How to tell if you have diarrhoea or something else?

Diarrhoea is something that we have all been through, at least once during our lives. As we already know, it usually goes away on its own after a few days, however, there are cases when this unpleasant visitor decides to stick around for a bit longer, which can be worrying and may signal other underlying conditions.

According to WebMD, you have diarrhoea when ‘your bowel movements (or stools) are loose and watery.’ Moreover, WebMDsays that diarrhoea is caused by a virus that enters your gut:

Some people call it ‘intestinal flu’ or ‘stomach flu’

What are the symptoms?

The unlucky ones suffering from diarrhoea often experience symptoms such as stomach aches or cramps in the abdomen, nausea, bloating, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, a loss of control of bowel movements, and even anal irritation.

However, not all types of diarrhoea are caused by a simple stomach bug, and they could be caused by other infections, which, according to Everyday Health, could manifest with symptoms such as:

• Bloody stools
• Vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Light-headedness and dizziness

Other times, diarrhoea could be caused by COVID-19. It is not uncommon for diarrhoea to be a symptom of COVID-19, and in fact, for some people, it could even be a tell-tale sign of the illness.

If your diarrhoea does not go away within a few days and persists, it could also be caused by people who have long COVID. A study published by Harvard University found that in some patients, diarrhoea can be present three months after being discharged from the hospital due to COVID-19 complications.

What to do if you have diarrhoea?

No matter how frequent your runs to the toilet are, the most important thing to do is stay hydrated. This means that as soon as you realize you have diarrhoea, you need to take as many fluids as you can, to compensate for the ones you’re losing. It could be water, tea, or broth.

In the meantime, you should avoid foods that will make your symptoms worse. This includes staying off fried foods and greasy foods, fruits and vegetables that cause gas such as broccoli, beans, berries, and corn. It goes without saying that you should stay off caffeine, alcohol, milk or other dairy products. At least for a while.

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:

WebMD: Diarrhea

Everyday Health: Know the Symptoms of Diarrhea and When to See a Doctor

National Library of Medicine: Digestive Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients With Mild Disease Severity: Clinical Presentation, Stool Viral RNA Testing, and Outcomes

Harvard University: COVID Long-Haulers: Gastrointestinal System

Read more:

⋙ Food poisoning: 3 early signs to look out for

⋙ This is how long food actually takes to digest

⋙ Bloated stomach: Eat these foods to improve digestion