Diarrhoea is the passing of watery stools more than three times a day. It is often a symptom of an infection or long-term condition. Diarrhoea can either be acute: diarrhoea that comes on suddenly, and lasts for five to 10 days, or chronic: diarrhoea that lasts for more than two weeks.
What causes diarrhoea?
Acute diarrhoea is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection and affects almost everyone from time to time. Chronic diarrhoea may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease, and should always be investigated by your doctor.
How serious is it?
Diarrhoea usually clears up in a couple of days and is not serious. However, it can be serious in babies and the elderly because of the risk of dehydration. If diarrhoea is persistent or there are other symptoms, such as bleeding, see your doctor.
If your child is between three months and one year old, diarrhoea should last no longer than 48 hours. If it lasts any longer, contact your doctor.
Symptoms of diarrhoea
Symptoms can range from slightly watery stools and a brief upset stomach to longer-term, extremely watery stools and cramp. Common symptoms associated with diarrhoea are cramping stomach pains, an urgent need to go to the toilet, nausea or vomiting, fever, headache, and loss of appetite.
If your diarrhoea lasts for more than two weeks, it is considered chronic and you should see your doctor.
If your child is between three months and one year old and has had diarrhoea for more than 48 hours, contact your doctor. If your child is older than one and has had diarrhoea for more than five days, take them to see your doctor.
Causes of diarrhoea
Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from your bowel contents, or when extra fluid is secreted into the bowel, causing watery stools.
Acute diarrhoea
Short-term diarrhoea is usually a symptom of gastroenteritis, which is an infection of the bowel. Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- a virus, such as norovirus or rotavirus,
- food poisoning, usually caused by salmonella, campylobacter or staphylococci bacteria,
- an Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacterial infection, which causes secretory diarrhoea (see box, right),
- antibiotics, or
- contaminated food or water from a foreign country, causing ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’.
Other short-term causes of diarrhoea include emotional upset or anxiety, drinking too much alcohol, drinking too much much coffee, or the side effect from some medicines.
Chronic diarrhoea
Chronic (persistent) diarrhoea can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, laxatives, poor diet (too much coffee, alcohol or sweets), and a long-term condition (see below). Long-term conditions that cause diarrhoea include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, coeliac disease, diabetes, and pancreatitis. These conditions should be investigated by your doctor.
Diagnosing diarrhoea
If you have acute (short-term) diarrhoea, the symptoms are likely to settle down within a week and tests are usually unnecessary.
However, if your diarrhoea becomes more persistent or if you have other symptoms (such as blood in your stools or dehydration) your doctor may ask for a stool sample to investigate for bacteria or parasites.
Other tests for chronic diarrhoea may include blood tests or a sigmoidoscopy (a procedure that involves passing a thin fibre-optic tube, attached to a viewing lens, through the rectum to view the intestine).
Related articles:
- Treating Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Crohn’s disease
- Gluten intolerance — Coeliac disease
- Appendicitis — the treatment, complications and prevention
- Appendicitis – the causes and symptoms
- Ileostomy
- Inflammation of the gallbladder — Acute cholecystitis
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