When there is an increase in the number of bowel movements or bowel movements are more watery and loose than normal diarrhea occurs. It can also occur when inflammation of the bowel lining causes excess fluid to leak into the stool. Diarrhea may be accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, or a fever.
Diarrhea is often caused by stomach flu or food poisoning. Diarrhea clears your body of viruses, bacteria, or toxins from the digestive tract. With good home treatment most cases of diarrhea will clear up in a few days. E.Coli, a common bacterium can also cause diarrhea.
Diarrhea can also be caused by drinking untreated water or unpasteurized dairy products or parasitic infections, such as Giardia lamblia. You can develop these infections by using untreated water to brush your teeth, wash your dishes or vegetables, or make ice for drinks.
There are many prescription and nonprescription drugs that can cause diarrhea:
Antibiotics may cause mild diarrhea that usually clears up without treatment. Bacteria Clostridium difficile (sometimes called C-diff) causes severe diarrhea that may start shortly after finishing the antibiotic.
* Laxatives, such as Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax etc may cause diarrhea.
* You can develop diarrhea by using too much of products that contain sorbitol (such as chewing gum) or fructose.
* Some people get diarrhea while traveling (traveler's diarrhea)
* Emotional stress, irritable bowel syndrome, or food digestion problems such as lactose intolerance can also cause diarrhea.
* Inflammatory bowel disease can also cause repeated episodes of diarrhea.
* Certain mal absorption problems and certain types of cancer can also cause diarrhea.
Another common cause of diarrhea in children and adults is food poisoning. Taking a few precautions may prevent most cases of food poisoning related to preparing and storing food at home. Special caution must be exercised while handling perishable foods, such as eggs, meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, milk, and milk products. If you are pregnant, or have a weakened immune system a chronic illness, you must take special care to prepare foods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends the following steps to prevent food poisoning:
* Prepare foods safely
* Shop safely
* Cook foods to a safe temperature
* Follow labels on food packaging
* Serve foods with care
* Store foods safely
* Don't use leftover food frequently
Diarrhea and other related problems, such as dehydration can be prevented by simple home treatment. You can also take frequent, small sips of water or a rehydration drink and small bites of salty crackers.
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