Diarrhoea every day: what to know

A daily pattern may follow a food intolerance, coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome or a medicine effect. Infection, including gastroenteritis, food poisoning or giardiasis, can also continue or recur. Less commonly, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's Disease or an overactive thyroid may be involved. The timing, stool appearance, urgency, night-time symptoms, weight change and pain help guide assessment; the symptom alone cannot identify its cause.

Arrange an appointment and bring a record of meals, medicines, stool changes, pain and bowel frequency. Drink regularly, and replace salts through a pharmacist-advised oral rehydration product if needed. Eat enough nourishing food rather than starting a restrictive diet without guidance. Do not stop prescribed medicines or take anti-diarrhoea treatment repeatedly without professional advice. Handwashing is useful if infection remains possible.

Seek urgent help for blood or black stool, severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, fainting, confusion, a high fever or signs of dehydration such as very little urine. Arrange prompt review if symptoms wake you at night, follow recent travel or antibiotics, or come with unintentional weight loss. People who are pregnant, older or medically vulnerable should seek advice sooner.

Ask whether your medicines, diet or an underlying gut condition could explain the pattern, and whether stool or blood tests are appropriate. Ask how much fluid to take, which foods to continue, and what changes should trigger urgent contact.