Why do loose motions

It's very important that babies and small children do not become dehydrated. Your pharmacist may suggest you use an oral rehydration solution ORS if you or your child are particularly at risk of dehydration.

You should eat solid food as soon as you feel able to. If you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have diarrhoea, you should try to feed them as normal.

Stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea to prevent spreading any infection to others. Medications to reduce diarrhoea, such as loperamide, are available. However, these are not usually necessary, and most types should not be given to children. Read more about treating diarrhoea. Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you're concerned about yourself or your child. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as:.

You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem. In most cases, diarrhoea should pass within about a week. Read more about diagnosing diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. You can reduce your risk by making sure you maintain high standards of hygiene.

It's also important to practise good food and water hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water and undercooked food. Read more about preventing diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is where you frequently pass watery or loose poo.

Some people may also have other symptoms, depending on the cause. The excessive loss of water in your poo can also sometimes lead to dehydration , which can be serious if it's not recognised and treated quickly. Read more about the symptoms of dehydration. Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you are concerned about yourself or your child.

You should also contact your GP in the situations outlined below, as they may mean that you or your child has, or is at risk of, a more serious problem. You should contact your GP or health visitor urgently if your baby has had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours. You should also contact your GP if your child has persistent diarrhoea.

Most cases will pass in 5 to 7 days. You should also contact your GP if you have persistent diarrhoea. Most cases in adults will pass in 2 to 4 days. Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from the contents of your bowel, or when extra fluid is secreted into your bowel, causing watery poo. Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of a bowel infection gastroenteritis , which can be caused by:. The patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine should state whether diarrhoea is a possible side effect.

Persistent diarrhoea can also sometimes occur after surgery on the stomach, such as a gastrectomy. This is an operation to remove part of the stomach — for example, as a treatment for stomach cancer. Read more about when to visit your GP if you have diarrhoea.

Your GP may ask you for a stool sample so it can be analysed for signs of an infection if you have:. Your GP may suggest you have some blood tests if they suspect your diarrhoea is being caused by an underlying health condition. For example, your blood can be tested for signs of inflammation, which may suggest inflammatory bowel disease.

Read more about the possible causes of diarrhoea. Your GP may recommend a digital rectal examination DRE if you have unexplained persistent diarrhoea, particularly if you're over It can be useful for diagnosing conditions that affect your rectum and bowel. If you have persistent diarrhoea and your GP is unable to find the cause, they may refer you to your local hospital for further investigation.

Diarrhoea will usually clear up without treatment after a few days, particularly if it's caused by an infection. In children, diarrhoea will usually pass within 5 to 7 days and will rarely last longer than 2 weeks. In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within 2 to 4 days, although some infections can last a week or more. While waiting for your diarrhoea to pass, you can ease your symptoms by following the advice outlined below.

It's important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration , particularly if you're also vomiting. Learn more here. Learn about the causes of orange poop. Bowel habits are the time, size, amount, consistency and frequency of bowel movements throughout the day.

A change in bowel habits is any alteration…. Diarrhea can cause uncomfortable irritation around your anus, but you may be able to soothe the pain for yourself or your baby with home remedies.

Learn about the connection between diarrhea and the common cold, as well as how to treat them and when you should call a doctor. Learn how to use Pepto-Bismol to relieve diarrhea, heartburn, and other not-so-fun….

Many common foods can cause diarrhea. Some foods irritate the gut, and others trigger food intolerance symptoms. Learn about foods that cause diarrhea….

How long diarrhea lasts depends on the cause. Diarrhea caused by a viral or bacterial infection or colonoscopy prep won't last as long as chronic…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Loose Stools. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. Symptoms Chronic loose stools Causes Complications Risk factors See a doctor Treatment Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers. What are loose stools? Symptoms of loose stools. Chronic loose stools vs. What causes loose stools?

Complications of loose stools. Loose stools risk factors. See a doctor. How to treat loose stools. When do I need to see a health care provider for diarrhea? Contact your health care provider if you have Signs of dehydration Diarrhea for more than 2 days, if you are an adult.

For children, contact the provider if it lasts more than 24 hours. Severe pain in your abdomen or rectum for adults A fever of degrees or higher Stools containing blood or pus Stools that are black and tarry If children have diarrhea, parents or caregivers should not hesitate to call a health care provider.

How is the cause of diarrhea diagnosed? To find the cause of diarrhea, your health care provider may Do a physical exam Ask about any medicines you are taking Test your stool or blood to look for bacteria, parasites, or other signs of disease or infection Ask you to stop eating certain foods to see whether your diarrhea goes away If you have chronic diarrhea, your health care provider may perform other tests to look for signs of disease.

What are the treatments for diarrhea? Can diarrhea be prevented? You can help prevent traveler's diarrhea by being careful about what you eat and drink when you are in developing countries: Use only bottled or purified water for drinking, making ice cubes, and brushing your teeth If you do use tap water, boil it or use iodine tablets Make sure that the cooked food you eat is fully cooked and served hot Avoid unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors. Treatments and Therapies. Related Issues. Clinical Trials. Article: Diarrhea in pediatric recipients of solid organ or bone marrow transplants.

Article: Common communicable diseases in the general population in France during the However, multiple cases of loose stools can cause dehydration and malnutrition. Some home remedies that may help to prevent or reduce diarrhea include:.

With the help of these home remedies, diarrhea caused by dietary trends, infections or food poisoning should return to normal after a few days. Loose stools or diarrhea that does not improve after 1 week should be given immediate medical attention. This can be a sign of a more serious medical condition and may worsen without treatment.

Some conditions may be treated with prescription medications or antibiotics , but more serious conditions, such as pancreatitis may require hospital treatment. In some cases, there are no available cures for the underlying condition, but symptoms can be managed. Symptoms are often managed using a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. In most cases, diarrhea will often subside within a few days without treatment, or with the help of some home remedies.

It is important to distinguish between loose stools that occur infrequently and those that are chronic. Experiencing loose stools that persist for over 1 week may indicate a more serious underlying condition that will require immediate medical attention. Read the article in Spanish. While most cases of diarrhea last for a few days, some cases can result in diarrhea lasting for a week or longer. Learn more about it here.

Having constipation after diarrhea is uncommon and can be unsettling. Medications or dietary changes may affect bowel movements and cause these…. Keriorrhea is an oily orange-colored bowel movement that can occur when people eat fish that contains indigestible wax esters. Learn more here. What methods can help to stop diarrhea fast?