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Tackling myths about diarrhoea
Your guide to supporting customers
Diarrhoea is where someone passes 3 or more loose or liquid stools a day (or more frequently than is normal for the individual). 1 It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about, however it can be distressing, embarrassing and unpleasant until it passes, which in most cases is within a few days. 2,3
There are 3 types of diarrhoea: 1
ACUTE DIARRHOEA
- Defined as lasting less than 14 days
- Can usually be managed over the counter
PERSISTENT DIARRHOEA
- Defined as lasting more than 14 days, but less than 4 weeks
- Customers with persistent diarrhoea should be referred to their GP
CHRONIC DIARRHOEA
- Defined as lasting for more than 4 weeks
- Customers with chronic diarrhoea should be referred to their GP
On occasion, acute episodes of diarrhoea may go untreated due to customers not having treatment to hand or thinking they should let diarrhoea run its course. Some of the myths surrounding the management of diarrhoea are explored in the short video above.
