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What should you know about bacterial diarrhoea?

Where Diarrhoea is typically felt, shown on a simplified body outline
Illustration: Where Diarrhoea is typically felt, shown on a simplified body outline

Short answer

Bacterial diarrhoea can follow contaminated food or water, but loose stools also have non-infectious causes and need context.

This answers one question. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment by a licensed doctor.

At a glance

First priority
Replace fluids and salts
Possible source
Contaminated food or water
Warning sign
Blood in the stool or severe dehydration

The short answer

Bacterial diarrhoea can follow contaminated food or water, but loose stools also have non-infectious causes and need context. The immediate priority is replacing fluids and salts while watching for blood, dehydration, severe pain, or a worsening illness.

Possible causes and clues

Bacterial infection may cause sudden loose stools, cramping, nausea, vomiting, or fever, sometimes after a shared meal or unsafe water. A clinician may consider [Food Poisoning](/conditions/food-poisoning/) or [Gastroenteritis](/conditions/gastroenteritis/), but persistent or recurrent diarrhoea can also relate to [Food Intolerance](/conditions/food-intolerance/), [Coeliac Disease](/conditions/coeliac-disease/), [Crohn's Disease](/conditions/crohns-disease/), [Giardiasis](/conditions/giardiasis/), [Hyperthyroidism](/conditions/hyperthyroidism/), or [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/).

What you can do

Take frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration drink, especially after each loose stool. Continue light meals if tolerated and avoid alcohol. Handwashing with soap, separate towels, and careful food preparation reduce spread. Do not take antibiotics left from a previous illness; they are not suitable for every cause and may worsen some infections. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using anti-diarrhoeal medicine, particularly for a child, pregnancy, blood in the stool, or fever.

When to seek medical help

Seek urgent care for severe dehydration, fainting, confusion, blood or black stool, severe or localised abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, or trouble keeping fluids down. Arrange medical review when diarrhoea persists, keeps returning, follows recent antibiotics or travel, or affects an infant, older adult, or person with a weakened immune system. A clinician may decide whether stool testing or targeted treatment is needed.

Questions for your doctor

Could this be infectious or related to another condition? Do I need a stool test? Which fluids and foods are suitable? Should I avoid work, school, food preparation, or close contact? What signs mean dehydration is developing?

Find care

General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi

That answer is general. If you want it applied to your own case, these are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.

City
See every listing in Abu Dhabi

Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.

A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.

Questions people ask

Does every episode of diarrhoea need antibiotics?

No. Many episodes have causes that antibiotics do not treat, and treatment should follow an assessment of symptoms and risk factors.

What is the safest drink for dehydration?

An oral rehydration drink is designed to replace water and salts; take it in frequent small sips and seek advice if fluids cannot be kept down.

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Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.