Know the Symptoms of Diarrhea and When to See a Doctor

Diarrhea is a common, unpleasant ailment that everyone suffers from at least occasionally. In the majority of cases, it will last a few days, but diarrhea that sticks around for weeks or longer can indicate a serious health problem requiring medical attention. It’s important to know the signs of diarrhea in both adults and children, and when it’s time to see a doctor.
The main symptom of diarrhea is passing loose, watery stool that occurs three or more times a day.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292e916fdf-ba82-4211-9af9-8d7bb14b2d5c Someone with diarrhea may also experience one or more of the following symptoms: Pain or cramping in the abdomen An urgent need to go to the bathroom Nausea Bloating Anal irritation A loss of control of bowel movementse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762973083905-9efb-4aba-a110-1f64fdf5d644 If diarrhea is caused by an infection, people may also experience: Bloody stools Vomiting Fever and chills Light-headedness and dizzinesse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ae4f0cef-272b-41ad-8aa6-1c24e9435336
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malabsorption, each of which have their own symptoms. Signs of dehydration include: extreme thirst, urinating less frequently than normal, dark-colored urine, dry mouth, fatigue, sunken eyes or cheeks, feeling faint, and a decreased skin turgor (when the skin is pinched and released, it does not flatten back to normal right away). In children, additional signs of dehydration can include a lack of energy and the absence of tears while crying.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293af2ca8f-418f-4aa8-9588-b60efecb8395 Symptoms of malabsorption include bloating , gas, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, changes in appetite, weight loss, and fatty stools.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291e86e302-6b79-448f-97a3-ca9d4ed035e8
COVID-19 and Diarrhea With COVID-19 Diarrhea, along with other gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, is a symptom of COVID-19.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762970809aa7-b75e-434a-b04a-ba059eb1df2a In some people, digestive problems are the first sign of the illness. One study, for example, found that about 20 percent of people experienced diarrhea as their first symptom of COVID-19.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762991802bbc-80f1-48e3-a530-bf47500d1250 Other research suggests having diarrhea with COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of severe illness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629af20a176-67c2-44e4-9246-50ed340bb79c Ongoing diarrhea is also an issue for many people who have long COVID. Research has found loose, watery stools, as well as other digestive issues, like nausea, acid reflux, and loss of appetite, are common in patients three months after being discharged from the hospital due to COVID-19.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d0eb96b2-c55c-49dd-be04-013ce2a724f1 Scientists are still working to better understand the relationship between COVID-19 and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Tests for Diarrhea Finding the Cause Most diarrhea goes away on its own in a few days. When diarrhea lasts for longer, tests are needed to find out what’s causing it so proper treatment can be administered. A visit to the doctor for diarrhea will consist of a physical examination and a full medical history, including a review of your medication. A physician will also carefully feel your abdomen and may perform a rectal exam. Additionally, testing for acute diarrhea may include: Stool Test This might be recommended to determine whether you have a bacteria or a parasite infection. A healthcare professional will give you containers for catching and storing your stool samples, as well as instructions on where to send or take the containers for analysis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629583b9669-d712-4676-a452-b878a7982657 Blood Test A complete blood count can show signs of infection, anemia, inflammation, or imbalances of electrolytes, to help determine the cause of your diarrhea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fd2f2ae1-89dd-4d3c-bed9-4c660b272796 If diarrhea persists, or if there are worrisome signs like bleeding, your doctor may order other tests, which include: Colonoscopy or Sigmoidoscopy These are both tests involving a lighted tube with a camera. A colonoscopy involves following a special diet the day before the exam, typically with no solid foods and usually not eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before the exam. You will also need to take a laxative in either pill or liquid form or use an enema kit to empty your colon. During the procedure, for which you are sedated, the tube is inserted into the rectum and the camera gives the doctor a view of the inside of the entire colon to check for abnormalities.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e997057f-1c27-4110-8759-0e3a29257889 A sigmoidoscopy is a similar procedure but looks at the rectum and lower portion of the colon only.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a1b46afb-579d-4743-98b3-2463f1a9478c Hydrogen Breath Test This test is used to diagnose lactose intolerance by measuring the amount of hydrogen in your breath. When someone is lactose intolerant, undigested lactose produces high levels of hydrogen in the breath. The test involves drinking a beverage with a known amount of lactose and then breathing into a balloon-type container to measure breath hydrogen levels. A high level of hydrogen will lead to a diagnosis of lactose intolerance.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762938c702bf-89df-42bc-8907-cce7e4489044 Fasting Test This will help determine if a food intolerance or allergy is the cause of your diarrhea. Your physician may ask you to avoid certain foods, including dairy, wheat, carbohydrates, or other ingredients in an effort to see if your symptoms of diarrhea respond to those diet changes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295843897e-2c42-458c-8e70-6f031323a67d
When to See Your Doctor When to See a Doctor While occasional bouts of diarrhea are common and not cause for concern, diarrhea can become dangerous if it leads to severe dehydration. It can also signal an infection or a more serious health issue. Visit your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: Diarrhea that lasts more than two days Diarrhea accompanied by a fever of 102 degrees F or higher Six or more loose stools in 24 hours Severe, unbearable pain in the abdomen or rectum Bloody stools or stools that are black and tarry or contain pus Diarrhea accompanied by frequent vomiting Signs of dehydratione60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629251ec25e-287f-42b2-80e3-16ad3fb8cfda Infants, toddlers, and young children should be taken to the doctor if they have any of these symptoms or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629df7d7631-037e-40a1-a2c9-a11f2eb78680 Older adults and people with compromised immune systems should also seek medical care if they have diarrhea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c62c9449-bed8-4545-8be6-13485cf1d681