Can diarrhea harm your health?

Can diarrhea harm your health?

In general, diarrhea is self-limited and goes away (resolves) without intervention. If your diarrhea fails to improve and resolve completely, you can be at risk of complications (dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure and organ damage).

Call your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that fails to get better or go away, or if you experience symptoms of dehydration. These symptoms can include:

• Dark urine and small amounts of urine or loss of urine production.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Headaches.
• Flushed, dry skin.
• Irritability and confusion.
• Light-headedness and dizziness.
• Severe nausea and vomiting, the inability to tolerate or keep anything down by mouth.