I think I have diarrhoea

Diarrhoea also spelt as diarrhea, is something many of us experience in our lifetimes. From infants to adults, it can often be a common and rather embarrassing ailment. That’s why it is best to learn more about it, the causes, treatment and prevention -  depending on your exact situation.

Simply put, diarrhoea is when you frequently pass watery or loose stools. It can sometimes last only a few days and resolve itself without medical attention. This is known as acute diarrhoea and is very common among patients of all ages.

Diarrhea that lasts for more than four weeks is known as chronic diarrhoea (it can be sporadic or constant), this is considered to be more severe and requires immediate medical attention as it may be linked to an underlying condition or chronic disease. Please consult with your healthcare professional should you have chronic diarrhoea in order for them to properly diagnose you.

Oftentimes the case is acute, and generally just results in you being uncomfortable for a few days, as it usually passes in a few days or a week. It is important to note that you may lose a lot of water in your stool, be careful not to get dehydrated and drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. If you start to feel overly tired, have a headache, feel dizzy and experience a dry mouth, lips and eyes, you may be suffering from dehydration, have a look at our article on this to further explore the causes and symptoms and consult with your doctor should you be suffering from any of the aforementioned issues. We’ll also discuss this in more detail later on.

As informative as this information may be, it is written only to serve as a guideline and is not intended to act as a diagnosis or treatment for any associated condition. We would suggest that you please consult with your doctor or healthcare professional for that.

How do I know if I have diarrhoea?

For many people who have experienced diarrhoea before, they are well-accustomed to the symptoms. But, for those who haven’t had them before, the following can be the result of diarrhoea:

• Watery and loose stool
• Cramping of your stomach or bowel section
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling nauseous and possibly vomiting
• Suffering from dehydration
• Fever
• Bloating
• Urgently needing to run to the toilet to have a bowel movement
• Blood in the stool