Diarrhoea

Definition

Diarrhoea is an acute or chronic condition in which there is an increased frequency or decreased consistency of bowel movements, usually with excessive and frequent evacuation of watery faeces. Here diarrhoea other than specifically described elsewhere, such as in motility disorders of intestine or in functional bowel diseases, is described.

Exclusions

• Melaena
• Change in faeces or bowel movements
• Functional diarrhoea
• infectious diarrhoea

Inclusions

• frequent/loose bowel movements
• watery stools

Index Terms