Diarrhea

About

Diarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.

In some people, diarrhea is mild and goes away in a few days. In other people, it may last longer.

Diarrhea can make you feel weak and dehydrated.

Diarrhea in children can be serious. It needs to be treated differently than you would treat diarrhea in adults.

Causes

The most common cause of diarrhea is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). This mild viral infection most often goes away on its own within a few days.

Eating or drinking food or water that contains certain types of bacteria or parasites can also lead to diarrhea. This problem may be called food poisoning.

Certain medicines may also cause diarrhea, including:

• Some antibiotics
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
• Laxatives containing magnesium

Diarrhea may also be caused by medical disorders, such as:

• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance (which causes problems after drinking milk and eating other dairy products)
• Malabsorption syndromes

Less common causes of diarrhea include:

• Carcinoid syndrome
• Disorders of the nerves that supply the intestines
• Removal of part of the stomach (gastrectomy) or small intestine
• Radiation therapy

People who travel to developing countries can get diarrhea from unclean water or food that has not been handled safely. Plan ahead by learning the risks and treatment for traveler's diarrhea before your trip.

Home Care

Most times, you can treat diarrhea at home. You will need to learn:

• To drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (when your body does not have the proper amount of water and fluids)
• Which foods you should or should not eat
• What to do if you are breastfeeding
• What danger signs to watch out for

Avoid medicines for diarrhea that you can buy without a prescription, unless your provider tells you to use them. These drugs can make some infections worse.

If you have a long-term form of diarrhea, such as diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome, changes to your diet and lifestyle may help.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider right away if you or your child shows signs of dehydration:

• Decreased urine (fewer wet diapers in infants)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Dry mouth
• Sunken eyes
• Few tears when crying

Call for an appointment with your provider if you have:

• Blood or pus in your stools
• Black stools
• Stomach pain that does not go away after a bowel movement
• Diarrhea with a fever above 101°F or 38.33°C (100.4°F or 38°C in children)
• Recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea

Also call your provider if:

The diarrhea gets worse or does not get better in 2 days for an infant or child, or 5 days for adults

Alternative Names

Stools - watery; Frequent bowel movements; Loose bowel movements