What Is Diarrhea? When you have diarrhea, your bowel movements (or stools) are loose and watery. It’s common and usually not serious. Video Transcript NIH; American College of Gastroenterology; KidsHealth; AudioJungle [MUSIC PLAYING] Many people get diarrhea a few times a year. It normally lasts 2 to 3 days. Some people get it more often. It could be because they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions.

Symptoms of Diarrhea You may have: Bloating in your belly

Cramps

Thin or loose stools

Watery stools

An urgent feeling that you need to have a bowel movement

Nausea and throwing up More serious symptoms include: Blood or mucus in your stool

Weight loss

Fever If you have watery stools more than three times a day and you're not drinking enough fluids, you could become dehydrated. That can be a serious problem if it's not treated.