Diarrhea that lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away. This may be caused by having food or water that was made unsafe by a bacterial infection. Or it may happen if you get sick from a virus. Long-term chronic. Diarrhea that lasts several weeks. This may be caused by another health problem such as irritable bowel syndrome. Some infections such as parasites can cause chronic diarrhea. What causes diarrhea? Diarrhea may be caused by many things, including: A bacterial infection A virus Trouble digesting certain things food intolerance Food allergy such as celiac disease, gluten allergy Parasites that enter the body through food or water A reaction to medicines An intestinal disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease A problem with how your stomach and bowels work functional bowel disorder , such as irritable bowel syndrome A result of surgery on the stomach or gall bladder Recent antibiotic use Metabolic conditions such as thyroid problems Other less common reasons such as damage from radiation treatments or tumors that make too many hormones Many people get traveler's diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea? Symptoms of diarrhea may include: Belly abdominal cramps Stomach pain Swelling bloating Upset stomach nausea Urgent need to go to the bathroom Fever Bloody stools Loss of body fluids dehydration Leaking stool and not being able to control your bowels incontinence Dehydration is a serious side effect of diarrhea.
Symptoms include: Feeling thirsty Not urinating as often Having dry skin as well as a dry mouth and nostrils mucous membranes Feeling very tired Feeling that you may pass out or faint lightheaded Headaches Fast heart rate Sunken fontanelle soft spot on baby's head Diarrhea symptoms may look like other health problems.
How is diarrhea diagnosed? Other tests may include: Stool studies including culture and other tests. This test checks for any abnormal bacteria in your digestive tract that may cause diarrhea and other problems. To do this, a small stool sample is taken and sent to a lab. This test lets your healthcare provider check the inside of part of your large intestine.
It helps to tell what is causing diarrhea. A short, flexible, lighted tube sigmoidoscope is put into your intestine through the rectum.
This tube blows air into your intestine to make it swell. This makes it easier to see inside. Sugar-free candies and gum often include these sugar alcohols. You may develop chronic diarrhea after abdominal surgery. Abdominal surgery is an operation on the appendix , gallbladder , large intestine , liver , pancreas , small intestine , spleen , or stomach.
Medicines that must be taken for a long time may cause chronic diarrhea. Some medicines, such as antibiotics, can change the normal gut flora and increase your chances of infection with Clostridioides difficile , a bacterium that can cause chronic diarrhea.
The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. People with diarrhea may also have one or more of the following symptoms: an urgent need to use the bathroom cramping loss of control of bowel movements nausea pain in the abdomen People with diarrhea caused by some infections may also have one or more of the following symptoms: bloody stools fever and chills light-headedness and dizziness vomiting Diarrhea may cause dehydration and malabsorption.
What are the symptoms of dehydration and malabsorption? Dehydration Symptoms of dehydration in adults may include: thirst urinating less than usual feeling tired dark-colored urine dry mouth decreased skin turgor, meaning that when your skin is pinched and released, the skin does not flatten back to normal right away sunken eyes or cheeks light-headedness or fainting Signs of dehydration in infants, toddlers, and young children may include thirst urinating less than usual, or no wet diapers for 3 hours or more lack of energy dry mouth no tears when crying decreased skin turgor sunken eyes, cheeks, or soft spot in the skull Malabsorption Symptoms of malabsorption in adults may include bloating changes in appetite gas loose, greasy, foul-smelling bowel movements weight loss Symptoms of malabsorption in infants, toddlers, and young children may include bloating changes in appetite gas loose, greasy, foul-smelling bowel movements weight loss or poor weight gain What causes diarrhea?
Infections Three types of infections that cause diarrhea include Viral infections. If you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have diarrhoea, you should try to feed them as normal. Stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea to prevent spreading any infection to others. Medications to reduce diarrhoea, such as loperamide, are available.
However, these are not usually necessary, and most types should not be given to children. Read more about treating diarrhoea. Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you're concerned about yourself or your child. It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as:. You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem.
