Diarrhea | Symptoms | Causes | Treatment

What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea means loose or watery stools. It's so common that most people shudder at the word. The thought of liquid, foul-looking stools in the toilet is always unpleasant. If you suffer from diarrhea, not knowing what's causing it or how long it will last only increases the stress of this unpleasant feeling.

The good news is that diarrhea is usually mild (just a few trips to the bathroom a day) and clears up within a few days.

However, sometimes diarrhea is a sign of a serious condition. It can cause excessive fluid loss (dehydration) or prevent you from getting enough nutrients. It's important to know what to look for so you know when to see a doctor about diarrhea and when to wait it out.

Types of Diarrhea
Diarrhea has different names depending on its duration:

Acute Diarrhea: Acute diarrhea is liquid, watery diarrhea that lasts one to two days. It is the most common type and usually clears up without treatment.

Persistent Diarrhea: Persistent diarrhea lasts two to four weeks.

Chronic Diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea lasts more than four weeks or comes and goes regularly for an extended period. Diarrhea that persists for this length of time may indicate a more serious condition that requires a visit to the doctor.

Symptoms
Symptoms associated with loose, watery stools, also called diarrhea, may include:

• Cramps or abdominal pain.
• Bloating.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Fever.
• Blood in the stool.
• Mucus in the stool.
• Urgent need to have a bowel movement.

Common causes of diarrhea in humans​

Diarrhea is usually caused by a virus that enters the intestines. Some people call it the "stomach flu."

Other causes include:

• Allergies to certain foods
• Intestinal diseases (such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Consuming foods that upset the digestive system
• Bacterial infections (the cause of most food poisoning) or other organisms such as parasites
• Laxative abuse or reactions to medications such as antibiotics and some cancer drugs
• Running (some people experience "runner's diarrhea" for unknown reasons)
• Certain types of cancer
• Digestive surgery
• Difficulty absorbing certain nutrients, also called "malabsorption"
• Hyperthyroidism

Diarrhea can also result from constipation, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome.

How is Diarrhea treated?
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on:

• Age, overall health, and previous medical conditions
• Severity of your case
• Your response to certain medications, treatments, or therapies
• How likely your condition is to worsen

What would you like to do? In most cases, you'll need to replace lost fluids.

You may also need an anti-infective medication (antibiotic) if the diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection.

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