Conditions we treat
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is a recent change in the consistency or frequency of stool. Short episodes often settle with simple care at home, but diarrhoea that drags on, or that comes with abdominal pain, fever, blood in the stool or signs of dehydration, needs to be looked at properly. This page explains how acute and chronic diarrhoea differ, what causes each of them, which tests may be needed and how diarrhoea is treated at GastroPlus Digestive Disease Centre in Ahmedabad.
What is diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is a recent change in the consistency or frequency of stool.
Acute diarrhoea is less than 14 days in duration. Chronic diarrhoea is defined as more than 4 weeks in duration. This distinction matters, because the likely causes and the tests needed are different for each.
Causes of acute diarrhoea
Acute diarrhoea, lasting less than 14 days, usually has one of two explanations.
- Infection - bacteria, viruses and, less often, protozoa
- Drug induced diarrhoea
Causes of chronic diarrhoea
Diarrhoea lasting more than 4 weeks can arise from a wide range of conditions, some confined to the bowel and some elsewhere in the body.
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Infection - some infectious agents may cause prolonged symptoms
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Malabsorption syndromes, from conditions such as bacterial overgrowth, coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis, lactose intolerance, or previous surgery of the small bowel or colon
- Post-cholecystectomy status (removal of the gallbladder)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperthyroidism (thyroid dysfunction)
- Radiation injury to the small bowel or colon
- Colonic cancer
How diarrhoea is evaluated
How much evaluation is required depends on the duration and the severity of the diarrhoea. Mild, short-lived symptoms may need no tests at all.
Work up may include a complete blood count, serum electrolytes, blood sugar, thyroid function tests and/or tests for coeliac disease. Stool tests may be required to search for an infectious agent, or to characterise the type of diarrhoea. Occasionally, you may be asked to collect stool for 3 days in order to identify atypical infection or fat malabsorption.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be required, but this depends on your age and on the severity and duration of symptoms. Breath tests may be required to diagnose conditions such as bacterial overgrowth and lactose intolerance.
Treatment of diarrhoea
Treatment depends on the cause of the diarrhoea. Mild symptoms can be managed at home. Moderate to severe symptoms may need medical evaluation and, occasionally, hospitalisation.
Caring for mild symptoms at home
- Drink plenty of liquids, such as water and ORS liquid
- Avoid caffeine containing beverages
- Avoid milk
- Take certain prescribed medications, such as antibiotics, if these are required
- Do not take any anti-diarrhoea medication (for example, loperamide) without consulting your doctor
- You may follow the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast
When to consult a doctor
Moderate to severe symptoms mean abdominal pain, fever, bloody stool and symptoms of dehydration. If you have any of these, consult your doctor for further management rather than treating the diarrhoea yourself.
Diarrhoea that has continued for more than 4 weeks also deserves a gastroenterology opinion, so that the cause can be identified and treated.
Frequently asked
How long does acute diarrhoea last?
Acute diarrhoea is less than 14 days in duration. Diarrhoea that continues beyond 4 weeks is called chronic diarrhoea and needs evaluation to find the cause.
Can I take an anti-diarrhoea medicine such as loperamide?
Do not take any anti-diarrhoea medication, for example loperamide, without consulting your doctor.
What can I eat and drink while I have diarrhoea?
Drink plenty of liquids such as water and ORS liquid, and avoid caffeine containing beverages and milk. You may follow the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast.
Which tests are done for diarrhoea?
It depends on the duration and severity of your symptoms. Work up may include a complete blood count, serum electrolytes, blood sugar, thyroid function tests and tests for coeliac disease. Stool tests may be needed to look for an infectious agent or to characterise the type of diarrhoea, and occasionally stool is collected over 3 days to identify atypical infection or fat malabsorption.
Will I need a colonoscopy?
A flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be required, but this depends on your age and on the severity and duration of your symptoms. Breath tests may be required to diagnose conditions such as bacterial overgrowth and lactose intolerance.
When does diarrhoea need hospital care?
Mild symptoms can be managed at home. Moderate to severe symptoms - abdominal pain, fever, bloody stool and symptoms of dehydration - may need medical evaluation and occasionally hospitalisation, so consult your doctor.
Where to go next
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