Learn about Diarrhea in adults symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Diarrhea in adults

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

The main symptom of diarrhea is having loose, watery stools. You also need to go to the bathroom more often than normal.

You may also have:

Source:
Thielman NM, Guerrant R.
Acute infectious diarrhea.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2004; 350: 38-47.

Vomiting
Stomach cramps
A fever.

Because you lose water in your stools when you have diarrhea, your body may not have enough fluid (you get dehydrated). Symptoms of dehydration include:

Feeling thirsty
Not needing to urinate so often
Having dark-colored urine
Having dry skin
Feeling sleepy.

You need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids if you have diarrhea. Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend that you drink rehydration fluids. These are designed to help replace fluid and mineral salts that your body has lost.

Sources for the information on this page:

Thielman NM, Guerrant R.Acute infectious diarrhea.New England Journal of Medicine. 2004; 350: 38-47.

This information was last updated on Nov 18, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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