Difference between Diarrhea and Dysentery

Key difference: Diarrhea and Dysentery are two different conditions that have similar symptoms. Diarrhea, also commonly spelled as diarrhea, is when a person has at least 3 or more loose stools in a day. Dysentery, on the other hand, is a severe infection in the intestine, especially the colon that results in diarrhea.

Diarrhea and Dysentery are two different conditions that have similar symptoms, which is why they are often confused. In fact, the terms are often also used interchangeably as many think that they mean the same thing. However, that is not the case.

The primary difference between the two is the fact that while dysentery is a condition, diarrhea can be a condition in itself or a symptom of another condition. Diarrhea, also commonly spelled as diarrhea, is when a person has at least 3 or more loose stools in a day. The reason behind this can be varied. It can be caused by anything including indigestion, eating something, upset stomach, or it can even be caused by an infection of some kind.

In addition to the loose stools, the most common symptoms of diarrhea include stomach pain, abdominal cramps, bloating, thirst, weight loss, and fever. It is most commonly caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasitic organisms. Usually the condition is mild and may even remedy itself. One can also try simple home remedies, or take over the counter medication. It is imperial to drink lots of fluids in order to avoid dehydration.

Dysentery, on the other hand, is a severe infection in the intestine, especially the colon. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacter or e coli. This infection usually affects the way the intestine would normally process the food, thus resulting in diarrhea. It is also common for there to be blood in the stool, something that is not common in diarrhea normally.

It can be said that diarrhea is a symptom of dysentery, or even that dysentery is a specific type of diarrhea that includes blood in the stool and is caused by a bacterial infection. However, it should be noted that these sentences are neither technically correct nor wrong. This is why it is often confusing to differentiate between Diarrhea and Dysentery. Officially, Diarrhea and Dysentery are two different conditions.

Diarrhea is common and is usually not a cause for concern. In fact, it is estimated that a person may get diarrhea twice a year. However, if it lasts for more than two days or the person starts to get dehydrated, or there is blood in the stool or urine, then it is best to consult a doctor. If a person suspects that it may be something more than regular diarrhea then it is best to consult a doctor. Better safe than sorry.

Comparison between Diarrhea and Dysentery:

	Diarrhea	Dysentery
Definition (Oxford Dictionaries)	A condition in which faeces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.	Infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhoea with the presence of blood and mucus in the faeces.
Description	Diarrhea is the condition of having at least three loose or liquid bowel movements each day.	Dysentery is a severe infection of the intestines usually caused by a bacterial infection such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacter or e coli.
Symptoms	Bloating in the belly Cramps Thin or loose stools Watery stools An urgent feeling to have a bowel movement Nausea and throwing up	Diarrhea Blood in Stool Mucus or pus in Stool Fever Abdominal pain Cramps and bloating Flatulence Urgency to pass stool Feeling of incomplete Emptying Loss of appetite Weight loss Headache Fatigue Vomiting Dehydration
Serious Symptoms	Blood or mucus in the stool Weight loss Fever Nausea Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum Diarrhea after coming back from a foreign country Dark urine Smaller than usual amounts of urine or fewer wet diapers than usual in a child Rapid heart rate Headaches Dry skin Irritability Confusion	Feeling weak Nausea Weightloss Delirium Convulsions Coma
Causes	A viral infection Alcohol abuse Allergies to certain foods Diabetes Diseases of the intestines Eating foods that upset the digestive system Infection by bacteria or other organisms Laxative abuse Medications Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) Radiation therapy Running Some cancers Surgery on the digestive system Trouble absorbing certain nutrients, also called “malabsorption”	Bacterial infection Viral infection Parasitic worms Protozoa
Affects	The stomach or intestines.	The intestines, especially the colon.
Treatment	Home Remedies Over the Counter medicine Oral rehydration solution (ORS) Antibiotics	Home Remedies if mild Over the Counter medicine if mild Oral rehydration solution (ORS) Antibiotics Amoebicidal drugs

Reference: Oxford Dictionaries (Diarrhea and Dysentery), Wikipedia (Diarrhea and Dysentery),
WebMD, Medical News Today (Diarrhea and Dysentery), MedBroadcast
Image Courtesy: qsota.com, slideplayer.com