In most cases, diarrhoea should pass within about a week. Read more about diagnosing diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is often caused by an infection. You can reduce your risk by making sure you maintain high standards of hygiene. It's also important to practise good food and water hygiene while travelling abroad, such as avoiding potentially unsafe tap water and undercooked food.
Read more about preventing diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is where you frequently pass watery or loose poo. Some people may also have other symptoms, depending on the cause. The excessive loss of water in your poo can also sometimes lead to dehydration , which can be serious if it's not recognised and treated quickly. Read more about the symptoms of dehydration.
Contact your GP or call NHS 24's service for advice if you are concerned about yourself or your child. You should also contact your GP in the situations outlined below, as they may mean that you or your child has, or is at risk of, a more serious problem. You should contact your GP or health visitor urgently if your baby has had 6 or more episodes of diarrhoea in the past 24 hours, or if they have vomited 3 times or more in the past 24 hours.
You should also contact your GP if your child has persistent diarrhoea. Most cases will pass in 5 to 7 days. You should also contact your GP if you have persistent diarrhoea. Most cases in adults will pass in 2 to 4 days. Diarrhoea usually occurs when fluid cannot be absorbed from the contents of your bowel, or when extra fluid is secreted into your bowel, causing watery poo. Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of a bowel infection gastroenteritis , which can be caused by:.
The patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine should state whether diarrhoea is a possible side effect. Persistent diarrhoea can also sometimes occur after surgery on the stomach, such as a gastrectomy. This is an operation to remove part of the stomach — for example, as a treatment for stomach cancer. Read more about when to visit your GP if you have diarrhoea. Your GP may ask you for a stool sample so it can be analysed for signs of an infection if you have:.
Your GP may suggest you have some blood tests if they suspect your diarrhoea is being caused by an underlying health condition. For example, your blood can be tested for signs of inflammation, which may suggest inflammatory bowel disease.
Read more about the possible causes of diarrhoea. Your GP may recommend a digital rectal examination DRE if you have unexplained persistent diarrhoea, particularly if you're over It can be useful for diagnosing conditions that affect your rectum and bowel.
If you have persistent diarrhoea and your GP is unable to find the cause, they may refer you to your local hospital for further investigation. Diarrhoea will usually clear up without treatment after a few days, particularly if it's caused by an infection. In children, diarrhoea will usually pass within 5 to 7 days and will rarely last longer than 2 weeks.
In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within 2 to 4 days, although some infections can last a week or more. While waiting for your diarrhoea to pass, you can ease your symptoms by following the advice outlined below. It's important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration , particularly if you're also vomiting. Take small, frequent sips of water. Ideally, adults should drink a lot of liquids that contain water, salt, and sugar. Examples are water mixed with juice and soup broth.
If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Diarrhea is one of the most common health complaints. It can range from a mild, temporary condition to a potentially life threatening one. Globally, an estimated 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease occur each year. Also, around 1. This makes it the second leading cause of death in this age group.
Diarrhea is characterized by abnormally loose or watery stools. Most cases of diarrhea are due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Digestive system disorders can also cause chronic diarrhea. If a person frequently passes stools but they are of a normal consistency, this is not diarrhea. Similarly, breastfed babies often pass loose, sticky stools. This is normal. This article looks at the causes and treatments of diarrhea. It also looks at symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and when to see a doctor.
Many cases of diarrhea are due to an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The microbes responsible for this infection include:. The most commonly identified causes of acute diarrhea in the United States are the bacteria Salmonella , Campylobacter , Shigella , and Escherichia coli.
In the developed world, irritable bowel syndrome IBS is the most common cause of functional diarrhea. IBS causes many symptoms, including cramping, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits, which can include diarrhea, constipation , or both. Inflammatory bowel disease IBD is another cause of chronic diarrhea. Both conditions can also cause blood in the stool. For persistent or chronic diarrhea, a doctor will treat any underlying causes in addition to the symptoms of diarrhea.
Children and older people are particularly vulnerable to dehydration.
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