There are many causes of diarrhoea but gastroenteritis (tummy bug) is the most common in both adults and children.
Gastroenteritis can be caused by:
• a virus (norovirus, rotavirus)
• bacteria such as E.coli which is picked up from contaminated food
• parasites – sometimes found in contaminated water.
These infections are likely to occur during travel abroad especially to areas with poor hygiene. This is also known as travellers diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can also be caused by:
• anxiety
• food allergies
• certain medications
• certain medical conditions like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
