What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is when you experience loose, watery stools, that often occur suddenly and urgently. Diarrhea may also be defined as a change in your bowel habits with an increased frequency of bowel movements. Occasionally experiencing diarrhea is not cause for concern, but chronic or long-lasting diarrhea can be a symptom of a more serious condition, and can lead to complications.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
Diarrhea can involve a variety of symptoms, including:
- Loose, watery stools
- An urgent need to use the bathroom
- Abdominal pain
- Cramping
- Fever
- Bloody or black stool
- Bloating
- Nausea
If your diarrhea lasts more than two days, consider making an appointment with Dr. Ascunce. You should seek immediate help if you notice:
- Signs of dehydration
- Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
- Blood in your stool
- You have a fever of above 102℉
What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea can be a symptom of an underlying issue, including a variety of gastrointestinal conditions like:
- Viral infections such as Norwalk virus or rotavirus
- Bacterial infection
- Parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Gluten intolerance or celiac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Lactose intolerance
- Food allergies
- Intolerance to fructose or artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol
- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Diarrhea can also be a lingering effect of past surgery, especially gallbladder surgery, or a side effect of certain medications.
How is diarrhea treated?
The first step of treating diarrhea is determining the cause. If you visit Dr. Ascunce with symptoms of diarrhea, a stool test, blood test, or both is usually the first step of diagnosis. In some cases, Dr. Ascunce may also use a colonoscopy or endoscopy to investigate possible causes in your digestive tract.
Depending on the cause of your diarrhea, treatment can vary widely. If an infection is to blame, antibiotics can be used in conjunction with medication to limit or relieve your symptoms. Conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis require long-term treatment and management, and some disorders like celiac disease may require a long-term change in diet.
If you are experiencing chronic diarrhea, or if you have any questions, call the office of Gil I. Ascunce, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.
