Diarrhea

Diarrhea is common and it is also called loose motion which makes your bowel movements watery. It is usually not serious. Most of the people get diarrhea a few times a year. It lasts normally for 2 to 3 days.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Usually, it occurs because of a virus that gets into your gut. It is also called as “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu”.

Other causes include:

• Allergies to certain foods
• Diabetes
• Alcohol abuse
• Diseases of the intestines
• Eating foods which are not good for the digestive system
• Laxative abuse
• Medications
• Infection by bacteria or other organisms
• Overactive thyroid
• Surgery on your digestive system
• Radiation therapy
• Some cancers
• Trouble absorbing certain nutrients

Symptoms

• Bloating in your belly
• Thin or loose stools
• Watery stools
• Cramps
• Nausea and throwing up
• An urgent need to have a bowel movement
• More serious symptoms include:
• Fever
• Blood or mucus in your stool
• Weight loss

When Should you Call your Doctor?

If you have:

• A fever that is high or that lasts more than 24 hours
• Blood in your feces or black, tarry stools
• Nausea
• Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days
• Diarrhea after coming back from a foreign country
• Severe pain in your belly or rear end.

Some symptoms of dehydration are mentioned below. If you have them with diarrhea, see your doctor.

• Dark urine
• Headaches
• Smaller than usual amounts of urine
• Rapid heart rate
• Dry skin
• Confusion
• Crankiness

Learn more

Read our previous posts: Effects of Caffeine on Health