Diarrhea Symptoms

• Watery, liquid stool: The stool may be any color. The passage of red stool suggests intestinal bleeding and could mean a more severe infection. The passage of thick, tarry black stool suggests significant bleeding in the stomach or upper portions of the intestine and is not usually caused by acute infections.
  
  
• Abdominal cramps: Occasionally you may have mild-to-moderate abdominal pain. Severe abdominal pain is not common and, if present, suggests more severe disease.
  
  
• Fever: A high fever is not common. If present, you may have a more severe illness than acute diarrhea.
  
  
• Dehydration: If diarrhea leads to dehydration, this is a sign of potentially serious disease.
  
  
  • Dehydrated adults may be very thirsty or appear to have dry mouths.
    
    
  • The skin of older people may appear to be loose. Elderly may also become very sleepy or have behavior changes and confusion when dehydrated.
    
    
  • Dehydrated infants and children may have sunken eyes and dry mouths. They may appear very sleepy or may refuse to eat or drink from a bottle.