Causes of Diarrhoea

Days are precious when you’re on holiday or when you’ve got a big event coming up. Maybe it’s a wedding, dinner with the in-laws or a job interview, but whatever it is, the last thing you need is a bout of diarrhoea to spoil your day.

Acute diarrhoea can develop quickly but usually resolves on its own in a day or two, lasting less than 14 days. The most common cause of acute diarrhoea is an infection in the gut, such as gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Diarrhoea that persists for longer than 4 weeks is described as chronic diarrhoea. It can indicate an underlying medical condition so it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional for medical advice.

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Some major causes of acute diarrhoea include:

Gastroenteritis
Food poisoning
Some tropical diseases, such as typhoid and cholera
Emotional stress or anxiety
Side effects from certain medications, eg. antibiotics

The most common causes of chronic diarrhoea are underlying conditions such as food intolerances (for example to lactose) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Chronic diarrhoea may be associated with underlying conditions such as food intolerances and irritable bowel syndrome.

Learn more about causes of diarrhoea including:

Gastro-Stop and Gastro-Stop PLUS are indicated for the relief of acute diarrhoea only.