The colour of your poo can tell you a lot about your body, from what it is experiencing (illness) to what you have ingested (from medications to food). You may experience a green tinge or green colour to your poo and surprisingly, although alarming, this is a fairly common complaint.

Pregnancy brings exciting new beginnings, but it can bring new problems, too, as your body changes under the influence of hormones and the physical size of a growing baby. Constipation is one of these – it's common in the general population, but even more common in pregnancy. Constipation describes either finding you are going less frequently, or straining to poo and producing hard pellets. Everyone is different – some go three times a day, others go twice a week. But the aim is to produce soft, easily passed stool every time.

Constipation can happen at any age but is particularly common in children. Let’s look at the science first. The food we eat passes through our stomach, into our small intestines, where many nutrients are absorbed, and then into our large intestines (or colon), where most of the water is absorbed. After all these processes, you are finally left with stool. In the simplest terms, the less we drink, the harder and drier our stools are. So why does this matter more in children than adults? Well, as adults, we have far more control over when we push out stool, and we accept that sometimes this can come with a bit of discomfort or pain. For a child, the pain of doing a poo is scary. They don’t understand i,t and they don’t like it. Therefore, like many learned habits at that age, they shy away from anything that causes discomfort and pain. This leads to a fear of going to the toilet, which leads to a vicious circle: more constipation, which, in turn, brings more discomfort.

Blood in the stools (your ‘poo’), or rectal bleeding, is where blood is found coming from the anus (your back passage). You may notice this mixed in with the stool or after you’ve opened your bowels, either on the toilet paper or in the toilet itself. It’s always important to seek medical attention, as this indicates that some part of the gut is bleeding although most causes are completely harmless. Your stool may be different colours if there’s been bleeding into it. If it’s bright red, it usually means a bleed somewhere near the back passage whereas darker red stool indicates that there may be bleeding higher up in the gut, or in the lower small intestine. Black, tarry schools indicate bleeding from much higher up, from the stomach or upper small intestine.

Bloating is the feeling that happens when your tummy feels full, stretched and uncomfortable. Some describe it as feeling like there is a lot of gas or air in the tummy which may look bigger or swollen up as a result. Most of us have experienced bloating at some point in our lives, often as a reaction to something we’ve eaten or drunk. Bloating can also be a symptom associated with women's menstrual cycle, although it can occur in both adults and children of either gender.

Abdominal pain, commonly referred to as a stomach ache, is a discomfort or ache felt anywhere between the chest and pelvis. It is one of the most frequent reasons people visit their doctor or seek medical advice. While abdominal pain can be mild and short-lived, it can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying condition. Understanding the causes and symptoms of abdominal pain is essential for managing it effectively. The nature of the pain: whether it is sharp, dull, crampy, or constant: can provide important clues about its origin. By learning to identify what might be causing your discomfort, you can make informed decisions about whether to manage it at home or seek professional care. This guide will help you navigate the possible causes of abdominal pain, when it might be a cause for concern, and practical ways to find relief. Whether it’s a simple case of indigestion or something more serious, being informed is the first step to feeling better. You can also get pain that feels like colic – waves of sharp pain that can stop and start suddenly and common causes of this abdominal pain are kidney stones and gallstones.

Experiencing pain when urinating can be both alarming and uncomfortable. This symptom, medically known as dysuria, is fairly common and can affect both men and women, though it is more prevalent in women. Dysuria can range from a mild burning sensation to severe discomfort and can be caused by various underlying issues. Understanding the potential causes of pain during urination is crucial for finding the right treatment and relief. While some causes are relatively benign and can be easily treated, others may indicate a more serious condition requiring medical attention. It’s important to identify the specific cause of dysuria to ensure appropriate care. For women, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a frequent culprit. These infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract, leading to inflammation and pain. Women are more susceptible to UTIs due to their shorter urethra, which allows bacteria to reach the bladder more easily. Men, on the other hand, may experience dysuria due to issues like prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland. Other common causes of pain when urinating include sexually transmitted infections (STIs), kidney stones, and various types of vaginal infections. Additionally, irritation from harsh soaps, lotions, or sexual activity can also lead to discomfort during urination. Recognising the symptoms associated with these conditions can help in determining the cause and seeking the appropriate treatment. Early intervention is key to preventing complications and alleviating pain. This article will explore the common causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pain when urinating. We will also guide you on when to seek medical advice and offer practical tips for managing symptoms at home. Understanding dysuria can help you take the proper steps towards finding relief and maintaining your urinary health.

