Understanding Diarrhoea: Causes, Prevention, and When to Seek Help

Acute diarrhoea will last for less than 2 weeks.

Viral infections: most cases of ‘gastro’ are caused by viral infections. This could include rotavirus, norovirus, and viral gastroenteritis. Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhoea globally, causing around 40% of hospitalizations in children under 5 years old.

Bacterial infections: many of us have had the uncomfortable experience of food ‘poisoning’. Eating food contaminated with bacteria (e.g. Salmonella and E. coli) can lead to diarrhoea 12-48 hours after. Milk and chicken can be of particular risk if preparation or storage are inadequate. 

Other Causes: acute diarrhoea can also be caused by food intolerances, high alcohol consumption, or an adverse reaction to certain medicines. If diarrhoea continues for more than 2 weeks it may be a symptom of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or celiac disease.

To help prevent the spread of diarrhoea:  

• Wash hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and dry them well.  
• Wash hands after going to the toilet, and after changing babies’ nappies. 
• Wash hands before handling food and use clean kitchen utensils for food preparation. 
• Avoid sharing food and drinks. 
• Keep milk cold and in fridge. 
• Cook raw chicken very well. 
• Do not store raw meat near cooked meat.