If you have diarrhea, you will typically experience loose, watery stools and feel the urgent need to have a bowel movement multiple times a day. Diarrhea can be acute or chronic.
Acute diarrhea occurs when the condition lasts for 1 to 2 days. You might experience diarrhea due to a viral or bacterial infection you acquired via something you ate or drank.
Chronic diarrhea refers to having diarrhea on most days for longer than 3 to 4 weeks. Some common causes of chronic diarrhea include:
- 肠易激综合症(IBS)
- inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
- conditions, such as celiac disease, that affect the absorption of certain nutrients
You may experience diarrhea because of several conditions or circumstances.
- viral infections includingrotavirus,norovirus, andviral gastroenteritis
- bacterial infections, includingSalmonellaandE. coli
- parasitic infections
- intestinal diseases
- a food intolerance, such aslactose intolerance
- an adverse reaction to a medication
- gallbladder or stomach surgery
Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this infection causes around
In the United States, you are more likely to develop diarrhea due to food poisoning from eating contaminated foodstuffs. According to the CDC, annually there are close to
Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more severe condition such asirritable bowel syndromeorinflammatory bowel disease. Frequent and severe diarrhea could be a sign of intestinal disease or a functional bowel disorder.
The main symptoms of diarrhea are frequent loose, watery stools and a pressing urge to have a bowel movement.
There are many different symptoms of diarrhea. You may experience only one of these or any combination of all of them. The symptoms depend on the cause. It’s
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- cramping
- bloating
- dehydration
- a frequent urge to evacuate your bowels
- a large volume of stools
- dehydration
Dehydration and diarrhea
Diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids quickly and put you at risk for dehydration. If you don’t receive treatment for diarrhea, it can have severe effects. The symptoms of dehydration include:
- fatigue
- dry mucous membranes
- increasedheart rate
- a headache
- lightheadedness
- increased thirst
- decreased urination
- dry mouth
Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you think your diarrhea is causing dehydration.
Learn more about dehydration here.
Diarrhea in babies and young children
Children are
Call your child’s doctor or seek emergency care if you see symptoms of dehydration, such as:
- decreased urination
- dry mouth
- a headache
- fatigue
- a lack of tears when crying
- dry skin
- sunken eyes
- sunken fontanel
- sleepiness
- irritability
Research shows that the treatment for diarrhea
In more severe cases, you may get fluids through intravenous (IV) therapy. If a bacterial infection is the cause of your diarrhea, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Your doctor will decide your treatment based on:
- the severity of the diarrhea and related condition
- the frequency of the diarrhea and related condition
- the degree of your dehydration status
- your health
- your medical history
- your age
- your ability to tolerate different procedures or medications
- expectations for improvement of your condition
Your doctor will complete a physical examination and consider your medical history when determining the cause of your diarrhea. They may also request laboratory tests to examine urine and blood samples.
额外的测试你的医生可能会决定e the cause of diarrhea and other related conditions can include:
- diet elimination tests to determine whether a food intolerance or allergy is the cause
- imaging tests to check for inflammation and structural abnormalities of the intestine
- a stool culture to check for bacteria, parasites, or signs of disease
- acolonoscopyto check the entire colon for signs of intestinal disease
- asigmoidoscopyto check the rectum and lower colon for signs of intestinal disease
A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is especially helpful for determining if you have an intestinal disease or severe or chronic diarrhea.
Although diarrhea can occur for various reasons, there are actions that you can take to prevent it:
- You can avoid developing diarrhea from food poisoning by washing the cooking and food preparation areas more frequently.
- Serve food immediately after preparing it.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
- Always thaw frozen food in a refrigerator.
Preventing traveler’s diarrhea
You can help preventtraveler’s diarrheaby taking the following steps when traveling:
- asking your doctor if you can begin an antibiotic treatment before you leave
- avoiding tap water, ice cubes, and fresh produce that has probably been washed with tap water while you’re on vacation
- drinking bottled water only while on vacation
- eating cooked food only while on vacation
Preventing the spread of viral or bacterial infections
If you have diarrhea due to a viral or bacterial infection, you can
When you wash your hands, use soap and wash for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when washing your hands isn’t possible.
Most cases of acute diarrhea are self-resolving, and symptoms will improve within a few days.
However, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, if symptoms persist for longer than
Diarrhea is also a symptom of some serious medical emergencies. If you experience loose, watery stools alongside any of the following symptoms, you should seek emergency help. A combination of these symptoms may be a sign of a severe underlying illness.
- a fever
- bloody stools
- frequent vomiting
Seek immediate treatment if
- They’ve had diarrhea for 24 hours or more.
- They have a fever of 102°F (39°C) or higher.
- They have stools that contain blood.
- They have stools that contain pus.
- They have stools that are black and tarry.
These are all symptoms that indicate an emergency.
If you have diarrhea, you will typically experience loose, watery stools multiple times a day. You may also experience sudden urges to vacate your bowels.
Diarrhea is often the result of a short-term infection but can lead to severe complications, notably dehydration. The condition can also be chronic, although this is less common.
Viral and bacterial infections are the most common causes of diarrhea. Food intolerances, the side effects of medications, and underlying chronic conditions can also cause diarrhea.
If you experience symptoms for more than 2 days, you should see a doctor. If a child under your care is displaying symptoms of diarrhea, seek medical assistance immediately. Children under 5 years old are particularly susceptible to diarrhea and dehydration, and this is often a medical emergency.