Diarrhoea: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Diarrhoea happens when you experience watery stools three times or more per day. It is a very common gastrointestinal condition. Acute diarrhoea typically lasts one or two days and resolves on its own. However, if the condition persists for more than four weeks, it is termed chronic or long-term diarrhoea and may indicate a serious underlying disease.

Patients with diarrhoea may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

An urgent urge to go to the bathroom
Cramping pain in the belly
Tiredness and fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Mild fever
Loss of control of bowel movements

You should consult a doctor if you experience:

Blood in stool
High fever
Severe abdominal pain
Unexplained weight loss
Signs of dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration include:

Feeling very thirsty
Decreased urine output
Dry skin and sunken eyes
Dry mouth
Lightheadedness or fainting

Chronic diarrhoea can lead to malabsorption, which may present with:

Excessive gas
Change in appetite
Weight loss

Greasy, foul-smelling stools
General weakness

Tests your gastroenterologist may perform to find the cause of chronic diarrhoea:

Stool test for Giardia (a parasite)
Stool test for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity

Bile acid diarrhoea test (48-hour stool analysis)
Fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin (to detect inflammation)

Treatment

Hydration is the most important part of diarrhoea treatment to prevent complications. Patients should be encouraged to drink as many fluids as possible.

Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), which are a mixture of salt, sugar, and water, are the cornerstone of treating acute diarrhoea. In cases of chronic diarrhoea, treatment will depend on identifying and addressing the underlying cause.