What is diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea is a condition that results in loose, runny stools during each bowel movement. It is prevalent among both children and adults and typically dissipates within a few days. It’s important to seek immediate medical care when runny, water-discharged stools are accompanied by blood-stained stools and fever.

There exist different forms of diarrhoea, such as the following:

• Acute diarrhoea is a short-term condition lasting at least one to two days. This form of diarrhoea doesn’t usually require treatment.
• Chronic diarrhoea prolongs over four weeks and recurs and stops over a certain period of time.
• Persistent diarrhoea takes two to four weeks to subside.

What are the signs of diarrhoea?

Apart from runny stools, the following symptoms are associated with diarrhoea:

• Stomach bloating
• Abdominal discomfort
• Urgency to defecate
• Nausea

How do you diagnose diarrhoea?

Most cases of diarrhoea don’t require a definitive diagnosis.

However, the following tests may be done to confirm or rule out diarrhoea:

• Blood tests are performed to check for underlying conditions resulting in diarrhoea.
• A stool sample is conducted to check for bacterial or parasitical infections.
• An endoscopy of the lower and upper digestive tract is performed to check for structural issues or growths, such as tumours or ulcers, that may induce diarrhoea.