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It is common to experience diarrhea or loose, watery, and more frequent bowel movements. It may be present alone or be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or weight loss.
Diarrhea usually lasts a few days if you’re fortunate. If diarrhea lasts more than a few days into weeks, it usually indicates the presence of another disorder, including irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
- Abdominal cramps or pain
- Bloating and nausea
- Fever
- Bloody stool
- Mucus in the stool
- Vomiting
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement
Seek immediate help from your doctor if:
- The condition persists with no improvement
- You are dehydrated
- You experience severe abdominal and rectal painD
- You have bloody or black stools
In children, particularly young children, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Call your doctor if your child’s diarrhea doesn’t improve within 24 hours.
Seven Causes of Diarrhea
- Viruses. Viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus enteric adenoviruses, astrovirus, cytomegalovirus, and viral hepatitis. Rotavirus is a common cause of acute childhood diarrhea.
- Bacteria and parasites. Exposure to pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli or parasites through contaminated food or water, leads to diarrhea.
- Medications. Many medications, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhea. Despite their ability to treat infections, antibiotics also destroy good bacteria. When you have diarrhea or a superimposed infection, such as C. diff., the natural balance in your intestines is upset.
- Lactose intolerance. Dairy products, such as milk, contain lactose, which is a sugar. Lactose intolerance causes diarrhea in people who eat dairy products.
- Fructose. Fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey. Sweeteners, such as glucose, are sometimes added to these products. Fructose can lead to diarrhea in people who have trouble digesting it.
- Artificial sweeteners. In chewing gums and other sugar-free products, sucrose, erythritol, and mannitol artificial sweeteners are non-absorbable sugars that can cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy individuals.
- Other digestive disorders. In addition to chronic diarrhea, there are many other causes of the condition, including IBS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
Diagnosing Diarrhea
During the consultation, your doctor will ask about your medical history, review the medications you take, and perform a physical exam. Your doctor may request tests to determine what’s causing your diarrhea. Possible tests include:
- Blood test. You may be able to measure your electrolytes, complete your blood count and test your kidney function based on your diarrhea severity.
- Stool test. If your diarrhea is caused by a bacterium or parasite, your doctor might recommend a stool test.
- Hydrogen breath test. This type of test can help your doctor determine if you have lactose intolerance.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. During a flexible sigmoidoscopy, the doctor can see the esophagus, while during colonoscopy they can see the entire colon.
Immediate Treatment for Diarrhea
Most cases of acute diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. You may need medication or other treatment for diarrhea if you have tried lifestyle changes and home remedies without success. For acidity-related diarrhea, you can take medications for gastro health such as:
