Who is at risk for diarrhea? What other symptoms might I have with diarrhea? Other possible symptoms of diarrhea include Cramps or pain in the abdomen An urgent need to use the bathroom Loss of bowel control If a virus or bacteria is the cause of your diarrhea, you may also have a fever, chills, and bloody stools.
When do I need to see a health care provider for 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.
Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors. Treatments and Therapies. Related Issues. Learn about…. A limited diet can help a person reduce the symptoms of diarrhea. Diarrhea usually lasts up to 3 days. During this time, it is best to consume bland….
This diet prioritizes bland, easily digestible foods to…. Diarrhea may resolve by itself, but it can also be painful and uncomfortable. Read on to learn about the causes, some treatments, and when to see a…. A look at different types of poop, which has a range of consistencies and odors.
Learn more about the different types and what they mean here. What you should know about diarrhea. Causes Treatments Symptoms Complications Tests and diagnosis Seeing a doctor Prevention Summary We include products we think are useful for our readers. Share on Pinterest Diarrhea may be accompanied by symptoms such as stomach pain. Tests and diagnosis. When to see a doctor.
Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. How to treat diarrhea at home Medically reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, M. What foods to eat if you have diarrhea. Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. What to know about the BRAT diet. What causes burning diarrhea?
The BRAT diet bananas, rice, apples, and toast can help with that. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: August 24, Medically Reviewed. Diarrhea may also lead to the following symptoms: Pain or cramping in the abdomen An urgent need to go to the bathroom Nausea A loss of control of bowel movements If diarrhea is caused by an infection, people may also experience: Bloody stools Vomiting Fever and chills Light-headedness and dizziness Diarrhea may also cause dehydration and malabsorption, each of which has its own symptoms.
Diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors, including viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. Food allergies, side effects of medication, and digestive disorders are other common causes of diarrhea. How do I stop diarrhea? To help diarrhea go away faster, drink plenty of fluids, including water and fruit juices or sports drinks that are low in sugar.
Eat a bland diet of soft, not spicy foods that are low in fiber. Over-the-counter medication like loperamide Imodium and bismuth subsalicylate Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate can help.
In severe cases, antibiotics may be needed. How long can diarrhea last? Normally, diarrhea will clear up on its own in a few days. However, if diarrhea lasts for weeks, this can indicate a serious health problem and requires medical attention.
How can I prevent getting diarrhea? The most important way to prevent diarrhea is to wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, before and after changing diapers, after touching garbage, and after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste. Diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors. The most common causes of diarrhea are: Infection The three types of infections that cause diarrhea are: Viral infections, including norovirus and rotavirus Bacterial infections, which can enter the body through contaminated food or water.
Common bacteria that cause diarrhea include Campylobacter , Escherichia coli E. Parasitic infections, in which parasites enter the body through food or water and settle into the digestive tract. Common parasites that cause bacteria include Cryptosporidium , Entamoeba histolytica , and Giardia lamblia.
Diarrhea may also be a sign of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Sometimes, diarrhea may signal a health problem and require medical attention. If you have diarrhea, the following may help you feel better. Favorite Organizations for Information on Diarrhea National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Brought to you by an institute within the federal National Institutes of Health outside Washington, DC, this website offers information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
National Cancer Institute Cancer and some of the treatments for it can cause diarrhea. Favorite Support Groups for People Dealing With Diarrhea IBS Network While diarrhea usually lasts a day or two, chronic diarrhea can indicate a gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking.
Symptoms and Causes of Diarrhea. November Diarrhea Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic. June 16, Hygiene-Related Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 2, Antibiotics may be recommended if you have severe diarrhoea and a specific type of bacteria has been identified as the cause. They may also be used if you have an underlying health problem, such as a weakened immune system. Occasionally, hospital treatment may be needed if you or your child are seriously dehydrated.
Treatment will involve administering fluids and nutrients directly into a vein intravenously. If you've been diagnosed with a specific condition that's causing your diarrhoea, treating this may help improve your symptoms.
