Acute diarrhoea is a decrease in the consistency of stools, that appear loose or liquid, or an increase in the frequency of evacuation with more than 3 bowel movements in 24 hours. Although chronic diarrhoea is defined as a duration of at least 14 days prolonged diarrhoea of more than 14 days is worrying and requires medical attention.
Acute diarrhoea is a common gastrointestinal problem in infants, although its prevalence varies significantly in the first months of life. Infrequently reported in infants below six months of age, and accounting for about 4% of medical problems, it rapidly increases after this age to become the most common illness in children under three years, with an average of 0.5 – 2 episodes per year.
Symptoms of diarrhoea include:
References
.svg)
.svg)
