Stomach cramps, a sudden rush to the bathroom, and sometimes vomiting too. Whether you call it diarrhoea, diarrhea or loose motion, it’s one of the most common reasons people in Dubai call a doctor, and one of the most searched. On Google Trends this month, “how to stop diarrhea”, “foods that stop diarrhea”, “what to eat when you have diarrhea” and “causes of diarrhea” have all shot up in the UAE. Searches for “medicine for loose motion” are up 120% over the past three months, and in Arabic, “دواء اسهال” (diarrhoea medicine) is the top search.
Most diarrhoea clears up on its own within a week. But it can dehydrate you quickly, especially young children, parents visiting for the winter, and anyone who is vomiting as well. This guide explains the common causes, how to stop diarrhoea safely, what to eat and drink, which medicines help and which to avoid, the warning signs that need a doctor, and how to get a DHA-licensed doctor to your villa, apartment, hotel or office in Dubai, day or night.
Key takeaways
- Diarrhoea means 3 or more loose or watery stools in a day, or going more often than is normal for you.
- Most cases come from a stomach bug or food poisoning. Diarrhoea usually stops within 5–7 days, and vomiting within 1–2 days.
- The most important treatment is replacing lost fluid: small, frequent sips of water or oral rehydration solution (ORS) from any pharmacy.
- Don’t give medicine to stop diarrhoea to children under 12, and don’t use it if there’s blood in your stool or a high fever.
- Call a doctor if diarrhoea lasts more than 7 days, you can’t keep fluids down, there’s blood in the stool, or a baby or young child shows signs of dehydration.
- A Vitals Healthcare doctor can treat you at home, usually within 30–45 minutes, with IV fluids if you need them. Home visits are AED 199 this November (usually AED 299).
- Vomiting blood, green vomit, a sudden severe stomach ache, confusion or a stiff neck are emergencies. Call 998.
Stuck near the bathroom and feeling weak?
A DHA-licensed doctor can be at your door in 30–45 minutes, day or night.
What counts as diarrhoea, and what causes it?
The World Health Organization defines diarrhoea as passing 3 or more loose or liquid stools a day, or more often than is normal for you. It’s your gut’s way of flushing out an infection or irritant, but it also flushes out water and salts. That’s why dehydration, not the diarrhoea itself, is the real danger.
| Cause | Typical clues | Usually lasts | What helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach bug (viral gastroenteritis, often norovirus) | Sudden vomiting and watery diarrhoea, cramps, sometimes a mild fever; others at home or school catch it too | 1–3 days for norovirus | Fluids, rest, strict handwashing with soap |
| Food poisoning | Starts hours after a meal; others who ate the same food are ill | Usually a few days | Fluids, plain food, a doctor if you can’t keep fluids down |
| Traveller’s diarrhoea | New to Dubai, a change in diet, rich buffets and brunches | Usually a few days | Fluids and plain food; a doctor if there’s fever or blood |
| Medicines | Starts after a new medicine, especially antibiotics | Often settles after the course | Don’t stop a prescribed medicine without asking the doctor who prescribed it |
| Long-term conditions (IBS, food intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease) | Keeps coming back or lasts weeks, sometimes with weight loss | Weeks or longer | See a doctor for tests |
Norovirus, often called the stomach bug or “stomach flu” (it isn’t related to flu), spreads fast through homes, schools, offices and hotels. Symptoms usually start 12–48 hours after you catch it and last 1–3 days, and people stay contagious for at least a few days after they feel better. Alcohol hand gel doesn’t work well against it, so wash your hands with soap and water. If a meal is the likely cause, read our guide to food poisoning in Dubai.
Diarrhoea in your language
Dubai searches for diarrhoea in many languages. Whatever you call it, the advice in this guide is the same, and our doctors see patients from every community.
| Language | What people search for |
|---|---|
| English | diarrhoea, diarrhea, loose motion, stomach bug, upset stomach |
| Arabic | إسهال (is’hal), دواء اسهال (diarrhoea medicine) |
| Hindi | दस्त (dast), loose motion |
| Urdu | اسہال (ishaal), دست (dast) |
| Malayalam | വയറിളക്കം (vayarilakkam) |
| Tagalog | pagtatae |
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Stomach cramps or diarrhoea at midnight? A doctor can come to you
Diarrhoea, vomiting or stomach pain in the middle of the night? A Vitals Healthcare doctor can examine you at home, prescribe medicine and arrange IV fluids if you’re dehydrated. Home visits are AED 199 this November (usually AED 299).
How to stop diarrhoea: what actually helps
There’s no instant cure, but these steps help you recover faster and keep you out of danger:
- Drink little and often. Take small sips of water every few minutes, especially if you’re also being sick.
- Use oral rehydration solution (ORS). ORS sachets from any Dubai pharmacy replace the salts and sugar you lose. Mix them exactly as the packet says. The WHO calls ORS a proven, life-saving treatment.
