SYMPTOMS
Diarrhea
SYMPTOMS
Diarrhea
Diarrhea (or diarrhoea) is a common problem – most people will experience looser or more frequent stools several times each year. In most cases, the cause is unknown and it settles after a few days. More persistent diarrhea (lasting more than a couple of weeks) may indicate a problem in the digestive tract that requires further investigation. Severe diarrhea can result in dehydration.
What are the causes of diarrhea?
Acute diarrhea (diarrhea that lasts only several days) is usually caused by an infection such as acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. Chronic diarrhea (diarrhea lasting for more than 4 weeks) can also be caused by infections such as giardia or other parasites. However there are many other potential causes of chronic diarrhea including IBS, IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, food intolerances such as lactose intolerance, a lack of pancreatic digestive enzymes, bile acid malabsorption, colon polyps, and colon cancer.
Do I need to see a doctor?
Most cases of diarrhea will settle on their own without the need for tests or treatment. If you have diarrhea with looser or more frequent stool that has been present for more than a couple of weeks, or if there are other symptoms such as blood in the stool or losing weight make an appointment to see Dr Neil. Most causes of diarrhea will turn out to be benign and easily treatable – but more serious diseases such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, or even cancer can also cause these symptoms. Serious diseases – particularly cancer – are much easier to treat and cure if diagnosed early.
Frequently Asked Questions
A large number of medications can affect the bowel causing loose or frequent stool. Common culprits include certain acid-suppressing medicines, antibiotics, antidepressants, and painkillers, as well as medicines used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. It is useful to try to determine whether your diarrhea started around the time you were prescribed a new medication or the dose of an existing medication was increased. If you think your bowel symptoms may be caused by a medicine that you are taking, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before stopping any medicines.
Investigations might include blood tests (e.g to check for celiac disease, inflammation, and anemia), stool tests (to check for inflammation, infections, blood, and levels of digestive enzymes), and breath tests (to check for lactose intolerance or fructose intolerance). A colonoscopy may be advisable to check for IBD, polyps, and cancers.
When it comes to going to the toilet, there is a large range of ‘normal’ bowel habit. Some people normally go to the toilet 2-3 times per day. For others, 2-3 times per week is normal. What is important is a change to your normal pattern of bowel movements. If you notice a persistent change (over 2 or 3 weeks) it would be sensible to speak to Dr Neil.
Most of the time floating poo is normal and simply means you have been eating a lot of fibre in your diet. Certain food intolerances can result in an excess of gas in the stool – this can cause the poo to float. Occasionally problems that result in your body not digesting fats properly can result in oily or greasy poo that floats – coeliac disease or a lack of pancreatic enzymes are 2 examples of this. Dr Neil can arrange simple tests if you are concerned that your poo may be greasy or oily.
It is not unusual for sweetcorn, oats, tomato skins, and other high-fiber foods that aren’t totally broken down during the digestive process to be present in the stool.
Have noticed a persistent change in your bowel habit with looser or more frequent stool? Are you having to rush to the toilet or getting up at night to pass stool? Is there blood in the stool? Dr Neil has extensive experience in investigating and treating digestive problems. He can quickly exclude serious diseases, and arrange appropriate treatment for your symptoms.