There are 5 different types of diarrhoea you must know – and when to worry
IF YOU'RE going through it, diarrhoea is diarrhoea and it's just miserable.
But just like there are various types of poos - described by the Bristol Stool Chart - there are five different types of the runs.
And each one lifts the lid on something different when it comes to your health - sometimes indicating you are, in fact, constipated.
The idea of studying your poo might make you squeamish - granted, it's not a pretty task.
But gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center Rudolph Bedford told this might be the key to stopping your runs in their tracks.
Without further ado, here are five types of diarrhoea and when you they're a sign you should get some help.
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1. Osmotic diarrhoea
Osmotic diarrhoea refers to poos that are especially watery.
They happen when too much water is pulled into your bowel when your body is having difficulty absorbing a food, Dr Bedford said.
Being intolerant to lactose - the sugar found in milk and dairy products - and artificial sweeteners are common triggers for this kind of diarrhoea.
Laying of dairy and artificially sweetened things might help.
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The (NICE) added that coeliac disease could also be the cause of this type - in which case, it's a good idea to speak to your GP.
2. Secretory diarrhoea
Secretory diarrhoea looks very similar to osmotic diarrhoea, but you'll know it's the former if you've been avoiding triggers like dairy.
Scott Gabbard, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said this form of Number Two crops up when your intestines secrete electrolytes into your colon, making water build up.
If you think this is the cause of your ills, it's definitely time to call the doctor, as secretory diarrhoea can be caused by an infection or an endocrine problem.
NICE said bacteria like Vibrio cholerae, E Coli, and C difficile could be causing this type of diarrhoea.
3. Exudative diarrhoea
Exudative diarrhoea tends to be linked to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and can be alarming as you might find blood or pus in your poo.
E. coli bacteria could also be the cause, according to Dr Bedford.
You should always speak to a doctor if you find blood in your poop.
4. Paradoxical diarrhoea
Paradoxical diarrhoea is exactly what it sounds like.
Sufferers experience agonising constipation - difficulty and straining to poo - followed by diarrhoea.
This happens when liquid behind what's backed up gets around the poo and comes out as diarrhoea. What joy.
As Dr Bedford explained: “You literally can be constipated and put out liquid stool at the same time."
The best way to address this is to relieve constipation.
Drinking lots of water, exercising and eating food with sorbitol - like apples, apricots, grapes, raisins, raspberries and strawberries - or wheat bran and oats might help.
But you might need to resort to an enema.
You should see a GP if your constipation doesn't get better with treatment, you get it regularly on top of bloating and you have blood in your poo.
5. Pseudodiarrhoea
Pseudodiarrhoea literally means fake diarrhoea - you'll know you have it if you’re having little bits of diarrhoea more than three times per day.
It common with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but it can also occur because of constipation, Dr Bedford said.
Talk to a doctor if having more fibrous foods or doing an enema doesn't help you.
WHEN SHOULD I BE WORRIED?
Diarrhoea means you're passing looser, more frequent and watery-er poos than normal.
According NHS Inform, you should speak to a doctor if:
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- It’s particularly frequent or severe
- It lasts for more than seven days
- Your poo has blood on it
- You have persistent vomiting and are unable to keep fluid down
- You have a severe or continuous stomach ache
- You're losing weight without meaning to
- You have passed a large amount of very watery diarrhoea
- It occurs at night and is disturbing sleep
- You have recently taken antibiotics or been treated in hospital
- You have signs of dehydration – including drowsiness, peeing less than usual, and feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- You have poo that’s dark or black – this may be a sign of bleeding inside your stomach