- Skip fruit juice, fizzy drinks and energy drinks. The NHS says juice and fizzy drinks can make diarrhoea worse. Go easy on coffee and avoid alcohol.
- Eat when you feel able. Small portions of plain food are best, and avoiding fatty or spicy food may help.
- Rest, and let your body recover.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after the toilet and before touching food.
What to eat when you have diarrhoea
No food “stops” diarrhoea, but some are much easier on your stomach. Try small portions of plain rice, toast or khubz, bananas, boiled potatoes, plain pasta, soup or broth, crackers, and plain yoghurt or laban if dairy agrees with you. Skip fried, spicy and very sugary food for a few days. Probiotics are popular, but the evidence that they shorten a bout of diarrhoea is mixed, so ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving them to a child.
Diarrhoea medicine: what helps and what to avoid
- Oral rehydration solution comes first, for adults and children.
- Loperamide (sold as Imodium and other brands) can reduce how often you need to go. A pharmacist can recommend it for adults. It isn’t suitable for children under 12, and you shouldn’t take it if there’s blood in your stool or you have a high fever unless a doctor says so.
- Bismuth subsalicylate (sold as Pepto-Bismol), which UAE searches for have soared this month, contains salicylate, an aspirin-like ingredient. It isn’t suitable for children and teenagers or for anyone who can’t take aspirin, so check with a pharmacist first.
- Antibiotics don’t help most diarrhoea, which is usually caused by a virus. A doctor will prescribe them only if you need them.
- Paracetamol can ease cramps and fever. Don’t give aspirin to children under 16.
Diarrhoea in babies and children
- Keep breastfeeding or bottle feeding. If your baby is being sick, offer smaller feeds more often, and don’t make formula weaker than usual.
- Formula-fed or weaning babies can have small sips of water between feeds. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about rehydration solution for your child.
- Don’t give medicine to stop diarrhoea to children under 12.
- Watch for dehydration: fewer wet nappies, dark pee, a dry mouth, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, or a child who is unusually sleepy or irritable.
- Call a doctor if a baby under 12 months is unwell, a child stops feeding, or a child under 5 shows any sign of dehydration. Our doctors see children of all ages, and a doctor home visit for fever can check for other infections too.
Stop it spreading at home
- Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after the toilet and before preparing food.
- Clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps, surfaces and door handles every day, using a bleach-based cleaner mixed as the label says.
- Wash soiled clothes and bedding separately on a hot wash.
- Don’t share towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils, and avoid cooking for others while you’re ill.
- Stay off work or school, and out of swimming pools, until 48 hours after your last bout of diarrhoea or vomiting.
Diarrhoea, vomiting or dehydration? Your doctor comes to you.
No queue, no taxi and no dash to a clinic bathroom. Our DHA-licensed doctors visit villas, apartments, hotels and offices across Dubai, from Arabian Ranches and Dubai Hills to Dubai Marina and Downtown, 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays.
- Full examination, including checks for dehydration
- Medicine for nausea, cramps and fever when you need it
- IV hydration at home or in your hotel room
- Stool and blood tests collected at home
- Sick leave certificates and itemised invoices for insurance
DHA licence no. 3728742 · No hidden call-out fee · Cash, card or secure payment link
When to call a doctor for diarrhoea
Book a doctor, at home or in a clinic, if:
- Diarrhoea lasts more than 7 days, or vomiting more than 2 days.
- You or your child keep being sick and can’t keep fluids down.
- There’s blood in the diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom.
- You still have signs of dehydration after using rehydration sachets, such as dark, smelly pee, peeing much less than usual, or feeling dizzy.
- A baby under 12 months is unwell, a child stops feeding, or a child under 5 has fewer wet nappies.
- You’re older, pregnant, or have diabetes, kidney disease, a heart condition or a weakened immune system.
- You have a high fever, or the diarrhoea keeps coming back.
- It started after you travelled or began a new medicine.
What the doctor does at home: a Vitals Healthcare doctor asks when it started, what you’ve eaten and who else is unwell, checks your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and signs of dehydration, and examines your abdomen. Treatment can include medicine for nausea and cramps, clear advice on fluids and food, IV hydration if you’re dehydrated or can’t keep anything down, and stool or blood tests at home if needed. If you need time off, the doctor can issue a sick leave certificate after examining you.
Warning signs: when to call 998
Most diarrhoea can be treated at home, but don’t wait for a home visit if you see any of these:
Call 998 for an ambulance if someone has:
Adults
- Vomit with blood in it, or vomit that looks like ground coffee
- Green vomit
- A sudden, severe stomach ache or headache
- A stiff neck with pain when looking at bright lights
- Confusion, fainting or not responding as usual
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin or lips, or very fast breathing
Children
- Green or yellow-green vomit
- Unusual drowsiness, floppiness or being hard to wake
- No wet nappy or pee for many hours
- Fast or difficult breathing
- A rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass
- They may have swallowed something poisonous
If you’re unsure, call us. We’ll tell you honestly whether a home visit is right or whether you need emergency care.
