Bristol type 7: watery, entirely liquid

Short answer: type 7 is watery diarrhea. It’s usually a stomach bug or food poisoning and settles within a week, but it can dehydrate you quickly. Your two jobs are simple: keep fluids going in, and know the signs that mean you need help. This page gives you both, plus a plan for the first 48 hours. (Part of the Bristol stool chart.)

What does Bristol type 7 look like?

The NHS England chart says “watery, no solid pieces. Entirely liquid”. If there are mushy bits with ragged edges, that’s type 6.

What causes watery poop?

According to NIDDK, the most common causes of sudden (acute) diarrhea are:

• viral gastroenteritis, a stomach bug such as norovirus
• food poisoning from bacteria, viruses or parasites, which usually goes away within a week
• medicine side effects, including antibiotics and magnesium antacids
• travelers’ diarrhea from contaminated food or water

Sugar alcohols in sugar-free products can also cause diarrhea in some people. Diarrhea that keeps coming back has a different list, including food intolerances, IBS, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. See the diarrhea hub for more.

What should I do in the first 48 hours?

This plan follows NHS self-care advice.

When	What to do
Straight away	Start sipping fluids: water or squash. Small sips if you feel sick.
Ongoing	Skip fruit juice and fizzy drinks, which the NHS says can make diarrhea worse.
When you’re hungry	Eat what you can manage. Avoiding fatty or spicy food may help.
If you’re in discomfort	Paracetamol is an option per the NHS; check the leaflet.
If you see dehydration signs	Ask a pharmacist about oral rehydration sachets.
Every visit	Wash hands with soap and water. Clean the toilet seat and flush handle daily.
Afterwards	Stay off work or school until 2 days after your last episode.

How do I know if I’m getting dehydrated?

NIDDK lists these signs in adults:

• extreme thirst or dry mouth
• peeing less than usual
• dark-colored pee
• feeling tired, dizzy or lightheaded
• skin that doesn’t flatten back straight away when pinched
• sunken eyes or cheeks

In babies and young children, NIDDK adds no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, no tears when crying, a sunken soft spot on the head, and drowsiness. Diarrhea can dehydrate infants dangerously fast, so call a doctor early for a child.

When should I get help?

Situation	What to do
Diarrhea more than 2 days (adult)	Talk with a doctor (NIDDK)
Diarrhea more than 7 days	Call NHS 111 or your doctor (NHS)
Still dehydrated after rehydration sachets	Call NHS 111 or your doctor (NHS)
Can’t keep fluids down	Call NHS 111 or your doctor (NHS)
Bloody diarrhea or bleeding from the bottom	Urgent same-day advice (NHS)
Black and tarry stools, or pus	Talk with a doctor right away (NIDDK)
High fever, six or more loose stools a day, severe tummy or rectal pain	Talk with a doctor right away (NIDDK)
Vomiting blood or “coffee grounds”, sudden severe tummy ache, confusion, severe breathing trouble	Call 999 or your local emergency number (NHS)

If you’re pregnant, over 65, on antibiotics or have a weakened immune system, NIDDK says to keep in touch with your doctor while you have diarrhea.

What might a type 7 log look like?

Sat 19:30  Meal: chicken burger at a barbecue
Sun 03:10  Poop: Type 7
Sun 05:40  Poop: Type 7
Paper note: sipping water, kept it down, no blood
Sun 09:00  Poop: Type 7
Sun 14:00  Meal: toast
Mon 08:20  Poop: Type 6
Tue 09:00  Poop: Type 5
Wed 08:30  Poop: Type 4

A clear story: a meal, watery poop a few hours later, steady improvement over three days. If this had lasted beyond 2 days without improving, or if there had been blood, it would be time to call a doctor.

Type 7 myths vs facts

Myth	Fact
Stop eating until it passes	The NHS says eat when you feel able to.
Fruit juice and fizzy drinks help you rehydrate	The NHS advises against fruit juice and fizzy drinks. Water, squash or rehydration sachets are better choices.
Anti-diarrhea tablets are fine for anyone	Loperamide isn’t suitable for children under 12 (NHS). Ask a pharmacist first.
Black watery poop is just the bug	Black and tarry stools need prompt medical attention (NIDDK).

How do I talk to a doctor or 111 about watery poop?

Have these ready: when it started, how many times a day, whether you’re keeping fluids down, any blood, black stool, fever or vomiting, recent travel, antibiotics or new medicines, and whether anyone you ate with is ill. A simple log answers most of these in seconds.

Type 7: first 48 hours

• Sip fluids steadily, small and often
• No fruit juice or fizzy drinks
• Check your pee: dark or less of it means drink more
• Wash hands after every toilet trip
• Get help for blood, black stool, severe pain, or if it lasts beyond 2 days
• Stay home until 2 days after the last episode

Where does PoopAI fit?

When you’re ill, a few taps beat trying to remember. PoopAI lets you log each poop as Bristol type 1 to 7 and meals by photo or text, so you can show a doctor exactly when it started and whether it’s improving. The weekly report shows the recovery back toward types 3 and 4. It doesn’t diagnose, and it doesn’t log fever, vomiting or pain, so note those separately.

The bottom line

Type 7 is diarrhea. Most bouts pass within a week with fluids and rest. Watch for dehydration, and don’t wait on blood, black stools, severe pain or diarrhea that lasts. Next: type 6, or the full diarrhea guide.

Editorial note: Written by The FixMyGut team using the NHS, NIDDK and MedlinePlus sources listed below. It’s general information, not a diagnosis. Facts checked against those sources on November 5, 2026.