Rotavirus is a common cause of childhood diarrhea. Bacterial infections due to salmonella or E. Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more serious condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Frequent and severe diarrhea could be a sign of intestinal disease or a functional bowel disorder.
There are many different symptoms of diarrhea. You may experience only one of these or any combination of all of them. The symptoms depend on the cause. Diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids quickly and put you at risk for dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration include:. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you think your diarrhea is causing you to become dehydrated.
Diarrhea is a serious condition in very young people. It can cause severe dehydration in an infant in just one day. Your doctor will complete a physical examination and consider your medical history when determining the cause of your diarrhea. They may also request laboratory tests to examine urine and blood samples. Additional tests your doctor may order to determine the cause of diarrhea and other related conditions can include:.
A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is especially helpful for determining if you have an intestinal disease if you have severe or chronic diarrhea. Medications to reduce diarrhoea, such as loperamide, are available. However, these are not usually necessary, and most types should not be given to children.
Read more about treating diarrhoea. Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you're concerned about yourself or your child. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as:. You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem. In most cases, diarrhoea should pass within about a week. Read more about diagnosing diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. You can reduce your risk by making sure you maintain high standards of hygiene. It's also important to practise good food and water hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water and undercooked food. Read more about preventing diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is where you frequently pass watery or loose poo. Some people may also have other symptoms, depending on the cause.
The excessive loss of water in your poo can also sometimes lead to dehydration , which can be serious if it's not recognised and treated quickly. Read more about the symptoms of dehydration. Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you are concerned about yourself or your child.
You should also contact your GP in the situations outlined below, as they may mean that you or your child has, or is at risk of, a more serious problem. You should contact your GP or health visitor urgently if your baby has had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours.
You should also contact your GP if your child has persistent diarrhoea. Most cases will pass in 5 to 7 days. You should also contact your GP if you have persistent diarrhoea. Most cases in adults will pass in 2 to 4 days. Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from the contents of your bowel, or when extra fluid is secreted into your bowel, causing watery poo.
Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of a bowel infection gastroenteritis , which can be caused by:. The patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine should state whether diarrhoea is a possible side effect. Persistent diarrhoea can also sometimes occur after surgery on the stomach, such as a gastrectomy. This is an operation to remove part of the stomach — for example, as a treatment for stomach cancer. Read more about when to visit your GP if you have diarrhoea.
Your GP may ask you for a stool sample so it can be analysed for signs of an infection if you have:. Your GP may suggest you have some blood tests if they suspect your diarrhoea is being caused by an underlying health condition. For example, your blood can be tested for signs of inflammation, which may suggest inflammatory bowel disease. Read more about the possible causes of diarrhoea. Your GP may recommend a digital rectal examination DRE if you have unexplained persistent diarrhoea, particularly if you're over It can be useful for diagnosing conditions that affect your rectum and bowel.
If you have persistent diarrhoea and your GP is unable to find the cause, they may refer you to your local hospital for further investigation. Diarrhoea will usually clear up without treatment after a few days, particularly if it's caused by an infection. In children, diarrhoea will usually pass within 5 to 7 days and will rarely last longer than 2 weeks.
In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within 2 to 4 days, although some infections can last a week or more. While waiting for your diarrhoea to pass, you can ease your symptoms by following the advice outlined below. It's important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration , particularly if you're also vomiting.
Take small, frequent sips of water. Ideally, adults should drink a lot of liquids that contain water, salt, and sugar. Examples are water mixed with juice and soup broth. If you're drinking enough fluid, your urine will be light yellow or almost clear. It's also very important for babies and small children not to become dehydrated.
Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria can enter your body through contaminated food or water and cause diarrhea. Common bacteria that cause diarrhea include Campylobacter , Escherichia coli E. Infections in the digestive tract that spread through foods or drinks are called foodborne illnesses.
However, some parasites cause diarrhea that lasts longer. Many medicines may cause diarrhea. Medicines that may cause diarrhea include antibiotics , antacids containing magnesium, and medicines used to treat cancer.
Some infections, food allergies and intolerances, digestive tract problems, abdominal surgery, and long-term use of medicines can cause chronic diarrhea. Some infections from bacteria and parasites that cause diarrhea do not go away quickly without treatment. Problems digesting carbohydrates or proteins can prolong diarrhea. Contact your health care provider if you have Signs of dehydration Diarrhea for more than 2 days, if you are an adult.
For children, contact the provider if it lasts more than 24 hours. Severe pain in your abdomen or rectum for adults A fever of degrees or higher Stools containing blood or pus Stools that are black and tarry If children have diarrhea, parents or caregivers should not hesitate to call a health care provider. How is the cause of diarrhea diagnosed? To find the cause of diarrhea, your health care provider may Do a physical exam Ask about any medicines you are taking Test your stool or blood to look for bacteria, parasites, or other signs of disease or infection Ask you to stop eating certain foods to see whether your diarrhea goes away If you have chronic diarrhea, your health care provider may perform other tests to look for signs of disease.
What are the treatments for diarrhea? Can diarrhea be prevented? You can help prevent traveler's diarrhea by being careful about what you eat and drink when you are in developing countries: Use only bottled or purified water for drinking, making ice cubes, and brushing your teeth If you do use tap water, boil it or use iodine tablets Make sure that the cooked food you eat is fully cooked and served hot Avoid unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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