Causes of diarrhea include bacteria, viruses or parasites, certain medicines, food intolerances and diseases that affect the stomach, small intestine or colon. In many cases, no cause can be found.
Although usually not harmful, diarrhea can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem. You should talk to your doctor if you have a strong pain in your abdomen or rectum, a fever, blood in your stools, severe diarrhea for more than three days or symptoms of dehydration. If your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call the doctor for advice. Diarrhea can be dangerous in children.
Everyone occasionally has diarrhea — loose, watery and more-frequent bowel movements. You might also have abdominal cramps and produce a greater volume of stool. Diarrhea varies in specific symptoms, severity and duration.
Acute diarrhea, which lasts from two days to two weeks, is typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.
Chronic diarrhea persists longer than does acute diarrhea, generally longer than four weeks. Chronic diarrhea can indicate a serious disorder, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
CAUSES:
Acute diarrhea causes may include:
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- C. difficile infection
- Cryptosporidium infection
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
- E. coli
- Food intolerances
- Food poisoning
- Fructose intolerance
- Artificial sweeteners
- Giardiasis (Giardia infection)
- Lactose intolerance
- Norovirus infection
- Medicines, such as antacids containing magnesium and some cancer treatments
- Rotavirus
- Salmonella infection
- Shigella infection
- Stomach surgery
- Traveler's diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea causes may include:
- Celiac disease
- Colon cancer
- Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Duodenitis (inflammation of the initial portion of the small intestine)
- Medications used to treat heartburn, such as proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists
- Ulcerative colitis
- Whipple's disease
Most cases of diarrhea resolve without treatment. However, severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
Seek medical attention for your child if:
- Diarrhea doesn't improve after 24 hours
- Hasn't had a wet diaper in three or more hours
- Has a fever of more than 102 F (39 C)
- Has bloody or black stools
- Has a dry mouth or tongue or cries without tears
- Is unusually sleepy, drowsy, unresponsive or irritable
- Has a sunken appearance to the abdomen, eyes or cheeks
- Has skin that doesn't flatten if pinched and released
Schedule a doctor's visit for yourself if:
- Your diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement
- You become dehydrated — indicated by excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine
- You have severe abdominal or rectal pain
- You have bloody or black stools
- You have a fever of more than 102 F (39 C)