How to get a doctor to your home in Dubai
Have ready: a list of any medicines you take and any allergies, what you’ve eaten in the past two days and whether anyone else is ill, your Emirates ID or passport, your insurance details, and for a child, their age and approximate weight. Keep sipping fluids while you wait.
Prices, payment and insurance
| Service | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor home visit | AED 199 this November (usually AED 299) | A DHA-licensed doctor at your villa, apartment or office: consultation, examination and treatment plan |
| Hotel doctor visit | AED 349 | The same visit in your hotel room anywhere in Dubai |
| IV drip at home or hotel | AED 1,050 | Given by a DHA-licensed nurse after a health check |
| Stool and blood tests | As needed | Explained and agreed with you before the sample is taken |
| Medicines | As needed | Prescribed by the doctor and collected from any pharmacy |
There’s no hidden call-out fee, and you can pay by cash, card or a secure payment link. Insurance cover depends on your policy. If you plan to claim, ask us for an itemised invoice and a medical report. See all our doctor on call prices.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I stop diarrhoea fast?
There’s no instant cure. Replace lost fluid with small, frequent sips of water or oral rehydration solution, eat plain food when you can, and rest. For adults, a pharmacist may recommend loperamide for short-term relief if there’s no blood in your stool and no high fever. Most diarrhoea stops within 5–7 days.
What should I eat when I have diarrhoea?
Small portions of plain food such as rice, toast or khubz, bananas, boiled potatoes, soup and crackers, plus plain yoghurt or laban if dairy agrees with you. Avoid fried, fatty, spicy and very sugary food, fruit juice and fizzy drinks until you feel better.
What is the best medicine for diarrhea or loose motion?
Oral rehydration solution is the most important treatment for everyone. For adults, a pharmacist can recommend loperamide (such as Imodium). It isn’t suitable for children under 12, and bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) isn’t suitable for children and teenagers. Antibiotics are only needed for some bacterial infections, and a doctor will decide.
How long does diarrhoea last?
The NHS says diarrhoea usually stops within 5–7 days and vomiting within 1–2 days. A norovirus stomach bug usually lasts 1–3 days. See a doctor if diarrhoea lasts more than 7 days.
When is diarrhoea dangerous?
When it causes dehydration, when there’s blood in your stool, when you can’t keep fluids down, when it comes with a high fever, or when the person ill is a baby, an older adult or someone with a long-term condition. Vomiting blood, green vomit, a sudden severe stomach ache, confusion or a stiff neck are emergencies: call 998.
Is diarrhoea contagious?
If an infection is causing it, yes. Norovirus spreads very easily, and people stay contagious from the first symptoms until at least a few days after they feel better. Wash your hands with soap and water, clean surfaces daily, and stay off work or school until 48 hours after your last episode.
Can diarrhoea be a sign of pregnancy?
Diarrhoea isn’t a reliable sign of pregnancy. Hormone changes can affect your bowels in early pregnancy, but a stomach bug or something you ate is a far more likely cause. If your period is late, take a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant and have diarrhoea, keep drinking fluids and speak to a doctor, because dehydration matters more in pregnancy.
Can a doctor come to my home in Dubai for diarrhoea?
Yes. A Vitals Healthcare doctor can visit your villa, apartment, hotel or office anywhere in Dubai, 24/7, usually within 30–45 minutes. A home visit is AED 199 this November (usually AED 299).
Can I get an IV drip at home for dehydration from diarrhoea?
Yes. After a health check, a DHA-licensed nurse can give IV fluids at your home or hotel for AED 1,050. It suits dehydration from diarrhoea or vomiting when you can’t keep fluids down. It isn’t right for everyone, and the doctor will advise you.
Can I get a sick leave certificate for diarrhoea?
Yes. After examining you at home, our doctor can issue a sick leave certificate if you’re not fit for work or school.
Don’t spend another night by the bathroom.
One call or message, and a DHA-licensed Vitals Healthcare doctor is on the way to your villa, apartment, hotel or office anywhere in Dubai, day or night. Home visits are AED 199 this November.
- NHS. Diarrhoea and vomiting.
- World Health Organization. Diarrhoea.
- California Department of Public Health. Norovirus.
- Mayo Clinic. Norovirus infection.
- CDC Yellow Book 2026. Travelers’ diarrhea.
- Google Trends. Searches for “diarrhea” in the United Arab Emirates, past 30 days.
This article is for general information and doesn’t replace advice from a doctor who has examined you. In an emergency, call 998.