Diarrhoea and vomiting is something most of us have suffered at some point in our lives. For many, it is a horrible week’s worth of symptoms, and then things begin to feel better. Here, I wanted to share with you some of the common questions I get asked by my patients as a doctor and how I got through my most recent bout of D + V thanks to some questionable re-heated chicken (the fault was all mine).

Flatulence is also known as wind, gas or farting. Flatulence is normal, it happens when gas builds up in the digestive system. People pass wind an average of 15 times a day. If farting happens excessively, continuously, or is associated with a bloated feeling or tummy discomfort, it can be a sign of a more serious condition, but this is much less common.

There are a few common causes of an itchy bottom, and we may find no cause, in which case we call it pruritus ani. In children, threadworms are very common – but it's rare in adults. This is a parasite infection causing intense itching around the anus and possibly the vagina, especially at night. You might notice tiny white worms around your child’s anus or mixed in their poo. In adults, haemorrhoids may be to blame. You may be able to feel one lump or more on the anus, and it may be painful when you go for a poo. You may get a few streaks of blood in the toilet bowl or on toilet tissue. These are common and treatments are available. Infections from a fungus or yeast (thrush) can feel itchy and sore. The area will look pink, perhaps with tiny pink bumps and possibly flaky. Psoriasis can look similar, but will likely be more red rather than pink and with a clear border, and is a more likely cause if you have psoriasis on other parts of the body. Eczema may appear around the bottom, especially if you have a tendency to it or if you have an irritation from any cream or treatments you are using, such as perfumed moisturisers, steroid creams or ointments for anal fissure. Genital warts can appear as hard lumps around the anus and wider genital area and may be itchy to start with. These are sexually transmitted and contagious to intimate partners. Finally, a condition called lichen sclerosus causes the skin to tighten, and this can be itchy. You might see some white streaks on the affected area and it might look shiny and taut.

Morning sickness is very common in the early stages of pregnancy. It is estimated that 3 in 4 mothers experience nausea or vomiting, typically within the first 3-5 months of their pregnancy. Nausea is when you feel sick and vomiting is when you are sick. Contrary to popular belief, morning sickness does not only happen in the morning but any time of the day. It is quite unpleasant and depending on the severity can really affect your daily activities but thankfully does not tend to negatively affect your baby.  The cause is largely unknown, but it is suggested that it is related to the increased levels of pregnancy hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and hCG.

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that can be caused by various factors such as motion sickness, migraine, anxiety, alcohol, medicines, and recent surgery.  The symptoms associated with nausea depend on the underlying cause. Some common symptoms include an urge to vomit, or actual vomiting, not feeling like eating, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting blood, extreme weakness, high fever (over 38.5°C) blurred vision or eye pain, confusion, or stiff neck. How does occur? The mechanism for nausea and vomiting is complex and involves many physiological processes. The vomiting centre in the brainstem controls vomiting. The inner ear, intestines, and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) send information to the centre. The brain's CTZ contains dopamine, serotonin, opioid, acetylcholine, and substance P receptors. Activating these receptors can cause nausea and vomiting. When activated, the CTZ sends signals to the brainstem vomiting centre. The hub coordinates activities that cause vomiting. Increased salivation, deep breathing to prevent aspiration, heaving or retching before vomiting, and pyloric sphincter relaxation, which guards the lower end of the stomach, are examples of these phenomena.