An extremely common symptom caused by a wide
range of conditions. Diarrhoea can be acute
or chronic and recurrent. Acute diarrhoea is
usually caused by food poisoning due to
bacterial and viral infection. When
associated with abdominal pain it may be due
to harmless colic, but alternatively may be
a symptom of a more serious disease. In
general the causes of chronic diarhoea are
usually more serious than those of acute
diarrhea. When to consult a doctor
• If the patient is a baby
under one year or frail and elderly
• If there is blood in the motions
• If others have been simultaneously
affected
• If you have recently returned from a
foreign country
• If you are residing in an area where the
water supply is a suspect
