About this symptom
Diarrhoea means passing loose or watery stools three or more times in a day, or more often than is normal for you.
Most diarrhoea is caused by an infection of the gut with a virus, bacteria or parasite, from food or water that was not clean. Medicines, food intolerance and long-term bowel conditions can also cause it. A short bout usually settles within a few days. The risk is dehydration, which can be serious, especially in older people and people with a weak immune system.
This page is for adults and older children. Diarrhoea can be dangerous in babies and young children, so parents should read Diarrhoea in children and see a doctor early.
Possible causes
This is not a diagnosis. These are the causes doctors think about, with the ones that are most urgent to rule out first.
- CholeraSevere, very watery diarrhoea that can cause dangerous dehydration within hours, after food or water that was not clean. Get care at once.Read about it
- Typhoid feverA high fever that lasts for days, with tiredness, headache and tummy pain, and diarrhoea or constipation. A blood test confirms it.Read about it
- Stomach bug or food poisoningLoose or watery stools, often with feeling sick, vomiting and cramps, after food or water that may not have been clean. Usually settles within a few days.
- MedicinesBegan after starting a medicine, such as some antibiotics. Tell your doctor, and do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
- Food intoleranceLoose stools that follow a particular food, such as milk in lactose intolerance.
- Irritable bowel syndromeCramps and bloating that keep coming back over a long time, with diarrhoea, constipation or both.Read about it
- Inflammatory bowel diseaseDiarrhoea that lasts for weeks or keeps coming back, sometimes with tummy cramps and pain. A doctor needs to find the cause.
When to get help
See a doctor soon if you have:
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, great thirst, dark urine, passing little urine, or dizziness
- Blood or pus in the stool, or bloody diarrhoea (see a doctor the same day)
- Diarrhoea that has not settled after a few days, or keeps coming back
- A high fever
- Severe pain in the tummy or around the bottom
- Vomiting that means you cannot keep fluids down
Older people, and people with a weak immune system, should see a doctor sooner. A day or two of loose stools with none of these signs can be managed at home.
What you can do at home
Replacing the fluid you lose matters most. With any emergency sign, do not stay at home. Otherwise:
Do
- Drink plenty of fluids, in small sips if you feel sick
- Use (ORS) from a pharmacy, mixed with clean water exactly as the packet says, and sip it through the day
- Eat when you feel able, and avoid fatty or spicy food
- Wash your hands with soap after the toilet and before food, and stay off work until at least 2 days after the diarrhoea and sickness stop
Do not
- Do not take a medicine to stop the diarrhoea without asking a doctor or pharmacist, and never give one to a child under 12
What the doctor will do
The doctor will ask how long it has lasted, how often you pass stool, whether it is watery or bloody, and about fever, vomiting, tummy pain, travel, what you ate and your medicines. They will check for dehydration. If it settles in a few days, finding the cause is usually unnecessary.
If it is severe, bloody or lasting, a stool or blood test may look for infection or other causes, and diarrhoea that goes on for weeks needs further tests for bowel disease. Treatment is mainly replacing lost fluid. Severe dehydration needs fluid through a drip, and some infections need medicines.
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“When you have loose motions, you should stop eating and drinking until they stop.”What is true?
Fact
The danger of diarrhoea is losing too much fluid, so keep drinking. Eat when you feel able. Cutting out fluids makes dehydration more likely.
Myth“Take a tablet to stop it at once. The sooner the stools are firm, the better.”What is true?
Fact
The main aim of treatment is to replace the fluid and salts you lose, not to stop the stools. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using a medicine to stop diarrhoea, and never give one to a child under 12.
Myth“ORS is only for babies and children. Adults can just drink water.”What is true?
Fact
ORS is a mix of clean water, sugar and salt that replaces the water and salts lost in diarrhoea. It is useful for adults too, especially if you are passing a lot of watery stool or have signs of dehydration.
Questions to ask your doctor
Tick the ones you want answered and take them with you.
Common questions
How long does diarrhoea usually last?
Diarrhoea from a stomach bug usually settles within a few days, and often within a week. See a doctor if it has not settled after a few days, keeps coming back, or comes with blood, a high fever or signs of dehydration.
What is ORS, and how do I use it?
ORS (oral rehydration solution) is a mix of clean water, sugar and salt that replaces what you lose. Mix a packet with clean water exactly as the packet says, and sip it often. If you cannot keep it down, or still have signs of dehydration, see a doctor.
Can I take a medicine to stop diarrhoea?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist first. A pharmacist may suggest a medicine that stops it for a few hours, but it is not suitable for children under 12, and what is right depends on the cause. Fluids matter more than stopping the stools.
How do I know I am dehydrated?
Warning signs are a dry mouth, great thirst, dark yellow urine, passing less urine than usual, and feeling dizzy. Older people and people with a weak immune system are at higher risk. If the signs do not improve after drinking ORS, see a doctor.
