Acute diarrhoea: effective symptom management

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Mythbusting

There are a number of misconceptions surrounding the best way to deal with diarrhoea. Click on the blank speech bubbles below for suggested responses to things your customers might say.

It's better to let nature take its course

There is a risk of dehydration with diarrhoea,⁵ so slowing the intestine to allow the replacement of fluid and salts helps prevent this. It can also be helpful to treat the diarrhoea for times when you need to; for example, if going on a journey⁴

I don't want to get bunged up by stopping my bowels working

Less than 3% of users report constipation as a side effect when using Imodium (loperamide) for acute diarrhoea¹¹

I can just drink water

Using loperamide slows the movement of the intestine. This allows time for water and important electrolytes to be absorbed¹¹

I can just use rehydration sachets

Oral rehydration can help to replace lost fluids and electrolytes but doesn't slow the movement of the intestine.

You shouldn't eat if you have diarrhoea

You can eat what you feel able to - there is no need to avoid certain foods but you may find that particular foods aren't appetising when you feel unwell⁴

Mini Quiz

Drag the right word to complete the sentence:

Loperamide works by binding to opiate receptors in the

gut wall

brain

stomach

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Mythbusting

It's better to let nature take its course

There is a risk of dehydration with diarrhoea,⁵ so slowing the intestine to allow the replacement of fluid and salts helps prevent this. It can also be helpful to treat the diarrhoea for times when you need to; for example, if going on a journey⁴

I don't want to get bunged up by stopping my bowels working

Less than 3% of users report constipation as a side effect when using Imodium (loperamide) for acute diarrhoea¹¹

I can just drink water

Using loperamide slows the movement of the intestine. This allows time for water and important electrolytes to be absorbed¹¹

I can just use rehydration sachets

Oral rehydration can help to replace lost fluids and electrolytes but doesn't slow the movement of the intestine.

You shouldn't eat if you have diarrhoea

You can eat what you feel able to - there is no need to avoid certain foods but you may find that particular foods aren't appetising when you feel unwell⁴

Mini Quiz

Acute diarrhoea: effective symptom management

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Mythbusting

It's better to let nature take its course

There is a risk of dehydration with diarrhoea,5 so slowing the intestine to allow the replacement of fluid and salts helps prevent this. It can also be helpful to treat the diarrhoea for times when you need to; for example, if going on a journey4

I don't want to get bunged up by stopping my bowels working

Less than 3% of users report constipation as a side effect when using Imodium (loperamide) for acute diarrhoea11

I can just drink water

Using loperamide slows the movement of the intestine. This allows time for water and important electrolytes to be absorbed11

I can just use rehydration sachets

Oral rehydration can help to replace lost fluids and electrolytes but doesn't slow the movement of the intestine.

You shouldn't eat if you have diarrhoea

You can eat what you feel able to - there is no need to avoid certain foods but you may find that particular foods aren't appetising when you feel unwell4

Mini Quiz

Acute diarrhoea: effective symptom management

Continue Module

There is a risk of dehydration with diarrhoea,⁵ so slowing the intestine to allow the replacement of fluid and salts helps prevent this. It can also be helpful to treat the diarrhoea for times when you need to; for example, if going on a journey⁴

Less than 3% of users report constipation as a side effect when using Imodium (loperamide) for acute diarrhoea¹¹

Using loperamide slows the movement of the intestine. This allows time for water and important electrolytes to be absorbed¹¹

You can eat what you feel able to - there is no need to avoid certain foods but you may find that particular foods aren't appetising when you feel unwell⁴