Diarrhoea and vomiting in Ireland: when to see a GP

The school bag is by the door and someone is sick in the hall. Here is when diarrhoea and vomiting can wait, when to see a GP in Ireland, and when you still need 112.

The school bag is by the door. The coat is half on. Then someone is sick in the hall. You are already late. That is usually when people type diarrhoea when to see gp ireland and hope the answer is a quiet day at home, not a waiting room.

Most tummy bugs are not an emergency. Many settle in a few days. Some need a GP. A few need 112 or the emergency department the same hour. If a red-flag sign is already there, skip the home list.

Book an appointment if you already want a GP. How it works and pricing show the steps and the live fee.

What a tummy bug usually is

Diarrhoea is poo that is looser and more watery than usual, often more than three times in a day. Vomiting can come with it, or on its own. When an infection causes both, doctors call it gastroenteritis. People say tummy bug. In winter they often mean norovirus, the winter vomiting bug. You can catch that any month. Symptoms often start one to two days later. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea are the usual ones. A slight fever or some cramps can come with them. It shows up a lot in schools and creches.

It spreads by close contact, unwashed hands, or food from someone who is already sick. The virus can sit on taps and door handles for days. Alcohol gel does not kill norovirus. Soap and water do.

Most of these illnesses are viral, so you let them run and you keep fluids going. Antibiotics do not treat a virus.

A sudden high fever with a dry cough and heavy aches can be flu, even if the stomach joins in. That picture is influenza symptoms in Ireland. A cold that is mostly nose and chest is cough or cold in Ireland. Diarrhoea can also come with COVID-19. If that fits, follow current HSE advice on staying home.

When you can try home care first

HSE advice is that a straightforward stomach bug can be looked after at home. The main job is drinks.

Take small sips if a full glass comes straight back up. Oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy puts salts back as well as water. Older children who will not take it can have clear, flat lemonade-type drinks. Fizzy drinks and fruit juice can make diarrhoea worse. Eat when you feel able. You do not need a special diet.

Keep breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. If a baby is being sick, offer smaller feeds more often. Do not water down formula. Paracetamol can ease aches if the packet says it suits that person. Do not give aspirin to a child under 16, and do not give young children medicine that stops diarrhoea. Ask a pharmacist or a GP before anyone uses medicine for vomiting.

Stay home from the first symptom until 48 hours after the last one. Wash with soap. Do not share towels or cups, and do not prepare food for other people if you can avoid it. Clean the toilet, taps, and door handles.

Diarrhoea often eases within 3 days and can last up to 7. Vomiting often lasts 1 to 2 days. In children it commonly runs 3 to 5 days.

When to see a GP for diarrhoea in Ireland

This is the diarrhoea when to see gp ireland question in plain terms. Contact a GP if you or your child has any of these:

Blood in the diarrhoea or the vomit, or mucus in a child's poo
Bad tummy pain along with the diarrhoea
Diarrhoea more than 6 times in 24 hours, or still there after 7 days
Vomiting more than 3 times in 24 hours
Much less urine than usual, a dry mouth, fewer tears, unusual sleepiness, or a sunken soft spot on a baby's head (the fontanelle)
Weakness, or severe muscle pains
Regular medicine that will not stay down
Diabetes or another long-term condition, when fluids are not staying down
Symptoms that started after travel abroad

HSE advice on norovirus is to stay out of a crowded waiting room if you can. The bug spreads there. A phone or video visit can take the story without that room. An online GP can talk through fluids and decide if treatment should go to your local pharmacy. They cannot put up a drip. If you need blood tests, a hands-on exam, or a hospital, they will say so.

Paying for the visit does not buy a medicine or a note. We do not sell or ship medicines. A certificate is not a guarantee. DSP Illness Benefit and some employer forms can still need your registered GP. See online GP and your registered GP in Ireland.

Red flags: call 112 or go to ED

Do not book a planned slot if any of this is happening. Call 112 or 999, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Severe dehydration: very drowsy, hard to wake, or a baby who is floppy and will not feed
A high temperature that will not come down, especially in a baby
A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher
Getting worse fast, severe tummy pain, or a young child who will not stop crying
Confusion, collapse, or you cannot wake someone
A rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it

BookMyDoc is a planned GP visit, not overnight cover. If you are unsure whether it can wait, read online GP or A&E in Ireland.

How a BookMyDoc visit works for a tummy bug

Pick Online Consultation on the booking screen. Choose phone or video. Weekday clinic hours are typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Ireland time. Evening hours are 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Weekend hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Same-day times appear when a doctor is listed. They run out.

A typical weekday daytime visit is usually €35.99. Evenings are usually €40.00. Weekends are usually €40.00. Live on 4 October 2026, standard hours were 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Ireland time. Check pricing again before you pay.

How to book a GP appointment online has the clicks. Later slots are on weekend and evening online GP.

Say when it started, how often you have been sick, whether drinks stay down, and whether there is blood, fever, or recent travel. A first tummy bug is an Online Consultation. A return visit about treatment you already use is General Medical Review or a Follow-up Consultation.

Stay off school, creche, work, and hospital visits until 48 hours after the last vomit or bout of diarrhoea. A school note is only issued when a GP thinks it is clinically appropriate. Paying does not buy the note.

Book if the tummy bug is not settling

If you are stuck on diarrhoea when to see gp ireland and the home days have not helped, talk to someone. Book a phone or video appointment with an IMC-registered GP. They can talk through fluids and tell you when you need to be seen in person.

WhatsApp +353 899805438, email [bookmydoc.ie@gmail.com](mailto:bookmydoc.ie@gmail.com), or the contact page. Facebook is bookmydoc.ireland.

Frequently asked questions

How long should diarrhoea and vomiting last?

Use the timings above. Contact a GP if diarrhoea is still going after 7 days, or sooner if a warning sign is already there.

Do I need antibiotics for a tummy bug?

Most are viral, so antibiotics do not fix them. A GP decides if any treatment should go to a local pharmacy.

When can my child go back to school or creche?

Wait until 48 hours have passed with no vomiting and no diarrhoea. Phone the school or creche on the first morning, and say why.

Can an online GP help if I should stay at home?

Yes, for a planned chat about fluids and warning signs. Phone is often enough. It does not replace a drip or an emergency department.