Diarrhea can be both a temporary ailment as well as a chronic condition. It is characterized by frequent, loose and watery stools. Abdominal cramping may accompany the diarrhea. Most short-term bouts of diarrhea resolve on their own but medical diagnosis is important for prolonged cases, especially if blood or mucus is found in the stool. Any number of things can cause diarrhea, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, medicines, foods and diseases, suggests the National Digestive DIseases Information Clearinghouse.
Viruses
Diarrhea is a symptom of several different viral infections. The Mayo Clinic lists some of the most common viruses that cause diarrhea to be Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, viral hepatitis and the herpes simplex virus. In children, rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea. Viruses are contagious. Careful hygiene processes, such as washing the hands after a bowel movement, can reduce the spread of diarrhea causing viruses. Treatment of viral diarrhea consists of treating the symptoms, such as using an anti-diarrheal. Viruses must be allowed to run their course.
Contaminants
Food and water can be contaminated with bacteria or parasites. Examples of such parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium. Bacterial infections that contribute to diarrhea include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella and Escherichia coli. These parasites and bacteria can make their way into foods and drink by improper handling. Many infectious agents can be found in animal products, animal feces and human feces. Inadequate hand-washing and then touching foods can spread the agents. Bacteria can be destroyed in most foods by cooking animal products thoroughly.
Medications
Antibiotics are known to cause diarrhea in many patients. This is due to the disruption of healthy bacteria in the intestines by the medication. This good bacteria in the digestive tract promotes normal bowel movements, but when it is destroyed by the antibiotic, the result can be diarrhea.
Sensitivities
Diarrhea can be caused by sensitivity to certain consumable items. Examples include lactose found in dairy products, sugar alcohols found in sugar-free products or fructose found in many fruits. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that such food intolerance is due to the body being unable to fully digest these substances.
Digestive Disorder
A number of digestive disorders consist of symptoms like diarrhea. This includes Crohn's disease, colitis, celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome. These digestive disorders are the result of inflammation of the intestines and colon. Sometimes the cause of the disorder is unknown. For example, celiac disease is a type of food sensitivity where the body is unable to digest specific grains.
