The toxins are not destroyed by cooking and the food may look fresh. Symptoms develop rapidly, within 30 minutes to a few hours, and include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, and diarrhea. The illness itself is not spread from person to person. Diagnosis is made through patient history and physical examination. Lab tests are usually not necessary, but testing may be done if there is a large outbreak with many people affected in one place.
A food poisoning episode usually resolves on its own within 24 hours. Antibiotics are not effective against the toxins. The symptoms can be treated with rest, plenty of fluids, and electrolyte replacement with sports drinks. Severe cases may need intravenous fluids in a hospital. Top Symptoms: nausea, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps stomach cramps , vomiting. Symptoms that always occur with food poisoning by the staphylococcus bacteria: nausea or vomiting.
Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Top Symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain stomach ache , fever, stomach bloating. Shigella infection, or shigellosis, is an intestinal infection caused by a strain of Shigella bacteria.
Shigellosis is highly contagious through fecal matter. Anyone coming into contact with any trace of feces in food, drink, or surfaces can get the disease. Swimming in contaminated water, even in a chlorinated pool or hot tub, is another source of infection. Most susceptible are young children; travelers to less developed regions; and anyone with a weakened immune system.
If not treated, there is the risk of dehydration due to the diarrhea and fever. Young children are especially susceptible. Treatment involves rest and fluids. Most cases clear up within a week. Sometimes antibiotics are used in more severe cases, though antibiotics are not effective against some forms of Shigella bacteria.
Top Symptoms: diarrhea, general abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, watery diarrhea, fatigue. Visiting or living in places with poor sanitation can lead to parasite infections that can cause long-lasting diarrhea and stomach pain. Top Symptoms: nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, general abdominal pain. Treatments for watery diarrhea vary widely, though they all have the same starting point: stay hydrated. Depending on the eventual cause of watery diarrhea and how long it lasts, you may end up taking antibiotics or undergoing a colonoscopy to examine your intestines for signs of inflammatory disease.
Watery diarrhea can be caused by an inability to absorb the water that you drink, the water in food, or the secretion of water from the gut following infection or consumption of something that pulls water from the gut.
Common examples are consumption of excess lactose or xylose sugars that are not easily digested as well as cholera.
If you feel faint, dizzy, or nauseous, or have lost consciousness, you may be dangerously dehydrated. A lack of fluids can cause low blood pressure, confusion, or a loss of consciousness if it is severe.
Kidney failure can also occur if a loss of fluid is especially rapid. If you stop urinating for an extended period of time, you should be concerned about potential kidney injury.
If you find blood or mucus in your diarrhea, if you have difficulty maintaining adequate hydration either because of nausea or because of excessive or continuous liquid diarrhea, if you lose consciousness, become confused, stop sweating, or stop urinating you should seek care immediately.
Watery diarrhea can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Often even severe watery diarrhea can and will resolve on its own. It is important, however, to maintain adequate hydration. Diarrhea from a dietary cause will continue until the substance has left your system. Diarrhea from a toxin or from an infection will continue until the body clears the infection or it is treated with antibiotics.
Blood in your diarrhea, mucus, completely watery diarrhea, a loss of color in your stool, large amounts of mucus, or symptoms of dehydration may be signs that you should seek urgent or emergent evaluation for complicated abdominal pain or dehydration. Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions. Questions may relate to diseases, illnesses, or conditions you may have or that may run in your family. Your answers will help us provide you with medical information and identify services that may be relevant to your health.
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Verified by experts 14 min read. No Ads. Watery diarrhea is commonly caused by a viral infection or food poisoning from eating undercooked meat or rotten foods. It can be serious if it causes dehydration. Keep an eye out for blood in the stool, and be sure to drink water and fluids with electrolytes.
Ezekiel Richardson, MD. Jeffrey M. Last updated September 24, Heart Icon. Speech Bubble Icon. Share Icon. Facebook Icon. LinkedIn Icon.