Read more about common causes of diarrhoea. To prevent the spread of infections that cause diarrhoea, you should always maintain high standards of hygiene. You or your child should also avoid swimming pools for 2 weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea. Practising good food hygiene will help avoid getting diarrhoea as a result of food poisoning. You can do this by:. Read more about preventing food poisoning.
Rotavirus is a virus that commonly causes diarrhoea in children. A vaccine that helps protect children against rotavirus is now part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. This vaccine is given as a liquid that's dropped into a baby's mouth. It's given in 2 doses, with the first given at 2 months and another at 3 months. There is no vaccination that can protect you from all possible causes of travellers' diarrhoea.
The best way to avoid it is to practise good food and water hygiene while abroad. If you're planning a trip abroad, check health advice for the countries you will be travelling to. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About diarrhoea 2. Symptoms of diarrhoea 3. Causes of diarrhoea 4. Diagnosing diarrhoea 5. Treating diarrhoea 6. Preventing diarrhoea. About diarrhoea Diarrhoea is passing looser or more frequent stools than is normal for you.
What causes diarrhoea? Gastroenteritis can be caused by: a virus — such as norovirus or rotavirus bacteria — such as campylobacter and Escherichia coli E. What to do if you have diarrhoea Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days without treatment, and you may not need to see your GP.
Diarrhoea self-help guide Complete this guide to assess your symptoms and find out if you should visit your GP, pharmacist or treat your condition at home. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as: blood in your or your child's stool persistent vomiting a severe or continuous stomach ache weight loss signs of dehydration — including drowsiness, passing urine infrequently, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy your stool is dark or black — this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach 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.
Preventing diarrhoea Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. For example, you should: wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food clean the toilet, including the handle and the seat, with disinfectant after each bout of diarrhoea avoid sharing towels, flannels, cutlery, or utensils with other household members It's also important to practise good food and water hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water and undercooked food.
Symptoms of diarrhoea Diarrhoea is where you frequently pass watery or loose poo. Associated symptoms can include: stomach cramps nausea and vomiting headache loss of appetite 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.
Signs of dehydration Signs of dehydration in children can include: irritability or drowsiness passing urine infrequently pale or mottled skin cold hands and feet they look or feel increasingly unwell Signs of dehydration in adults can include: tiredness and a lack of energy loss of appetite nausea feeling lightheaded dizziness dry tongue sunken eyes muscle cramps rapid heartbeat Read more about the symptoms of dehydration.
When to seek medical advice Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you are concerned about yourself or your child. Babies 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 seek advice if your baby has any symptoms of dehydration. Children Contact your GP if your child has: had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours diarrhoea and vomiting at the same time watery poo blood in their poo a severe or continuous stomach ache symptoms of dehydration You should also contact your GP if your child has persistent diarrhoea.
Adults Contact your GP if you have diarrhoea and: there is blood in your poo you are vomiting persistently you've lost a lot of weight you have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea it occurs at night and is disturbing your sleep you have recently taken antibiotics or been treated in hospital you have symptoms of dehydration your poo is dark or black — this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach You should also contact your GP if you have persistent diarrhoea.
Causes of diarrhoea 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.
Short-term diarrhoea Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of a bowel infection gastroenteritis , which can be caused by: a virus — such as norovirus or rotavirus bacteria — such as campylobacter, Clostridium difficile C. Long-term diarrhoea Conditions that can cause persistent diarrhoea include: irritable bowel syndrome IBS — a poorly understood condition that affects the normal functions of the bowel inflammatory bowel disease — conditions that cause the gut to become inflamed, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis coeliac disease — a digestive condition where you have an adverse reaction to gluten bile acid malabsorption — where bile produced by the liver builds up in the digestive system chronic pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas diverticular disease — where small bulges or pockets develop in the lining of the intestine bowel cancer — this can cause diarrhoea and blood in your stools Persistent diarrhoea can also sometimes occur after surgery on the stomach, such as a gastrectomy.
Diagnosing diarrhoea Most cases of diarrhoea get better within a week and you may not need to visit your GP.
0コメント