Diarrhea : be.georgetown.edu

Overview
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment

Overview
Diarrhea, characterized by loose, watery stools, is an extremely uncomfortable and disruptive problem. Like vomiting, it can be the body’s way of rejecting something that has been ingested. Most cases of diarrhea are mild. Some cases, however, may be symptomatic of something serious, such as food poisoning or Crohn’s disease.

Causes
• Eating foods that upset the digestive system
• Allergies to certain foods
• Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning)
• Infections by other organisms
• Medications
• Radiation therapy
• Diseases of the intestines (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Malabsorption (where the body is unable to adequately absorb certain nutrients from the diet)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Some cancers
• Laxative abuse
• Alcohol abuse
• Digestive tract surgery
• Diabetes
• Competitive running

Symptoms
The symptoms of diarrhea include:

Mild Cases (typically resolves on its own):
• Abdominal bloating or cramps
• Thin or loose stools
• Watery stool
• Sense of urgency to have a bowel movement

Serious Cases (may be indicative of something wrong):

Symptoms above accompanied by:
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blood, mucus, or undigested food in the stool
• Sharp abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Fever

Treatment
The vast majority of diarrhea cases resolve on their own within hours. When experiencing diarrhea it is extremely important to keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of non-caffeinated fluids, especially water. Many over-the-counter products exist to treat symptoms of mild diarrhea. It may take a few tries to see which one works best for you.
If your diarrhea is accompanied by sharp abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools or a fever, see your doctor immediately.