Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a common condition for many people in different age groups. An average person would generally defecate two to three times a day or thrice a week. The feces discharged should be easy to release, and digestion should be smooth. However, when there is diarrhea, bowel movement becomes more frequent than usual, scratching the rectum and the anus and making them bleed. The stool or waste excreted is thin, watery, and loose; sometimes, its color is bright red or closer to black.
Along with its frequency, there is also a feeling of nausea and the urge to vomit uncontrollably, recurring abdominal cramps, bloating, and swelling. There are three types of diarrhea: acute (lasts for one or two days, does not need medication), persistent (lasts for several weeks, needs medication), and chronic (lasts long and occurs regularly.) Persistent and chronic diarrhea raises the risk of dehydration and could be life-threatening if left unattended. In addition, other signs of severe diarrhea that call for immediate attention are blood or fluid in the stool, high fever, weight loss, lightheadedness and dizziness, and severe abdominal pain. When any of these signs show, consult the doctor immediately.
