Most cases of acute diarrhea go away without treatment. However, severe diarrhea (greater than 10 bowel movements a day or diarrhea where fluid losses are significantly greater than oral intake) can cause dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated.
Key Takeaways. Watery diarrhea is when you pass loose, liquid stool. It often occurs due to a viral or bacterial stomach infection. It can also be from food intolerances, medication side effects, and gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Grade 1 diarrhea is three extra bowel movements per day. Grade 2 diarrhea is four to six extra bowel movements per day. Grade 3 diarrhea is seven or more extra bowel movements per day. With this grade, you may have trouble caring for yourself and should be admitted to a hospital.
Red flags for diarrhea needing immediate medical attention include blood or black, tarry stools, severe abdominal/rectal pain, high fever, signs of severe dehydration (dizziness, little/no urine, extreme thirst), confusion, or diarrhea lasting more than a couple of days. For children, also watch for no wet diapers for 3+ hours, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, or unusual sleepiness, while adults should see a doctor for nighttime diarrhea or worsening symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of severe diarrhea
Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:
Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
Organ failure, primarily kidney failure (renal failure), is a major cause of diarrhea, stemming from toxin buildup and inflammation in the gut, but liver or intestinal issues (like inflammatory bowel disease or infections, often secondary to weakened immunity in kidney failure) can also cause it, with severe diarrhea worsening kidney function due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
According to Dr. Staller, most people with acute diarrhea recover by allowing the illness to run its course. "Let your system do its work and naturally eliminate the invaders," he says. The frequency of bathroom trips should begin to decrease after a few days, and the diarrhea should be gone within five days.
Diarrhea symptoms may look like other health problems. Bloody diarrhea is always a concern. Always see your doctor to be sure. Be sure to tell the doctor about any bleeding, fever, or vomiting.
The 'red flag' gut symptoms
Diarrhea lasting more than two days in adults or 24 hours in young children warrants a doctor's visit, especially with signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, little urination), fever (over 102°F/39°C), severe pain, or bloody/black stools. Diarrhea exceeding four weeks is considered chronic and always needs medical investigation, as it signals an underlying issue like IBS, IBD, infections, or food intolerances.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and pain. In severe cases, you may become dehydrated and have an electrolyte imbalance. Bacterial gastroenteritis is sometimes treated with antibiotics.
Some of the most common infections that cause watery diarrhea include: Adenovirus: A group of viruses that are linked to the common cold but that can also cause diarrhea2. Escherichia coli(E. coli): Bacteria that commonly cause travelers' diarrhea 3.
There are some who welcome diarrhea because they believe that it can “clean out” your digestive system. While diarrhea does seem to at least sometimes be part of a normal immune response to pathogens in the digestive tract, the truth is that it's not something you would ever want to happen to you.
Bile acid malabsorption occurs when your intestines can't absorb the excess bile. Acids in the bile cause your intestines to release more water. The extra water causes diarrhea, while the extra bile makes the loose stools yellow.
Red flags for diarrhea needing immediate medical attention include blood or black, tarry stools, severe abdominal/rectal pain, high fever, signs of severe dehydration (dizziness, little/no urine, extreme thirst), confusion, or diarrhea lasting more than a couple of days. For children, also watch for no wet diapers for 3+ hours, no tears when crying, sunken eyes, or unusual sleepiness, while adults should see a doctor for nighttime diarrhea or worsening symptoms.
Take note if your poo turns green and you have symptoms such as diarrhoea, cramping pain in the central or lower abdomen and feel unwell with a temperature. Food poisoning or a gut infection like food poisoning/gastroenteritis might be the cause.
Explosive, or severe, diarrhea causes a person to pass liquid or loose stool more frequently and forcefully than regular diarrhea. Explosive diarrhea occurs when the rectum fills with more liquid and gas than it can hold.
It's Best To Treat It Early
Although acute diarrhea usually resolves on its own within a few days, you can get relief faster with IMODIUM® products. IMODIUM® products contain an active ingredient called Loperamide which works to help restore your body's natural rhythm so you can start to feel like yourself again.
you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down. you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom. you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days.
For bacterial and parasitic infections, our doctors may recommend anti-infective medicines. For viral diarrhea, treatment focuses on preventing dehydration, until the virus is cleared from the body by the immune system. Your doctor may also prescribe antidiarrheal medicines for viral diarrhea.
Symptoms can include:
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration associated with loss of minerals. Replace fluid and minerals with liquids such as water, broth, fruit juices, sports beverages and popsicles. Potassium is an important element for your body. It may be lost in large quantities through diarrhea.
Usual symptoms of a kidney infection include flank pain, fever, nausea, diarrhea, blood in the urine, painful urination and urinary urgency. In most cases, a kidney infection can be quickly and effectively treated with antibiotic and pain medications along with fluids to re-hydrate the patient.