Diarrhea Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Most people will have a bout of diarrhea now and then. Frequent loose, watery stools can occur in people of all ages.

The causes of diarrhea range from bacterial infections to the side effects of some medicines.

Here's what you need to know.

If you have questions or want to make an appointment, call 1-866-442-7876.

What Is Diarrhea?

Doctors define diarrhea as passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day. It's a widespread problem among adults and children.

There are three types of diarrhea, based on how long the symptoms last.

Acute diarrhea is the most common, with about 179 million U.S. cases each year. It lasts between a day and two weeks and most often goes away on its own.
Persistent diarrhea lasts between two and four weeks.
Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than four weeks. The symptoms may be constant or may come and go.

Factors that can cause both acute and persistent diarrhea are:

Infections. Viral infections (like norovirus or rotavirus), bacterial infections (like E. coli), and parasites (like giardia).
Side effects from medicines, including antibiotics, antacids that have magnesium, and cancer drugs.

One of the most common ways people get acute diarrhea is through food or water that harbor viruses, bacteria, or parasites. This is sometimes known as "travelers' diarrhea" or, often, food poisoning.

The highest-risk places for travelers' diarrhea are:

Asia.
The Middle East.
Africa.
Mexico.
Central and South America.

Chronic diarrhea may come from an infection that doesn't clear up quickly.

Other causes are:

Allergies to foods — like cow's milk, soy, cereal grains, eggs, and seafood.
Digestive diseases such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, IBS, or ulcerative colitis.
Surgery. Some people get chronic diarrhea after abdominal surgery.
Long-term use of medicine. Some drugs change the normal gut flora and increase your chance of infection with bacteria that cause diarrhea.

Most cases of diarrhea don't cause any long-term harm and go away on their own.

Still, it's crucial to be aware of risk factors for diarrhea and what issues may arise if it doesn't resolve.

Diarrhea risks

Risk factors for diarrhea include:

Traveling. Food or water in a developing country may contain viruses, bacteria, or parasites your body isn't used to. This can lead to sudden diarrhea.
Age. Small children and older adults are at greater risk for diarrhea.
Having a GI disease like celiac or Crohn's disease.
Taking antibiotics or drugs that contain magnesium.
Recent diet changes like taking more coffee, tea, colas, diet foods, gum, or mints.

Complications of diarrhea

Most cases of acute diarrhea clear up on their own with no treatment. But diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can be severe.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

Dehydration can be even more severe in children. Because they're smaller, they get dehydrated faster than adults.

In children, signs of dehydration may include:

No wet diapers for more than three hours.
Lack of energy.
No tears when crying.
A sunken soft spot in the skull.

The best way to prevent diarrhea is to follow good hygiene rules. Doing so will help stop germs from entering your body.

You should:

Wash your hands with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before and after handling food.
When traveling, only drink bottled, boiled, or purified water.
Avoid unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables.
Make sure hot food is fully cooked.

Diarrhea Symptoms and Diagnosis

Diarrhea symptoms include:

Passing loose, watery stools at least three times a day.
An urgent need to use the bathroom.
Cramps and belly pain.
Nausea.
Loss of bowel control.

You have diarrhea if you have loose, watery stools for more than a couple of days. Most acute cases will clear up on their own.

You should call the doctor if you have these symptoms along with diarrhea:

Signs of dehydration.
Diarrhea for more than two days (or 24 hours for children).
Severe pain in the stomach or rectum.
Frequent vomiting.
A fever of 102 degrees or higher.
Stool mixed with blood or pus.
Black, tarry stool.

To find out what's causing your diarrhea, your doctor will:

Do a physical exam.
Ask about any medicines you're taking.
Order a blood or stool sample to test for signs of infection or disease.

If you have chronic diarrhea, your doctor may order tests to see inside your GI tract to help find the cause.

Diarrhea Treatment Options at UPMC Digestive Health Care

Usually, diarrhea will go away on its own and doesn't need treatment. But some home treatments can make you feel better.

Treatment options for acute diarrhea include:

Drinking lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Adults should drink water, fruit juices, sports drinks, soda without caffeine, or salty broths. Children should drink oral rehydration solutions that replace lost electrolytes and fluids.

Taking over-the-counter medicines. Anti-diarrheal medicines slow food moving through your intestines, so more fluid gets absorbed into your body. There are two options for anti-diarrheal medicines.

The generic drug loperamide, sold as Imodium®, is an anti-diarrheal. The drug bismuth subsalicylate is also helpful in treating diarrhea. The brand names for this drug are Kaopectate® and Pepto-Bismol®.

At the UPMC Digestive Health Care, our doctors, nurses, and researchers work together to treat all types of digestive disorders.

We can treat severe or chronic cases of diarrhea. Our experts will make you feel better and help prevent complications from diarrhea.

For cases of chronic diarrhea, treatment depends on the cause.

Your doctor may prescribe or suggest:

Antibiotics or anti-parasitics to target germs.
Medicine to treat chronic conditions like Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
Probiotics repopulate the "good" bacteria that live in your digestive tract. Talk with your doctor about whether probiotics are right for you.

Contact UPMC Digestive Health Care

Call 1-866-442-7876 to learn more or make an appointment at UPMC Digestive Health Care.