Chapter 1: Clinical Overview
Recognising diarrhoea symptoms
Diarrhoea usually begins quickly in someone who felt well the day before.
Ask how often they are passing stools, what the stools look like and whether they have vomiting, pain or signs of dehydration.
1. loose or watery stools
4. tummy cramps
Typical symptoms
A customer with diarrhoea may describe:
2. three or more loose stools in a day
5. wind and bloating
3. nausea or vomiting
6. feeling generally rundown
Acute
< 14 days, usually 2 - 4 days
How long has it lasted?
How long the diarrhoea has been present is important.
Persistent
14 days to 4 weeks
Chronic
4 weeks or longer
Anything beyond the acute range needs pharmacist assessment.
Signs of mild dehydration
Mild dehydration may cause:
tiredness
loss of appetite
feeling sick
light-headedness
Signs of moderate dehydration
Refer the customer to the pharmacist if they have:
a dry mouth
sunken eyes
much less urine than usual
strong thirst
skin that stays pinched when released
Any sign of dehydration in a baby, young child or older customer also needs pharmacist assessment.
Symptoms that need a closer look
Refer the customer to the pharmacist if they report:
blood or mucus in the stool
severe tummy pain or pain in the back passage
fever
severe vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
unplanned weight loss
diarrhoea alternating with constipation
diarrhoea first thing in the morning or waking them at night
pale, oily stools that float or are hard to flush
recent tropical or subtropical travel
a long-term change in bowel habit, especially in someone over 50
