Summer tummy bugs and dehydration: what to do before it ruins your week

Every June the queue at our counter changes character. Out go the cough and cold questions, in come the questions about upset stomachs, heat rashes and that washed-out feeling after a hot day in the garden. Most of what we see is straightforward, but knowing what to do in the first 24 hours makes the difference between a bad afternoon and a ruined week.

Heat exhaustion or just a hot day?

Feeling tired and thirsty after an hour in the sun is normal. Headache, dizziness, clammy skin, cramps or feeling sick is heat exhaustion. Move to a cool place, sip water or an oral rehydration sachet, and rest for half an hour. If symptoms aren't easing, or you stop sweating and feel confused, that's heatstroke and you need to call 999.

Older relatives, young children and anyone on blood pressure or diuretic medication feel the heat much faster. Check in on them on hot days, especially if they live alone.

Tummy bugs: what actually helps

• Small sips of water or oral rehydration sachets, often
• Paracetamol for cramps and a low-grade fever
• Hold off on anti-diarrhoea tablets in the first few hours so the body can clear what it needs to
• Stick to plain food when you feel hungry again, not a full Sunday lunch
• Rest, which is doing more work than any pill in the cabinet

Most summer tummy bugs settle inside 48 hours. If you're still unwell after three days, or can't keep fluids down, come and have a chat.

When to see a pharmacist

Pop in if you can't keep water down, you're seeing blood, you've recently returned from travel abroad, or you're caring for someone older or younger who's getting worse rather than better. Under Pharmacy First we can assess and treat several common summer infections directly, with no GP appointment needed.

Prevention, while we're at it

Wash hands before food and after the garden, keep cooked food properly chilled on hot days, and don't leave a packed picnic in a warm car. Future you will thank you.