The most important treatment in all cases of diarrhoea is to ensure adequate hydration. Treatment with antimicrobials should only be considered after the causative organism has been isolated. Treatment is determined according to the confirmed causative organism and the patient’s clinical picture. Notifiable diarrhoeal diseases include typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi, paratyphoid fever caused by Salmonella paratyphi A, B or C, Shigella dysentery, EHEC infection and cholera. Local government officials must be informed of all cases following country specific protocols. See also the articles Traveller’s diarrhoea and Investigating acute diarrhoea .