Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can be of sudden onset and lasting for less than four weeks (acute) or persistent (chronic). This leaflet deals with acute diarrhoea, which is common. In most cases, diarrhoea eases and goes within several days but sometimes takes longer. The main risk is lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). The main treatment is to have lots to drink, which aims to avoid dehydration. You should also eat as normally as possible. See a doctor if you suspect that you are dehydrating, or if you have any worrying symptoms such as those which are listed below. Diarrhoea In this article • What causes acute diarrhoea? • What are the symptoms of diarrhoea? • How to treat diarrhoea • Can diarrhoea be prevented? • Preventing spread of infection to others • Are there any complications that may occur from diarrhoea? • Do I need any tests for diarrhoea? • When should I seek medical advice? What causes acute diarrhoea? Infection of the gut This is the most common cause. This is of sudden onset and is called acute infectious diarrhoea: • • Viruses are easily spread from one person to another by close contact, or when an infected person prepares food for others. • Examples of infectious diarrhoea include Other causes Other causes that are uncommon include drinking lots of beer, side-effects from some medicines and Gut disorders Gut disorders that cause persistent (chronic) diarrhoea may be mistaken for acute diarrhoea when they first begin - for example, diarrhoea caused by ulcerative coliti...

Medical News Todayonly shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: • Evaluate ingredients and composition:Do they have the potential to cause harm? • Fact-check all health claims:Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? • Assess the brand:Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices? We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Diarrhea can range from a mild, temporary condition to a potentially life threatening one. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites are the most common causes of diarrhea. Globally, an estimated Diarrhea is characterized by abnormally loose or watery stools. Most cases of diarrhea are due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Digestive system disorders can also cause chronic diarrhea. If a person frequently passes stools but they are of a normal consistency, this is not diarrhea. Similarly, breastfed babies often pass loose, sticky stools. This is normal. This article looks at the causes and treatments of diarrhea. It also looks at symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and when to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest Rawpixel/Getty Images Many cases of diarrhea are due to an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The • bacteria • viruses • parasitic organisms The Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Esch...

Many people get diarrhea a few times a year. It normally lasts 2 to 3 days. Some people get it more often. That could be because they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions. Diarrhea Causes Usually, diarrhea happens because of a virus that gets into your gut. Some people call it "intestinal flu" or "stomach flu." Other causes include: • Allergies to certain foods • Diseases of the intestines (such as or ulcerative colitis) • Eating foods that upset the digestive system • Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning) or other organisms • Laxative abuse • Running (Some people get “runner’s diarrhea” for reasons that aren’t clear.) • Some cancers • Surgery on your digestive system • Trouble absorbing certain nutrients, also called “malabsorption” Diarrhea may also follow constipation, especially for people who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Diarrhea Symptoms You may have: • Bloating in your belly • Thin or loose stools • Watery stools • An urgent feeling that you need to have a bowel movement • Nausea and throwing up Serious Symptoms of Diarrhea Most cases of diarrhea are nothing more than a brief inconvenience. But sometimes, they warn of a serious condition. Talk with your doctor if your child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours. If you have it for more than 3 days, make an appointment. Also, be sure to let your doctor know about your diarrhea if you have cancer, or have had recent treatment for it. More serious symptoms of diarrhe...

Diarrhea, or “the runs,” is when you experience loose, watery stools and feel the urgent need to have a bowel movement multiple times a day. A few causes include infections, diseases, and food intolerances. Diarrhea can be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea occurs when the condition lasts for 1 to 2 days. You might experience diarrhea due to a viral or bacterial infection you acquired via something you ate or drank. • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) • inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) • conditions, such as celiac disease, that affect the absorption of certain nutrients You may experience diarrhea because of several conditions or circumstances. • viral infections including • bacterial infections, including • parasitic infections • intestinal diseases • a food intolerance, such as • an adverse reaction to a medication • gallbladder or stomach surgery Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this infection causes around In the United States, you are more likely to develop diarrhea due to food poisoning from eating contaminated foodstuffs. According to the CDC, annually there are close to Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more severe condition such as The main symptoms of diarrhea are frequent loose, watery stools and a pressing urge to have a bowel movement. There are many different symptoms of diarrhea. You may experience only one of these or any combination of all of them. The symptom...

