Do You Have These 6 Diarrhea-Related Signs?
In simple terms, diarrhea is a condition where you frequently have loose, watery-stool, unlike your normal pooping. You may experience this once in a while in your lifetime due to dietary issues, viruses and bacteria, and medical conditions, but it shouldn’t last long. However, the condition can persist and can cause several serious complications that need to be managed by a medical expert. Here are some of the signs that should alert you to see your doctor due to diarrhea.
- Diarrhea that persists for more than two days and only gets worse
If you experience terrible diarrhea that does not improve, you might have an infection that is not going away on its own. For this reason, Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG, a gastroenterologist at GastroDox PLLC urges patients to seek medical attention if their diarrhea persists over two days or worsens over time.
Long-lasting diarrhea can also indicate that something you have been eating regularly isn’t a good one for you or some medications you are taking are not getting along well with your stomach. It can also indicate complications such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Development of mouth sores alongside your diarrhea
If you experience such symptoms, it can indicate Crohn’s Disease, as the condition causes diarrhea and sores on the digestive tissues in the GI tract. This is a definitive symptom, as other complications such as ulcerative colitis are limited to the rectum and the colon. However, it can also be a sign of Celiac Disease, and therefore you need to see your doctor make sure something else bigger than the diarrhea is not going on.
- Signs of dehydration
Dehydration is a common condition caused by diarrhea due to excessive body liquid loss. Dehydration can be lethal if untreated, and therefore you need to see your doctor. You can detect dehydration easily, as it is characterized by skin and mouth dryness, and you also feel extremely thirsty. Additionally, when you are dehydrated, you feel generally bad. This can be treated, and it is important for you to receive treatment from your doctor.
- Pus in Your diarrhea
If you notice a yellow-ish, mucousy liquid in your stool, it can indicate an infection or an inflammation as it is produced when your body is fighting infections. Therefore, you need to see your doctor as this can indicate ulcerative colitis.
- Severe stomach or rectal pain
When diarrhea is accompanied by severe stomach pain, it could be from something as simple as gas to a life-threatening condition such as appendicitis. It can also signal chronic complications like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. This means that it’s hard for you to tell the exact issue affecting you, and therefore you have to see your doctor.
- Bloody or black diarrhea
Blood doesn’t signify anything good, especially when it is in your poop. A range of things could be happening from within. It can indicate a foodborne illness as bacteria are known for causing such symptoms. You could also be suffering from hemorrhoids, a condition involving the veins in your rectum or your anus. This requires your doctor’s attention for effective treatment.
Finally, a general rule can be derived to help you know when to see your doctor about diarrhea. If you have diarrhea for up to two days and seems to be improving with no other associated symptoms, you can skip the doctor’s appointment. However, if it worsens and has other symptoms such as the ones mentioned here, get to your doctor for diagnosis.
