Diarrhoea: Here's when should you be worried?

Diarrhoea is no fun visitor, but at least it is not a dangerous one, typically. It usually goes away on its own after it runs its course after a few days. So the way this uninvited guest lives rent-free in our intestines is through ‘hacking’ the small intestine or colon’s ability to soak the liquid we get from food, and therefore, letting it run free from our, um, bottom.

Medicine

Usually, diarrhoea can be concerning if it lasts longer than a few days. One of the most worrying facts is, of course, dehydration. While there are hundreds of possible causes for long-term diarrhoea, one of the reasons could be messy medicines. Antibiotics and laxatives, to be exact. If you’re experiencing diarrhoea as a side effect of a potential drug you’ve started taking, it’s important to discuss it with your doctor and see if you can find an alternative, or stop the medication completely.

Stop googling symptoms

Seriously, stop. Somehow, it always leads to cancer, it’s crazy. Even if you do have the C word, you’ll have to look for other symptoms such as sudden weight loss, appetite loss, or bleeding from your bottom in order to take that doctor’s appointment. However, if cancer runs in your family and you have persistent diarrhoea that doesn’t stop, that’s a cause for concern – not panic, just concern.

So, when to see a doctor?

Dehydration

The first sign you should look out for is dehydration. This is visible from being really thirsty – obviously, your mouth is dry, you’re feeling dizzy and fatigued, and on top of that, you’re not peeing that much. This is when you should call a doctor because possibly you might need IV fluids to replace all the water you have lost due to dehydration.

Mouth sores

If you see mouth sores developing and you’ve had diarrhoea for a while now, you should ring your doctor’s phone and book a check-up. According to Mayo Clinic, this could be a symptom of Crohn’s disease, which ‘is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).’

Bloody or black diarrhoea

Bloody or black liquid poop does not sound good news. However, this could be due to a haemorrhoid, or it can also be because of food poisoning, which is not as concerning, but at the same time, it is also a symptom of Crohn’s disease.

Even if your diarrhoea is looking normal, if it persists for more than a few days, get your worries off your back and ring your doctor.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained, are strictly for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.

Sources used:

Mayo Clinic: Crohn's disease

Read more:

⋙ Here's why some medicines need to be taken on an empty stomach

⋙ Bloating: Here are 8 reasons why your stomach might be bloated

⋙ Stomach growling: What is your stomach trying to tell you?