What is Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea is loose, watery, frequent bowel movements resulting in the elimination of water and salts from the body and can result in dehydration. Diarrhoea can be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhoea lasts for a few days, whereas, chronic diarrhoea lasts for many days and is usually associated with an intestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Symptoms of Diarrhoea

The symptoms depend on the underlying cause. Typical symptoms include:

Loose, watery stools
Frequent stools
Sudden urge to evacuate stools
Bloody stools
Fever
Headache
Nausea
Abdominal cramping, bloating and pain

Diarrhoea, when left untreated, can quickly lead to dehydration, especially in the young and elderly. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

Dry skin and mouth
Dark urine
Sunken eyes and lack of tears while crying (children)
Rapid heart rate
Irritability and confusion

Causes of Diarrhoea

The causes of diarrhoea include:

A food allergy or intolerance
Reaction to certain medications
A viral or bacterial infection
A parasitic infection
An intestinal disease
Surgery of the abdomen
Alcohol abuse
Certain cancers

When to see a doctor?

You need a consultation by a healthcare provider if your symptoms include:

Diarrhoea lasting for 24 hours or more
A fever (101F) for more than 24 hours
Blood or pus in stools
Black or tarry stools
Severe abdominal pain
Unable to replace the loss of fluids from the body

Diagnosis of Diarrhoea

Your doctor asks about your symptoms, takes your medical history, and performs a complete physical exam. The following tests may be ordered:

Imaging tests such as X-ray or colonoscopy to diagnose intestinal abnormalities
Stool culture test to confirm the presence of an infection or parasites
A blood test for food allergy

Treatment of Diarrhoea

Treatment depends on the severity of diarrhoea, your age, current health condition, etc. The treatment options include:

Replacement of lost fluids and salts
Medications to treat infections
Medications to treat underlying symptoms
Limiting beverages such as coffee or tea
Eating low-fibre home-cooked food
Eating fermented foods containing active Lactobacillus cultures
Ointments to treat discomfort around the anus

Prevention of Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can be prevented by:

Washing your hands with sanitizers thoroughly before preparing or eating food.
Avoiding improperly cooked food.
Avoiding raw vegetables or fruits that are not washed thoroughly.
Using filtered or boiled water for drinking.
Getting vaccinated for bacterial or viral infections.
Checking travel warnings to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea