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Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is a condition in which a person has frequent watery, loose bowel movements. This condition can occur as a symptom, disease, allergy, food intolerance or foodborne illness and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhoea is most commonly caused by viral infections or bacterial toxins. There are other conditions which involve some but not all of the symptoms of diarrhoea, so you should check with your doctor if it persists.
A healthy person will normally recover in a few days, but for many people, and especially infants and children, it can lead to severe dehydration and can become life-threatening without treatment.
Page last updated 19 Nov 2006