Self Care Articles

Is this your symptom?

• Sudden increase in the number and looseness of stools
• Diarrhea means 3 or more watery or very loose stools. Reason: 1 or 2 loose stools can be normal with changes in diet.

Causes of Diarrhea

• Viruses(such as Rotavirus, Norovirus or Adenovirus). An infection of the intestines from a virus is the most common cause. Vomiting is often also present. Cannot be treated with antibiotics.
• Bacteria(such as Salmonella, E. coli or campylobacter). Less common cause. Diarrhea often contains streaks of blood. This may need treatment with antibiotics.
• Cholera and Typhoid. Tropical diseases which cause diarrhea, fever and stomach pain.
• Food Poisoning. This causes rapid vomiting and diarrhea within hours after eating the bad or undercooked food. It is caused by toxins from germs growing in foods left out too long, not stored safely or undercooked. It can also occur if food has been handled by someone who is sick or has not washed their hands. It may happen if you eat food after their 'use by' date. Most often, symptoms go away in less than 24 hours. It often can be treated at home, without the need for medical care. But sometimes symptoms can be severe and even cause death.
• Giardia(parasite). Along with diarrhea, other symptoms can include stomach cramps, bloating, and nausea. It is often a waterborne disease, since the parasites are found in streams and lakes. They can also be found in wells, swimming pools, and hot tubs. The infection can be spread through person-to-person contact.
• Traveler's Diarrhea. Caused by germs in food or drink. Suspect this if it follows recent foreign travel.
• Antibiotic Diarrhea. Many antibiotics cause mild diarrhea. This is not an allergic reaction. It is caused by the antibiotic killing both good and bad bacteria in the gut. Keep taking the antibiotic. Call your doctor if any serious symptoms occur.
• Medications. Besides antibiotics, many other meds can cause diarrhea as a side effect. Examples are antacids which contain magnesium, metformin and cancer drugs.
• Fructose and Artificial Sweeteners used in food can cause diarrhea in some people.
• Lactose Intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Some people have a hard time digesting it and get diarrhea if they eat dairy products.
• Celiac Disease. Celiac is a disease where your immune system attacks your own tissues if you eat gluten. This damages the gut and keeps you from absorbing nutrients. Even a small amount of gluten can trigger the response. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is in any foods made with those products such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, some sauces and ready meals. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating and stomach pain. People with celiac disease are also more likely to have lactose intolerance.
• Overflow Diarrhea. Some people who have severe constipation and have been unable to pass stools for a long period, may have diarrhea. This is due to more fluid in stools from higher up in the bowel, moving past the hard stools in the rectum that cannot be passed. Treating the constipation will stop the diarrhea as well.
• Serious Causes. Most bacterial diarrhea goes away on its own. A few can cause a severe bowel infection (such as Shigella colitis). C. difficile is a serious cause that can occur after being on strong antibiotics or if you are in or have been admitted to the hospital.
• Bowel Cancer. If a change in your bowel habits (either the number of times you go or the firmness of your stools) does not go back to normal within a few days and has no obvious cause such as a change in diet, you should see your doctor. This could be a symptom of bowel cancer.
• Chronic Diarrhea. Some people have ongoing diarrhea as a result of health problems (not diet). Examples are: abdominal or gall bladder surgery, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or other problems. These may cause ongoing loose stools or bouts of diarrhea with flare ups.
• Serious Problems:
  • Dehydration. The body has lost too much fluid. See more about this below.
  • Malnutrition. This can occur in patients with long-term diarrhea. The fast movement of food through the gut causes less nutrients to be absorbed.

Diarrhea Scale

• Mild: 3-5 watery stools per day
• Moderate: 6-9 watery stools per day
• Severe: 10 or more watery stools per day
• The main risk of diarrhea is dehydration.
• Loose or runny stools do not cause dehydration.
• Frequent, watery stools can cause dehydration.

Dehydration: How to Know

• Dehydration means that the body has lost too much fluid. This can happen with vomiting and/or diarrhea. The risk is higher if both are present. Mild diarrhea or mild vomiting does not cause this. Neither does a small decrease in fluid intake.
• Dehydration is the most concerning problem caused by diarrhea. It is a reason to see your doctor right away.
• These are signs of dehydration:
  • Decreased urine (no urine in more than 8 hours) happens early in dehydration. So does a dark yellow urine color. If your urine is light straw colored, you are not dehydrated.
  • Dry tongue and inside of the mouth. Dry lips are not a helpful sign.
  • Dry eyes with less or no tears
  • You feel ill, tired or weak. If you are alert, active and can carry out your normal daily activities, you are not dehydrated.
  • If you have severe dehydration, you may become too weak to stand. You may also be very dizzy when standing and become confused.