Diarrhoea Symptoms

Quick Glance: Common Diarrhoea Symptoms

Some common symptoms of diarrhoea are listed below:

• Loose or watery stools

• More frequent bowel movements than usual

• An urgent need to pass stool

• Abdominal cramps or pain

• Bloating or gas

• Nausea

• Vomiting in some cases

• Difficulty controlling bowel movements

Fever, blood or pus in the stool can occur with certain infections or inflammatory conditions, but should not be treated as routine features of uncomplicated diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

Certain symptoms of diarrhoea may indicate significant dehydration, infection, gastrointestinal bleeding or an underlying digestive disorder. Some of these symptoms and what they may indicate are given in the table below:

Adults should seek medical advice promptly when diarrhoea lasts more than two days or when severe symptoms develop. Infants and children require earlier assessment because dehydration can progress more rapidly.

Why Do Diarrhoea Symptoms Occur?

Diarrhoea develops when the intestines absorb too little water or release more fluid than usual into the bowel. This produces loose or watery stools and often makes bowel movements more frequent and urgent.

Intestinal infections caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites can inflame the intestinal lining or interfere with normal movement of water and electrolytes. Other causes include medicines such as antibiotics, lactose or other food intolerances, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

When large amounts of fluid and electrolytes are lost through watery stools and vomiting, dehydration can develop. This is the most important immediate complication of acute diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea Symptoms That Require Immediate Medical Attention

Seek urgent medical care if diarrhoea occurs with:

• Little or no urine

• Severe thirst with a very dry mouth

• Severe dizziness, fainting or inability to stand normally

• Confusion, extreme drowsiness or reduced responsiveness

• Frequent vomiting that prevents drinking fluids

• Severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain

• Significant blood in the stool or black, tarry stools with weakness or dizziness

• High fever with rapidly worsening illness

• Inability to drink or keep fluids down

In infants and young children, additional warning signs include very few wet nappies, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, unusual sleepiness or irritability, and inability or unwillingness to drink.

Young infants should receive prompt medical advice when diarrhoea develops because significant dehydration can occur within a relatively short period.

Symptoms of Diarrhoea Based on Type

Diarrhoea may be classified according to how long it lasts. The associated symptoms depend mainly on the underlying cause. Symptoms of diarrhoea based on type are given in the table below:

WHO also uses a public-health classification that includes acute watery diarrhoea, acute bloody diarrhoea or dysentery and persistent diarrhoea lasting 14 days or longer.

Diarrhoea Symptoms in Children

Children develop the same loose or watery stools, urgency, cramps, nausea or vomiting seen in adults. The main additional concern is that infants and young children can become dehydrated more quickly.

Parents should watch for the following symptoms in children:

• Loose or watery stools occurring more frequently than usual

• Frequent vomiting

• Very few wet nappies or markedly reduced urination

• Dry mouth

• No tears when crying

• Sunken eyes or cheeks

• Unusual irritability or sleepiness

• Refusal or inability to drink

• Blood in the stool

Loose stools in a breastfed baby are not automatically diarrhoea. Therefore, medical advice is necessary if the above symptoms are seen in children or breastfed babies.

Can You Have Diarrhoea Without Obvious Symptoms?

Diarrhoea cannot be completely symptom-free because passing loose or watery stools more frequently than normal is the defining feature. However, it can occur without abdominal pain, fever, nausea or vomiting.

Some people with chronic diarrhoea may gradually become accustomed to their bowel pattern and not initially recognise it as abnormal. Persistent or newly changed loose stools should still be assessed, particularly when they occur with weight loss or other concerning symptoms.

When Can Diarrhoea Symptoms Become Life-Threatening?

Severe diarrhoea can become life-threatening when fluid and electrolyte losses cause severe dehydration or when the underlying illness causes serious complications.

The table below summarises why certain symptoms of diarrhoea can be serious and require medical attention:

How are Diarrhoea Symptoms Diagnosed?

Most short episodes of uncomplicated diarrhoea do not require extensive testing. Doctors investigate further when symptoms are severe, persistent, repeatedly return or occur with blood, weight loss or other concerning features.

The table below lists the diagnostic methods involved for diarrhoea assessment: