Watery Diarrhoea

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Watery diarrhoea is characterised by frequent, liquid stools, which can lead to rapid dehydration if not properly managed. This type of diarrhoea is commonly caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections affecting the small intestine, where water and electrolytes are not properly absorbed. Identifying the underlying cause is essential for providing appropriate treatment and preventing complications.

Pathology	Symptoms and Clinical Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Traveller’s diarrhoea	Watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever	Recent travel to endemic areas, physical examination	Stool culture, bacterial toxin assays
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)	Watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever	History of consuming contaminated food, physical examination	Stool culture, bacterial toxin assays
Vibrio cholerae	Profuse watery diarrhoea (“rice water stools”), vomiting, severe dehydration, muscle cramps	History of exposure to contaminated water or food, physical examination	Stool culture, rapid antigen tests
Rotavirus	Watery diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, more common in children	History of contact with infected individuals, physical examination	Stool viral antigen tests, PCR for rotavirus
Norwalk virus (Norovirus)	Watery diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low-grade fever, occasional respiratory symptoms	History of outbreaks in closed communities, physical examination	Stool viral antigen tests, PCR for Norwalk virus