For other uses, see Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery Diarrhea Other names Diarrhoea (or diarrhœa) An electron micrograph of Loose frequent bowel movements, Causes Usually infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic) Contaminated food or water Prevention Treatment Frequency ≈2.4 billion (2015) Deaths 1.53 million (2019) The most common cause is an infection of the Diarrhea can be prevented by improved About 1.7 to 5 billion cases of diarrhea occur per year. Contents • 1 Definition • 1.1 Secretory • 1.2 Osmotic • 1.3 Exudative • 1.4 Inflammatory • 1.5 Dysentery • 2 Health effects • 3 Causes • 3.1 Infections • 3.1.1 Sanitation • 3.1.2 Nutrition • 3.2 Malabsorption • 3.3 Inflammatory bowel disease • 3.4 Irritable bowel syndrome • 3.5 Other diseases • 3.6 Medications • 4 Pathophysiology • 4.1 Evolution • 5 Diagnostic approach • 5.1 Chronic diarrhea • 6 Prevention • 6.1 Sanitation • 6.1.1 Hand washing • 6.1.2 Water • 6.2 Vaccination • 6.3 Nutrition • 6.3.1 Breastfeeding • 6.4 Others • 7 Management • 7.1 Fluids • 7.2 Eating • 7.3 Medications • 7.4 Alternative therapies • 8 Epidemiology • 9 Terminology • 10 See also • 11 References Diarrhea is defined by the Acute diarrhea is defined as an abnormally frequent discharge of semisolid or fluid fecal matter from the bowel, lasting less than 14 days, by Secretory Secretory diarrhea means that there is an increase in the active secretion, or there is an inhibitio...

Diarrhoea is passing looser, watery or more frequent poo (stools) than is normal for you. It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about. It can be distressing and unpleasant. It normally clears up in a few days to a week. Complete our self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next. You or your child has diarrhoea and: • it's particularly frequent or severe • it lasts for more than 7 days • you're concerned • poo with blood on it • persistent vomiting and are unable to keep fluid down • a severe or continuous stomach ache • weight loss • have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea • it occurs at night and is disturbing sleep • have recently taken • have • have poo that's dark or black – this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach Your child: • has had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours • has diarrhoea and vomiting at the same time • has stopped drinking fluids while they're ill • is a baby and has vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours • is under 12 months with diarrhoea and you're worried If your GP is closed, phone 111. What causes diarrhoea? There are many different causes of diarrhoea. A bowel infection ( Gastroenteritis can be caused by: • a virus – such as • bacteria – such as campylobacter and Escherichia (E. coli), which are often picked up from contaminated food • a parasite – such as the parasite that causes giardiasis, which is spread in contaminated water These infection...

Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, and was responsible for the deaths of 370,000 children in 2019. The most severe threat posed by diarrhoea is dehydration. During an episode of diarrhoea, water and electrolytes including sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate are lost through liquid stools, vomit, sweat, urine and breathing. A person with diarrhoea becomes dehydrated when these losses are not replaced. In addition, diarrhoea is a major cause of malnutrition, making the person more susceptible to future bouts of diarrhoea and to other diseases. There are three clinical types of diarrhoea, each with its specific treatments: • Acute watery diarrhoea, which may last several hours or days, and includes cholera. • Acute bloody diarrhoea, also called dysentery. • Persistent diarrhoea, lasting 14 days or longer. In the past, for most children, severe dehydration and fluid loss were the main causes of dying from diarrhoea. Now, other causes such as septic bacterial infections are likely to account for an increasing proportion of all diarrhoea-associated deaths. Exclusive breastfeeding is protective and prevents diarrhoea from occurring in young children. Breastfeeding also reduces the severity of diarrhoea. Innovative activities and demand creation are important for achieving behaviour change and sustaining long-term preventive practices to combat preventable morbidity and mortality from diarrhoeal diseases. Diarrhoea is ...