Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

D
diarrhea Watery or frequent bowel movements.
Diarrhea can have serious health consequences for
the very young, the very old, and those who have
debilitating illnesses. It is important to increase
fluid consumption when diarrhea is present as
DEHYDRATION can occur very quickly. Diarrhea in an
infant under six months old requires immediate
medical attention. For older children and adults,
medical attention becomes necessary when diarrhea
exists with:
• ABDOMINAL PAIN for longer than two hours
• FEVER above 101ºF for longer than 24 hours
• profuse VOMITING
• reduced or lack of URINATION
• suspected ingestion of toxic or obstructive substance
patterns may indicate conditions of the large intestine
such as intestinal polyps or COLORECTAL CANCER.
Women may have mild diarrhea with their menstrual
periods. Diarrhea may occur with changes in
eating habits, such as when traveling.
COMMON CAUSES OF DIARRHEA
antibiotic therapy
CELIAC DISEASE
changes in EATING HABITS COLORECTAL CANCER
DIVERTICULAR DISEASE excessive ALCOHOL
excessive CAFFEINE consumption
consumption
FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES
foods and beverages GALLBLADDER DISEASE
ILEUS
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)
ingested toxins
INTESTINAL POLYP
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME MALABSORPTION
(IBS)
viral, bacterial, and
medication SIDE EFFECTS parasitic INFECTION
Bloody diarrhea may signal a serious
health condition and requires immediate
medical evaluation.
Numerous causes exist for diarrhea. Foods containing
table sugar (sucrose), sugars that occur in
milk (lactose), fruits (fructose), and sweeteners in
juices and soft drinks (sorbitol and mannitol) can
cause or worsen diarrhea because they draw additional
fluid into the large intestine. Viral, bacterial,
and parasitic infections, often food-borne, are common
causes of diarrhea. Diarrhea is also a common
symptom with gastrointestinal disorders such as
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS) and INFLAMMATORY
BOWEL DISEASE (IBD). Extended periods (weeks to
months) of loose or frequent bowel movements
may suggest dysfunction of the SMALL INTESTINE or
MALABSORPTION disorders. Frequent, small bowel
movements that are a change from usual bowel
34
Bland foods such as cooked rice, oatmeal, soda
crackers, graham crackers, and bananas can help
calm the gastrointestinal tract and restore normal
bowel function. Doctors often recommend an oral
rehydration solution (ORS) such as Pedialyte or
Rehydralyte when diarrhea persists beyond a few
days in children, and for adults who show indications
of dehydration or have extensive diarrhea.
Doctors may recommend ANTIDIARRHEAL MEDICA-
TIONS such as loperamide (Imodium) that slow
PERISTALSIS (intestinal movement) to help control
symptoms. Most diarrhea, though disruptive, represents
minor and temporary gastrointestinal disturbance
that fully resolves within one to three
weeks.
See also COLITIS; GASTROENTERITIS; FOOD SAFETY.
digestive enzymes Specialized protein structures
that help break down (hydrolyze) foods in the