What is diarrhea vs. dysentery?
Diarrhea and dysentery are conditions that affect your internal digestive and waste disposal system. Diarrhea is a loose, liquid stool discharged from your rectum when you go to the bathroom. It is a very common condition and can be caused by several things. Dysentery, contrary to popular belief, isn’t caused by viruses. It is a progressive symptom of bacterial diarrhea.
These two health conditions have similar symptoms. Dysentery is the more severe of the two conditions, but diarrhea can become a health problem, too. They are both intestinal disorders but are brought on for different reasons.
It is essential to know the differences and symptoms so you know when to call the doctor. You can treat diarrhea at home, but you shouldn't try to treat dysentery on your own. Because it is a bacterial infection, it requires medicine for treatment.
What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is loose, watery stool that occurs more than three times in one day. How long diarrhea lasts depends on what’s causing it. Some acute cases will resolve quickly, while other cases caused by viruses or parasites, can take a lot longer. If you’ve had it for more than two days, check with your doctor.
What is dysentery?
Dysentery is loose, watery stools with blood in them. Dysentery is caused by ingesting certain bacteria, most commonly Shigella.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea vs. dysentery?
Diarrhea and dysentery have similar symptoms, so it’s easy to mistake one for the other if you don’t know what to look for. The main indicator for dysentery is loose, runny stool with blood in it.
Diarrhea symptoms
Most people have experienced diarrhea sometime in their lives. Common symptoms are:
- A sudden urge to empty your bowels
- Loose, runny stool
- Constantly going to the toilet to empty your bowels
- Nausea
- Cramping
Dysentery symptoms
Dysentery symptoms are the same as diarrhea. However, additional symptoms arise if you have the disease. Your symptoms might also include:
- Sudden urge to empty your bowels
- Loose, runny stool
- Constantly going to the toilet to empty your bowels
- Vomiting
- Stomach ache
- Fever
- Muscle cramps
What are the causes of diarrhea vs. dysentery?
Several factors can cause diarrhea, and several bacteria can cause dysentery. Knowing what can cause each of the conditions that can help you prevent or reduce the risk of getting it.
Causes of diarrhea
In some patients, doctors are not entirely sure why diarrhea occurs. However, some known diarrhea causes are:
- Food allergies
- Certain medicines
- Sugar alcohols
- Digestive tract problems
- Viral infections
- Parasitic infections
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Abdominal surgeries
Causes of dysentery
A bacterial infection causes dysentery in your intestines. Bacteria enter your digestive system if you ingest contaminated food or liquids. The most common bacteria that cause dysentery are:
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- Escherichia coli
- Campylobacter
SLIDESHOW
Super Tips to Boost Digestive Health: Bloating, Constipation, and More See SlideshowHow to diagnose diarrhea vs. dysentery
Diagnosing diarrhea
Your doctor will talk to you about your diet and any recent trips you may have taken. They might want to know the type of foods you have been eating or where you might have eaten them. They will perform a physical exam, ask about any medicines you’re taking, and take a stool sample for testing.
Diagnosing dysentery
Diagnosing dysentery is similar to diarrhea, but the doctor will take a sample of your stool and test it for bacteria.
Treatments for diarrhea vs. dysentery
To treat diarrhea and dysentery, doctors take different approaches. You can treat diarrhea by drinking lots of fluids and eating solid foods. You’ll need to build your electrolytes back up, so the doctor might tell you to drink some rehydrating sports drinks or Pedialyte.
Treatments for diarrhea
If you have diarrhea, doctors recommend eating normally when your appetite returns, if you’ve lost it. Avoid the following foods and beverages when returning to your regular diet so that diarrhea doesn’t come back:
- Alcoholic drinks
- Drinks, foods, or supplements that contain caffeine
- Milk, ice cream, or other dairy product
- Fast, greasy, or spicy foods
- Fruit juices
- Pears, apples, and peaches
- Drinks, snacks, or sweets with artificial sweeteners like mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol
Treatments for dysentery
If you have dysentery, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or azithromycin to treat the intestinal infection.
Along with the antibiotics, the doctor will want you to drink a generous amount of fluids to flush your system and build your electrolytes up. Similar to treatments for diarrhea, Pedialyte or rehydrating sports drinks will work, as will eating solid foods.
Untreated, both conditions can be life-threatening. Severe dehydration can occur if you don’t see a doctor in time or if your diarrhea persists and won’t go away. If you experience any dysentery symptoms or have diarrhea that doesn’t go away, see your doctor immediately.
Latest Digestion News
Daily Health News
More Health News »Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Shigella.”
National Health Service: “Dysentery.”
Paediatrics and International Child Health: “Guidelines for the treatment of dysentery (shigellosis): a systematic review of the evidence.”
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diarrhea.”
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diarrhea.”
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea.”
Top Difference Between Diarrhea and Dysentery Related Articles
3 Effective Home Remedies for Diarrhea
Diarrhea is generally a self-limiting illness and specific treatment is not generally necessary. Treatments are generally directed to prevent it from worsening and restore the fluid and electrolyte (like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) losses from the body. Here are three home remedies that may help in resolving mild diarrhea.
Can Diarrhea Be an Initial Symptom of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has become a common illness that affects many people. Learn the signs of COVID-19, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and what you can do to treat it.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Digestive Disorders: Worst Foods for Digestion
Discover which foods to avoid in order to prevent diarrhea and digestive problems. Find out which foods can trigger diarrhea and other digestive problems such as gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn and more.
Does Sprite Help With Diarrhea?
Diarrhea causes the body to lose fluids, leading to dehydration. Sugary drinks, such as Sprite, may not be high up on the list of recommended fluids in case of diarrhea. If you don't have any other options but to drink Sprite, it may be a good idea to add some water to it and let the bubbles fizz out before drinking it.
How Do I Know If I Have Tapeworms?
What are tapeworms? Learn the signs and symptoms of this parasite.How Do You Get Rid of Tapeworms?
Learn what medical treatment works best to get rid of tapeworms and speed up your recovery from tapeworms.
How Do You Get Rid of Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is characterized as loose or runny stools that happen an abnormally high number of times throughout the day. Diarrhea can be linked to autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s or irritable bowel syndrome but is more often a sign of food intolerance (lactose is common), viral infection, food poisoning or other infectious diseases of varying severity.
What Can Diarrhea Be a Sign Of?
Diarrhea is a common condition and usually goes away without intervention.
What Is Good to Eat and Drink When You Have Diarrhea?
Diarrhea, or loose watery stools, may be caused by stomach flu, food poisoning, radiation, chemotherapy, other medications and infections. People with diarrhea should eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big meals.What Naturally Stops Diarrhea?
Diarrhea or loose stools are often caused by a virus, bacteria or food allergies. Things that naturally stop diarrhea include the BRAT diet, probiotics, oral rehydration solution (ORS), zinc, turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg.
What Stops Diarrhea Fast?
Diarrhea or loose stools may be caused by an infection, parasites, certain medications, intestinal disease, food intolerance, hormone disorders, bowel cancer or lactose intolerance. You can stop diarrhea fast with one of two different kinds of over-the-counter medication, Imodium (loperamide) or Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).