What Causes Diarrhea?
This common digestive disorder can be uncomfortable. Here's what causes it. Plus: effective diarrhea treatment.
Diarrhea is a digestive disorder that happens to just about everyone at some time. Loose, watery stools, cramps, bloating, and frequent bathroom trips are all common symptoms.
So what causes diarrhea? There are all kinds of potential triggers; these are among the most common:
- Food intolerances. Lactose intolerance and other conditions that impair a person’s ability to digest some component of food can cause diarrhea.
- Viruses. Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis can cause diarrhea, and rotavirus is a common among acute childhood diarrhea.
- Bacterial infections. Food or water that is contaminated with bacteria is a common cause of diarrhea. Types of bacteria found in food and water include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, Yersinia, and Escherichia coli.
- Parasites. Parasites, such as Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium, can enter the body in food or water. If they settle in the digestive tract, they can cause diarrhea. Both bacterial and parasite diarrhea are often caused when traveling to other countries.
WHAT YOUR STOOL TELLS YOU
See our post Bristol Stool Chart: What It Can Tell You About Your Health for details on what the shape, consistency, and color of your feces may reveal.
How to Treat Diarrhea
The good news is that diarrhea is often not serious and goes away on its own after one to two days. An over-the-counter bismuth-containing product like Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate often can help relief. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial or parasite infections. However, if a virus is the cause of your diarrhea, antibiotics will not help.
Dehydration is a common issue with diarrhea, so make sure you drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of fluids every day, like water and fruit juices (which contains potassium to help maintain electrolyte levels.)
Also, some food and drinks can aggravate diarrhea. These include milk products and foods that are greasy, high in fiber, or sweet. It is best to avoid them until your diarrhea subsides.
Several drugs have diarrhea as a possible side effect. These include antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antacids containing magnesium. Stopping the drug should eliminate the problem. It may also work to simply lower the dose. If you take these drugs and experience diarrhea, speak with your doctor.
Diarrhea is a potential symptom of certain digestive diseases, too, such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. Irritable bowel syndrome can also cause diarrhea. If you experience regular diarrhea, see your doctor to determine whether any of these are the cause.
For related information, see the following University Health News posts.
- “How to Stop Diarrhea: Here’s What You Can Do to Treat and Prevent Outbreaks“
- “How to Treat an Impacted Bowel“
- “What Helps Constipation? Know the Causes and Find Relief“
- “Gastritis Definition: What Is Gastritis, and Why Is the Term So Confusing?“
An animal study at McMaster University in Canada has found that infectious diarrhea caused by microbes encourages growth of a type of E. coli bacteria that exacerbates disease severity. People with Crohn’s disease have higher numbers of gut bacteria called adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC).
Researchers studied mice that had been infected with an AIEC strain against a control group of uninfected mice. They then exposed the mice to bacteria that causes acute infectious gastroenteritis. The mice infected with AIEC had greater disease severity and increased growth of AIEC.
Researchers suggested that identifying those with higher levels of AIEC, who are at risk for Crohn’s disease, could lead to earlier treatment and lowered risk. Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue, and increased risk for colorectal cancer. Currently, there is no cure, though some medications can slow disease progression. (PLOS Pathogens, online Oct. 6, 2016.)
—Diane Muhlfeld
Editor, Duke Medicine Health News
Originally published in 2016 and updated regularly.
Cellulose Gum 
Look Beyond the Scale 
Symptoms of Acid Reflux at Night 
What causes diarrhea? Viruses, infections, food, and other factors can bring it on.
© Innovatedcaptures | Dreamstime.com