Diarrhea is where you frequently pass watery or loose motion. Some people may also have other symptoms, depending on the cause.
It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about. However, it can be distressing and unpleasant until it passes, which normally takes a few days to a week.
Causes
There are many different causes of diarrhea, but a bowel infection (gastroenteritis) is a common cause in both adults and children.
Gastroenteritis can be caused by:
• a virus – such as norovirus or rotavirus
• bacteria – which are often picked up from contaminated food
• a parasite – which is spread in contaminated water
Symptoms
Prevention
avoid eating foods which dont smell or taste normal
food hygien
had washing
Complications
Contact your GP if your child has:
• had six or more episodes of diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• diarrhea and vomiting at the same time
• watery stool
• blood in their stool
• a severe or continuous stomach ache
• symptoms of dehydration
Adults
Contact your GP if you have diarrhea and:
• there's blood in your stool
• you're vomiting persistently
• you've lost a lot of weight
• you've passed a large amount of very watery diarrhea
• it occurs at night and is disturbing your sleep
• you've recently taken antibiotics or been treated in hospital
• you have symptoms of dehydration
• your stool is dark or black – this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach
