🚨 Why It Is Dangerous

• Main risk: dehydration (losing too much water and salt).
• Can lead to:
  • Weakness, malnutrition, stunted growth in children
  • Risk of other infections
  • Death if untreated

👀 Signs & Symptoms

Common:

• Loose or watery stool
• Stomach cramps, bloating, nausea

Warning signs:

• Blood or mucus in stool
• High fever
• Dry mouth, sunken eyes, little/no urine
• Severe weakness or confusion
• In babies: fewer wet nappies, refusing to feed, green or persistent vomiting

🏠 What to Do at Home

✅ Give Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)

• Ready-made ORS from clinic or pharmacy
• Homemade ORS: 1 liter clean water + 6 teaspoons sugar + ½ teaspoon salt
• Give small sips often

✅ Give zinc (10–14 days for children) – ask health worker
✅ Continue breastfeeding and feeding soft foods
✅ Rest and wash hands often

❌ Avoid:

• Sugary drinks
• Spicy, greasy food
• Alcohol, caffeine

🏥 When to Go to the Health Centre Immediately

• Blood in stool
• Severe vomiting or can’t drink/breastfeed
• Severe dehydration (sunken eyes, no urine, very thirsty, drowsy)
• Diarrhoea lasting more than 2–7 days
• High fever (>39°C / 102°F)

🛡️ Prevention

• Wash hands with soap & water after toilet, before eating or feeding a child
• Drink safe water (boil, filter, or use chlorine tablets)
• Use toilets/latrines (no open defecation)
• Cook food well & store it safely
• Exclusive breastfeeding for babies (first 6 months)
• Give children the rotavirus vaccine

📌 Key Message

💡 Diarrhoea kills, but it can be prevented and treated.

• ORS + zinc + feeding = saves lives.
• Look for danger signs → seek medical help quickly.
• Clean water, handwashing, and safe food keep families healthy.