggs
- salads
- raw or undercooked meat
- peeled fruit
- mayonnaise
- sauces
Food and drink that are generally safe to eat include:
- sealed bottled water that is produced by a recognised international manufacturer
- cooked food, such as soup or stir-fry
- canned food or food in sealed packs
- fresh bread
- unpeeled fruit
- tea or coffee
- alcohol
Also make sure that you have the recommended vaccinations for the country you are visiting. For more information see preventing travellers diarrhoea and the Health A-Z topic on travel vaccinations.
