How to know when diarrhea is dangerous

Telltale signs it's more serious than you think

- DR. EDSEL MAURICE T. SALVANA

Lately, I've been seeing an increase in patients coming to the clinic complaining of diarrhea and stomach upset. This may be due to the recent floods, which can increase the risk of food and water contamination. The term acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is used to lump together any number of infectious illnesses that cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. While most bouts of AGE are self-limited and don't require treatment, some forms may require antibiotics or even hospitalization.

When evaluating potential causes of diarrhea, doctors do a thorough history and physical examination to pinpoint the most likely culprit.

Danger signs that doctors look out for in AGE, which may need more urgent care, include bloody diarrhea, pain with bowel movement, high fever, and if the diarrhea is of large volume and intractable.

Most instances of infectious diarrhea are caused by viruses or bacteria that are inadvertently ingested with our food or drink.