Diarrhea
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diarrhea/MY00149
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
Diarrhea describes loose, watery stools that occur more frequently than usual. You may also experience abdominal cramps and a greater volume of stool. Diarrhea varies in specific symptoms, severity and duration.
Acute diarrhea usually lasts for a few days and is typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.
Chronic diarrhea persists longer than does acute diarrhea, generally longer than three 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:
- Antacids containing magnesium
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Blood pressure medications
- C. difficile
- Campylobacter infection
- Cancer medications
- Clostridium perfringens infection
- Cryptosporidium infection
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
- E. coli
- Entamoeba histolytica infection
- Food intolerances
- Food poisoning
- Fructose intolerance
- Giardia infection (giardiasis)
- Lactose intolerance
- Norovirus infection
- Rotavirus
- Salmonella infection
- Shigella infection
- Staph infections
- Stomach surgery
- Traveler's diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea causes may include:
- Blood pressure medications
- Caffeine
- Cancer medications
- Celiac disease
- Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
- Colon cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Gastric bypass surgery
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ischemic colitis
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Ulcerative colitis
- Whipple's disease
When to see a doctor
Most cases of diarrhea clear on their own without treatment. However, diarrhea may cause a loss of significant amounts of water and salts. See your doctor if you experience any of the following.
Seek immediate medical attention
In children, particularly young children, diarrhea — especially if combined with either fever or vomiting or both — can sometimes lead to dehydration. Call your doctor if your child's diarrhea doesn't improve after 24 hours or if your baby:
- 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 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
In adults, diarrhea usually resolves on its own without any complications. See your doctor if:
- Your diarrhea persists beyond two days without any sign of improvement
- You become dehydrated — as evidenced 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)
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed April 5, 2013.
- Diarrhea. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea/index.htm. Accessed April 5, 2013.
- Ferri FF. Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-07158-1..00003-1--s8700&isbn=978-0-323-07158-1&sid=1411661283&uniqId=403732597-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-07158-1..00003-1--s8715. Accessed April 5, 2013.
Share on:
Find Mayo Clinic on