Pinterest Icon. Pocket Icon. 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. Take small, frequent sips of water. Ideally, adults should drink a lot of liquids that contain water, salt, and sugar. Examples are water mixed with juice and soup broth. If you're drinking enough fluid, your urine will be light yellow or almost clear.
It's also very important for babies and small children not to become dehydrated. Give your child frequent sips of water, even if they are vomiting. A small amount is better than none. If you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have diarrhoea, you should continue to feed them as normal. Contact your GP immediately if you or your child develop any symptoms of dehydration. Your GP or pharmacist may suggest using an oral rehydration solution ORS to prevent dehydration if you're at risk — for example, if you're frail or elderly.
ORS can also be used to treat dehydration that has already occurred. Rehydration solutions usually come in sachets available from your local pharmacist without a prescription. They are dissolved in water and replace salt, glucose, and other important minerals that are lost if you are dehydrated. Your GP or pharmacist may recommend giving your child an ORS if they are dehydrated or at risk of becoming dehydrated.
The usual recommendation is for your child to drink an ORS each time they have an episode of diarrhoea. The amount they should drink will depend on their size and weight. Your pharmacist can advise you about this. The manufacturer's instructions should also give information about the recommended dose. You may be able to give your baby an ORS if they become dehydrated, but check with your GP, pharmacist, or health visitor first. Opinion is divided over when and what you should eat if you have diarrhoea.
However, most experts agree you should eat solid food as soon as you feel able to. Eat small, light meals and avoid fatty or spicy foods. Good examples are potatoes, rice, bananas, soup, and boiled vegetables. Salty foods help the most. You don't need to eat if you've lost your appetite, but you should continue to drink fluids and eat as soon as you feel able to. If your child is dehydrated, do not give them any solid food until they have drunk enough fluids.
Once they have stopped showing signs of dehydration, they can start eating their normal diet. If your child is not dehydrated, offer them their normal diet.
If they refuse to eat, continue to give them fluids and wait until their appetite returns. Antidiarrhoeal medicines may help reduce your diarrhoea and slightly shorten how long it lasts. However, they're not usually necessary. Loperamide is the main antidiarrhoeal medicine used, as it has been shown to be effective and causes few side effects. Loperamide slows down the muscle movements in your gut so more water is absorbed from your stools.
This makes your stools firmer and they're passed less frequently. An alternative to loperamide is a different type of antidiarrhoeal medicine called racecadotril, which works by reducing the amount of water produced by the small intestine. Evidence suggests this medication may be as effective as loperamide for treating diarrhoea. Some antidiarrhoeal medicines can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Check the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine to find out whether it's suitable for you and what dose you should take. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you're unsure. Do not take antidiarrhoeal medicines if there is blood or mucus in your stools or you have a high temperature fever.
Instead, you should contact your GP for advice. Most antidiarrhoeal medicines should not be given to children. Racecadotril can be used in children over 3 months old if it's combined with oral rehydration and the other measures mentioned above, although not all doctors recommend it. Painkillers will not treat diarrhoea, but paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve a fever and a headache. If necessary, you can give your child liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication to check if it's suitable for you or your child and find out the correct dose.
Children under 16 years of age should not be given aspirin. Treatment with antibiotics is not recommended for diarrhoea if the cause is unknown. This is because antibiotics:. Antibiotics may be recommended if you have severe diarrhoea and a specific type of bacteria has been identified as the cause. Watch what you drink.
Drink bottled water, soda, beer or wine served in its original container. Avoid tap water and ice cubes. Use bottled water even for brushing your teeth. Keep your mouth closed while you shower.
Beverages made with boiled water, such as coffee and tea, are probably safe. Remember that alcohol and caffeine can aggravate diarrhea and worsen dehydration. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Colon and small intestine Open pop-up dialog box Close. Colon and small intestine The small intestine and colon are components of your digestive tract, which processes the foods you eat. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information What's causing my infant's diarrhea?
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