What makes stool watery

Several disorders of the liver and gallbladder can impair the action of bile, preventing the proper breakdown of fats in the intestine.

For example, this can occur in people with gallstones or liver cirrhosis. Bile acid malabsorption can cause diarrhea or loose stools. An overactive thyroid is where the thyroid gland produces too many hormones, interfering with its normal functioning. This can cause loose stools or diarrhea. Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the inflammation occurs in the pancreas.

It can impair the proper breakdown of fats, starches, and proteins. Cystic fibrosis is a long-term condition where mucus builds up in the lungs and digestive system. This can interfere with digestion and cause loose stools or diarrhea.

Dumping syndrome is a condition where food moves from the stomach to the bowel too quickly. It often occurs after weight-loss surgery. It can cause loose stools and diarrhea.

Infrequent cases of loose stools do not typically require medical treatment. However, multiple cases of loose stools can cause dehydration and malnutrition. Some home remedies that may help to prevent or reduce diarrhea include:.

With the help of these home remedies, diarrhea caused by dietary trends, infections or food poisoning should return to normal after a few days. Loose stools or diarrhea that does not improve after 1 week should be given immediate medical attention. This can be a sign of a more serious medical condition and may worsen without treatment.

Some conditions may be treated with prescription medications or antibiotics , but more serious conditions, such as pancreatitis may require hospital treatment. In some cases, there are no available cures for the underlying condition, but symptoms can be managed. Symptoms are often managed using a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

In most cases, diarrhea will often subside within a few days without treatment, or with the help of some home remedies. It is important to distinguish between loose stools that occur infrequently and those that are chronic. Experiencing loose stools that persist for over 1 week may indicate a more serious underlying condition that will require immediate medical attention.

Read the article in Spanish. Some examples include:. Yellow liquid poop could indicate an underlying disorder in the liver or gallbladder. Bright yellow liquid stool can also be a sign of giardiasis , an infection caused by an intestinal parasite that you can get from drinking contaminated water. Diarrhea can appear green due to green foods you ate or stool moving too quickly through the colon.

Intestinal inflammation can cause the secretion of mucus in the intestines that causes clear liquid bowel movements. Black liquid poop can be cause for concern because it can indicate bleeding from a location somewhere in the higher portion of the digestive tract.

Other potential causes of black liquid poop include taking Pepto-Bismol or iron supplements , or eating foods that are blue or black in color. Diarrhea that lasts two weeks or less is referred to as acute diarrhea, and diarrhea that lasts longer than four weeks is considered chronic. If you see unexplained color changes in your liquid bowel movement, especially red, black, or tarry stool, seek emergency medical treatment.

These symptoms could indicate bleeding in the digestive tract. If you lose too much blood, this can be life-threatening. If the causes of your liquid poop are acute, symptoms should resolve within a few days. Until you feel better, the goals are to stay hydrated and to rest. This is because they can actually stop up the bacteria or viruses present in your digestive tract, which can extend your illness.

If you have a high fever or blood present in your stool, avoid anti-diarrhea treatments, such as bismuth subsalicylate Pepto-Bismol and loperamide Imodium. If bacterial infections, such as shigellosis , caused your diarrhea, a doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. Ideally, liquid bowel movements will resolve on their own as the body passes the bacteria or other harmful factors that were contributing to your illness. A doctor may obtain a stool sample to send to a laboratory to test for the presence of certain bacteria or viruses.

Opinion is divided over when and what you should eat if you have diarrhoea. However, most experts agree you should eat solid food as soon as you feel able to. Eat small, light meals and avoid fatty or spicy foods. Good examples are potatoes, rice, bananas, soup, and boiled vegetables. Salty foods help the most. You don't need to eat if you've lost your appetite, but you should continue to drink fluids and eat as soon as you feel able to.

If your child is dehydrated, do not give them any solid food until they have drunk enough fluids. Once they have stopped showing signs of dehydration, they can start eating their normal diet.

If your child is not dehydrated, offer them their normal diet. If they refuse to eat, continue to give them fluids and wait until their appetite returns. Antidiarrhoeal medicines may help reduce your diarrhoea and slightly shorten how long it lasts. However, they're not usually necessary. Loperamide is the main antidiarrhoeal medicine used, as it has been shown to be effective and causes few side effects.

Loperamide slows down the muscle movements in your gut so more water is absorbed from your stools. This makes your stools firmer and they're passed less frequently. An alternative to loperamide is a different type of antidiarrhoeal medicine called racecadotril, which works by reducing the amount of water produced by the small intestine.

Evidence suggests this medication may be as effective as loperamide for treating diarrhoea. Some antidiarrhoeal medicines can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription.

Check the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine to find out whether it's suitable for you and what dose you should take. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you're unsure. Do not take antidiarrhoeal medicines if there is blood or mucus in your stools or you have a high temperature fever. Instead, you should contact your GP for advice. Most antidiarrhoeal medicines should not be given to children. Racecadotril can be used in children over 3 months old if it's combined with oral rehydration and the other measures mentioned above, although not all doctors recommend it.

Painkillers will not treat diarrhoea, but paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve a fever and a headache. If necessary, you can give your child liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication to check if it's suitable for you or your child and find out the correct dose.

Children under 16 years of age should not be given aspirin. Treatment with antibiotics is not recommended for diarrhoea if the cause is unknown. This is because antibiotics:. Antibiotics may be recommended if you have severe diarrhoea and a specific type of bacteria has been identified as the cause.

They may also be used if you have an underlying health problem, such as a weakened immune system. Occasionally, hospital treatment may be needed if you or your child are seriously dehydrated. Treatment will involve administering fluids and nutrients directly into a vein intravenously.

If you've been diagnosed with a specific condition that's causing your diarrhoea, treating this may help improve your symptoms. Read more about common causes of diarrhoea. To prevent the spread of infections that cause diarrhoea, you should always maintain high standards of hygiene. You or your child should also avoid swimming pools for 2 weeks after the last episode of diarrhoea.

Practising good food hygiene will help avoid getting diarrhoea as a result of food poisoning. You can do this by:. Read more about preventing food poisoning. Rotavirus is a virus that commonly causes diarrhoea in children. A vaccine that helps protect children against rotavirus is now part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. This vaccine is given as a liquid that's dropped into a baby's mouth.

It's given in 2 doses, with the first given at 2 months and another at 3 months. There is no vaccination that can protect you from all possible causes of travellers' diarrhoea. The best way to avoid it is to practise good food and water hygiene while abroad. If you're planning a trip abroad, check health advice for the countries you will be travelling to. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1.

About diarrhoea 2. Symptoms of diarrhoea 3. Causes of diarrhoea 4. Diagnosing diarrhoea 5. Treating diarrhoea 6. Preventing diarrhoea. About diarrhoea Diarrhoea is passing looser or more frequent stools than is normal for you.

What causes diarrhoea? Gastroenteritis can be caused by: a virus — such as norovirus or rotavirus bacteria — such as campylobacter and Escherichia coli E. What to do if you have diarrhoea Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days without treatment, and you may not need to see your GP.

Diarrhoea self-help guide Complete this guide to assess your symptoms and find out if you should visit your GP, pharmacist or treat your condition at home. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as: blood in your or your child's stool persistent vomiting a severe or continuous stomach ache weight loss signs of dehydration — including drowsiness, passing urine infrequently, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy your stool is dark or black — this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem.