What to discuss
Tell your doctor about duration, frequency, blood, fever, pain, travel, food exposure, medicines, weight change and whether symptoms wake you from sleep.
Possible testing
Depending on the history, tests may include blood work, stool analysis, imaging, colonoscopy or other targeted investigations.
Hydration and treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. People with ongoing fluid loss, older adults and those with other health conditions may become dehydrated more quickly.
Seek urgent help
Urgent assessment is needed for severe dehydration, fainting, confusion, significant bleeding, severe pain, persistent vomiting or serious illness with fever.
Questions patients often ask
Should I take an anti-diarrhoeal medicine?+
Not in every situation. Some infections or warning signs require assessment before symptom-suppressing medicine.
Can antibiotics cause diarrhoea?+
Yes. Report recent antibiotic use, especially with persistent or severe symptoms.
When is colonoscopy useful?+
It may be considered for persistent symptoms, bleeding, inflammation concerns or other findings after assessment.