Why diarrhoea

To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips. Ideal liquids are clear thin broths or soups, diluted non-caffeinated sports drinks e.

Powerade or Gatorade , and rehydration formulations e. Gastrolyte that are available without prescription from a pharmacy. Hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria that can cause diarrhoea. You should always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before meals. A vaccine for rotavirus is available free for babies in New Zealand. The oral vaccine - Rotarix - is given in two doses at the six-week and three-month immunisation visits to reduce the incidence or severity of rotavirus infection.

Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhoea in infants and young children. Healthline Free phone: Email: www. Mayo Clinic Diarrhea Web Page. Diarrhoea Web Page. Dyspepsia indigestion is a common symptom characterised by discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen. It typically occurs after eating or drinking. Symptoms may include early satiation, uncomfortable fullness, bloating, nausea, vomiting, belching, flatulence, heartburn, regurgitation and diarrhoea.

Gastroenteritis is an infection and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is a common illness with a variety of causes including viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, chemicals and drugs.

There are many kinds of gastroenteritis, most of them contagious. Crohn's disease is a chronic and lifelong gastrointestinal disorder that causes inflammation in the colon, rectum and GI tract. The preventative measures of food poisoning are: observing basic personal hygiene techniques, careful food preparation, storage and display. Read more on SA Health website. Jean Hailes gynaecologist Dr Janine Manwaring discusses endometriosis and pelvic pain in this Medical Observer article for health professionals.

Read more on Jean Hailes for Women's Health website. Which drugs can be useful in improving the milk supply during lactation when non-drug approaches don't work and what are the potential side effects? Read more on Australian Prescriber website.

The symptoms of coeliac disease vary markedly from person to person. What is the gold standard for diagnosing coeliac disease? Nausea and vomiting are not conditions themselves - rather, they are non-specific symptoms associated with a variety of conditions.

Nausea describes a feeling of unease in the stomach, chest or throat. Vomiting emesis is the physical act of forcibly ejecting stomach contents through the mouth. Healthdirect Australia is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below.

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Diarrhoeal disease April Acute gastroenteritis revised February ; amended October In: eTG complete. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; Nov. Supportive management of acute gastroenteritis revised October Diarrhea updated Nov Skip to content. Symptoms of diarrhoea In addition to frequent, watery bowel movements, the stool may also contain mucus, pus, blood or excessive amounts of fat.

Diarrhoea can be accompanied by: painful abdominal cramps; nausea; fever; bloating; and generalised weakness. Symptoms of dehydration in adults can include: thirst; lack of energy; passing less urine than normal; dizziness or light-headedness; and the skin on the back of your hand being slow to return to position after being pinched upwards.

Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration in children can include:. Author: myDr. Fatty liver Gastrointestinal Health November 6, ,. Appendicitis — Dr. Norman Swan Gastrointestinal Health October 26, ,. Pinworms in Young Children — Dr. Norman Swan Gastrointestinal Health October 24, ,. Liver Damage and Cirrhosis — Dr. Norman Swan Gastrointestinal Health September 6, ,. Previous article Can flavonoids improve sexual health in men?

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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. However, contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious symptoms including:. If you have a serious chronic medical condition, such as kidney or heart failure, even one day of diarrhoea can be dangerous. Acute diarrhoea can be life threatening to babies and young children. This is because their smaller bodies are more vulnerable to dehydration.

If your baby or young child develops diarrhoea, seek medical attention straight away. Contaminated food and water are common causes of acute diarrhoea. Some of the infectious agents known to cause diarrhoea include:.

Always see your doctor if you experience serious symptoms. Babies and young children with diarrhoea need prompt medical attention. Treatment for diarrhoea depends on the cause, but may include:. Most cases of acute diarrhoea are potentially infectious to others. Viruses are easily spread, mainly through direct contact with vomit or faeces from an infected person, or through contact with a contaminated object or surface.

Occasionally, the virus may be transmitted by airborne particles generated from vomiting and diarrhoea. People can reduce their chances of getting infected by carefully washing their hands after going to the toilet and before handling food. People looking after a person with the virus must also wash their hands thoroughly. Alcohol-based handwash solutions, available from pharmacies, have been shown to be better at reducing the spread of infection than soap and water, and are less drying to the skin.

Anyone with acute diarrhoea should stay at home if possible to reduce the spread of infection. It is strongly recommended not to visit hospitals and nursing homes, and not to swim in public pools. It may help to make a few short-term dietary adjustments while your bowels recover from acute diarrhoea.