If you have diarrhea, you will typically experience loose, watery stools and feel the urgent need to have a bowel movement multiple times a day. Diarrhea can be acute or chronic.

 

Acute diarrhea occurs when the condition lasts for 1 to 2 days. You might experience diarrhea due to a viral or bacterial infection you acquired via something you ate or drank.

 

Chronic diarrhea refers to having diarrhea on most days for longer than 3 to 4 weeks. Some common causes of chronic diarrhea include:

 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)

Conditions, such as celiac disease, that affect the absorption of certain nutrients

What causes diarrhea?

You may experience diarrhea because of several conditions or circumstances. Potential causes of diarrhea include:

 

  • Viral infections including rotavirus, norovirus, and viral gastroenteritis
  • Bacterial infections, including Salmonella and E. coli
  • Parasitic infections
  • Intestinal diseases
  • A food intolerance, such as lactose intolerance
  • An adverse reaction to a medication
  • Gallbladder or stomach surgery

Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this infection causes around 40 percent of hospitalizations in children under 5 years old. Globally, most diarrhea deaths are the result of contaminated water supplies and insufficient sanitation.

 

In the United States, you are more likely to develop diarrhea due to food poisoning from eating contaminated foodstuffs. According to the CDC, annually there are close to 48 million diarrheal illnesses caused by contaminated food in the United States.

 

Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more severe condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Frequent and severe diarrhea could be a sign of intestinal disease or a functional bowel disorder.

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

The main symptoms of diarrhea are frequent loose, watery stools and a pressing urge to have a bowel movement.

 

There are many different symptoms of diarrhea. You may experience only one of these or any combination of all of them. The symptoms depend on the cause. It’s common to feel one or more of the following:

 

  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cramping
  • Bloating
  • Dehydration
  • A frequent urge to evacuate your bowels
  • A large volume of stools
  • Dehydration

What are the treatment options for diarrhea?

Research shows that the treatment for diarrhea typically requires replacing lost fluids. This means you need to drink more water or electrolyte replacement beverages, such as sports drinks.

 

In more severe cases, you may get fluids through intravenous (IV) therapy. If a bacterial infection is the cause of your diarrhea, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

 

Your doctor will decide your treatment based on:

 

  • The severity of diarrhea and related condition
  • The frequency of diarrhea and related condition
  • The degree of your dehydration status
  • Your health
  • Your medical history
  • Your age
  • Your ability to tolerate different procedures or medications
  • Expectations for improvement of your condition

How is the cause of diarrhea diagnosed?

Your doctor will complete a physical examination and consider your medical history when determining the cause of your diarrhea. They may also request laboratory tests to examine urine and blood samples.

 

Additional tests your doctor may order to determine the cause of diarrhea and other related conditions can include:

 

  1. Diet elimination tests to determine whether a food intolerance or allergy is the cause
  2. Imaging tests to check for inflammation and structural abnormalities of the intestine
  3. A stool culture to check for bacteria, parasites, or signs of disease
  4. A colonoscopy to check the entire colon for signs of intestinal disease
  5. A sigmoidoscopy to check the rectum and lower colon for signs of intestinal disease
  6. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is especially helpful for determining if you have an intestinal disease or severe or chronic diarrhea.

 

How can I prevent diarrhea?

Although diarrhea can occur for various reasons, there are actions that you can take to prevent it:

 

You can avoid developing diarrhea from food poisoning by washing the cooking and food preparation areas more frequently.

  • Serve food immediately after preparing it.
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
  • Always thaw frozen food in a refrigerator.
  • Preventing traveler’s diarrhea
  • You can help prevent traveler’s diarrhea by taking the following steps when traveling:

 

  • Asking your doctor if you can begin antibiotic treatment before you leave
  • Avoiding tap water, ice cubes, and fresh produce that has probably been washed with tap water while you’re on vacation
  • Drinking bottled water only while on vacation
  • Eating cooked food only while on vacation
  • Preventing the spread of viral or bacterial infections

If you have diarrhea due to a viral or bacterial infection, you can prevent transmitting the infection-causing agent to others by washing your hands more frequently.

 

When you wash your hands, use soap and wash for 20 seconds. Using hand sanitizer when washing your hands isn’t possible.

Foods to avoid when you have diarrhea

When you’re experiencing diarrhea or recovering from it, there are a large number of foods that you want to avoid. These foods can trigger the digestive system and exacerbate or prolong diarrhea.

 

Foods to avoid while experiencing diarrhea include:

 

  • Milk and dairy products (including milk-based protein drinks)
  • Fried, fatty, greasy foods
  • Spicy foods
  • Processed foods, especially those with additives
  • Pork and veal
  • Sardines
  • Raw vegetables
  • Rhubarb
  • Onions
  • Corn
  • All citrus fruits
  • Other fruits, like pineapples, cherries, seeded berries, figs, currants, and grapes
  • Alcohol
  • Coffee, soda, and other caffeinated or carbonated drinks
  • Artificial sweeteners, including sorbitol