Most gastroenteritis clears up on its own within a few days, and the single most important thing you can do is stay hydrated. There’s no cure that kills the virus directly. Instead, treatment focuses on replacing lost fluids, managing symptoms, and letting your body fight off the infection. Here’s how to get through it as quickly and safely as possible.
Hydration Is the Top Priority
Vomiting and diarrhea pull water and essential minerals out of your body fast. Replacing them is the cornerstone of gastroenteritis treatment, and it matters more than any medication or dietary change you could make.
Oral rehydration solutions (sold as Pedialyte, DripDrop, or store-brand equivalents) work better than water alone because they contain a balanced mix of sodium and glucose that your gut absorbs efficiently, even while you’re sick. The WHO’s recommended formula uses a 1:1 ratio of sodium to glucose, though commercial products with a roughly 1:3 ratio still work well.
If you’re struggling to keep anything down, start small: about 5 mL (one teaspoon) every five minutes, then gradually increase as your stomach tolerates it. For mild dehydration, aim for roughly 50 mL per kilogram of body weight over four hours. For moderate dehydration, double that to 100 mL per kilogram. After each bout of diarrhea, drink an additional 240 mL (about one cup) to keep pace with losses.
Sports drinks, diluted juice, and broth can help in a pinch, but they don’t match the electrolyte balance of a proper rehydration solution. Avoid alcohol, coffee, and sugary sodas, which can worsen diarrhea.
What to Eat (and What to Skip)
You may have heard of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) as the go-to for stomach bugs. Current medical guidance from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says otherwise: research shows that following a restricted diet does not help treat viral gastroenteritis. Most experts no longer recommend fasting or limiting yourself to bland foods.
The practical advice is simpler than the old rules. When your appetite returns, go back to eating your normal diet, even if diarrhea hasn’t fully stopped. For children, the same applies: give them what they usually eat as soon as they’re willing. Infants should continue breast milk or formula as usual. Waiting too long to reintroduce regular food can actually slow recovery by depriving your body of the calories and nutrients it needs to heal.
That said, if greasy, spicy, or dairy-heavy foods make your nausea worse in the first day or two, it’s fine to lean toward plainer options until you feel steadier. Let your stomach guide you.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Anti-diarrheal medications containing loperamide (Imodium) can reduce the frequency of loose stools and are useful when you need symptom relief, like getting through a workday. However, they’re not appropriate in every situation. You should avoid loperamide if you have a fever, bloody or black stools, stools with mucus, or significant abdominal pain without diarrhea. These signs can indicate a bacterial infection where slowing the gut down could do more harm than good.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can help with nausea and mild diarrhea. It’s generally well tolerated but shouldn’t be used by anyone taking blood thinners or who has an aspirin allergy.
For nausea and vomiting, anti-nausea medications like dimenhydrinate (Gravol/Dramamine) are available over the counter in many countries. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen can help with body aches and fever. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin on an empty or irritated stomach, as they can worsen nausea.
Do Probiotics Help?
There’s reasonable evidence that probiotics, particularly strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacterium, can shorten a bout of infectious diarrhea by about one day. A large meta-analysis covering over 4,500 participants found that probiotics reduced the average duration of diarrhea by roughly 25 hours. That’s a modest but real benefit. You can get these through supplements or fermented foods like yogurt, though supplements deliver more consistent doses. Probiotics won’t stop vomiting or replace the need for fluids, but they may help your gut recover its normal balance faster.
How Long Gastroenteritis Lasts
Most viral gastroenteritis resolves within three to eight days. Rotavirus symptoms typically start about two days after exposure, with vomiting and watery diarrhea lasting three to eight days. Norovirus tends to be shorter, often peaking at one to three days. Bacterial causes can sometimes linger longer, particularly without treatment.
Vomiting usually stops within the first day or two, while diarrhea tends to be the last symptom to clear. Fatigue and a reduced appetite can hang around for several days after the worst is over. You’re generally contagious from the moment symptoms start until at least 48 hours after they stop, and sometimes longer with norovirus.
When Antibiotics Are Needed
The vast majority of gastroenteritis cases are viral, meaning antibiotics won’t help. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, most acute diarrhea episodes in healthy people are self-resolving and don’t warrant specific treatment or even lab testing.
Antibiotics come into play only when a bacterial cause is confirmed or strongly suspected. If you have a high fever alongside bloody diarrhea, a doctor may test for specific bacteria like Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter, which can benefit from targeted antibiotic therapy. If tests come back showing a virus (or nothing specific), antibiotics are not prescribed.
Signs You Need Medical Attention
Most people recover at home without complications, but dehydration can escalate quickly, especially in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Seek medical care if you notice confusion, fainting, a complete lack of urination for many hours, rapid heartbeat, or rapid breathing. These are signs of severe dehydration that may need intravenous fluids.
Other red flags include blood in your stool, a fever above 102°F (39°C) that doesn’t come down, inability to keep any fluids down for more than 24 hours, or symptoms that haven’t improved after a week. In young children, watch for fewer wet diapers than usual, crying without tears, and unusual drowsiness.
Preventing Spread to Others
Gastroenteritis viruses, especially norovirus, are remarkably contagious and surprisingly tough to kill. Standard hand sanitizers are less effective against norovirus than thorough handwashing with soap and water, so wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom and before touching food.
If someone in your household is sick, clean contaminated surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution: 5 to 25 tablespoons of standard household bleach (5% to 8% concentration) per gallon of water. Leave the solution on the surface for at least five minutes before wiping it away. Alternatively, use an EPA-registered disinfectant specifically labeled as effective against norovirus. Regular all-purpose cleaners often aren’t strong enough.
Wash any contaminated clothing or bedding on the hottest setting available, and keep the sick person’s towels, utensils, and cups separate from the rest of the household. Avoid preparing food for others until at least 48 hours after symptoms resolve.
Zinc for Children With Diarrhea
The WHO recommends zinc supplementation for children with diarrhea: 20 mg per day for 10 to 14 days, or 10 mg per day for infants under six months. Zinc has been shown to reduce both the severity and duration of diarrheal episodes in children in settings where zinc deficiency is common. This recommendation is especially relevant in developing countries but is worth discussing with a pediatrician if your child has prolonged symptoms.