Diarrhea

Definition

Diarrhea is loose, watery, and frequent stools. Diarrhea is considered chronic (ongoing or prolonged) when you have had loose or frequent stools longer than 4 weeks.

Alternative Names

Considerations

Diarrhea in adults is usually mild and resolves quickly without complication. In infants and children (especially under age 3), diarrhea is more concerning. Children can become dehydrated fairly quickly.

Causes

The most common cause of diarrhea is a mild viral infection that resolves on its own within a few days. This is called viral gastroenteritis or "stomach flu." Viral gastroenteritis often appears in mini-epidemics in schools, neighborhoods, or families.

Food poisoning and traveler's diarrhea are two other common causes. They occur from eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria or parasites.

• Malabsorption syndromes -- you are unable to absorb or digest certain nutrients. Common examples include lactose intolerance, gluten malabsorption, and intolerance to specific foods like beans or fruit.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases -- Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two recurring types of diarrhea that are generally bloody and accompanied by abdominal pain.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- a chronic form of stomach upset that gets worse from stress. You generally have alternating diarrhea and constipation.
• Immune deficiency.

Medications can also cause diarrhea, especially antibiotics, laxatives containing magnesium, and chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
• Nerve disorders like autonomic neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy
• Carcinoid syndrome
• Following gastrectomy (partial removal of the stomach)
• High dose radiation therapy