Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is frequent, loose or watery faeces (poo). It’s usually short-term but may signal a health issue if it continues for more than a few days or gets worse.

Common causes of diarrhoea

Common causes include:

• infections
• food intolerances
• alcohol
• overuse of laxatives
• bowel conditions eg Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• some medicines eg antibiotics
• long-term constipation – hard faeces (poo) can build up in the lower bowel, and softer faeces (poo) may leak around it, seeming like diarrhoea
• bowel surgery.

Use the Bristol Stool Chart to check what healthy faeces (poo) look like.

Note: Stool is another word used to describe faeces (poo).

Food tips for managing diarrhoea

Some foods can make diarrhoea worse, while others may help:

• insoluble fibre (eg wholegrains, seeds, and vegetable skins) may make diarrhoea worse
• soluble fibre (eg smooth wholemeal breads) or white rice may help
• fibre supplements may also help.

Talk to your GP (doctor) or a dietician before making changes to your diet.

When to seek support for diarrhoea

See your GP if diarrhoea is severe or ongoing, especially for people who are at risk of dehydration such as babies, young children or older adults, or if there is blood or mucus mixed with the diarrhoea.

Treatment options for diarrhoea

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

• oral rehydration solutions
• IV fluids (for severe cases)
• prescribed medicines (eg anti-diarrhoeals, antibiotics)

Keeping a bowel diary can help track symptoms, triggers and patterns.

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