Diarrhea is the passage of loss and watery bowel movements and a remarkable increase in the frequency of bowel movements, which is often associated with gas, bloated feeling, and stomach cramps. The condition may result to loss of salts and water in the body that may lead to dehydration of different severities.

Physical examination and blood or stool test may help to trace any infection that may have caused the diarrhea.

The doctor will most likely advise patients to replace lost body fluids through increase water intake or oral rehydration solution. In other cases like diarrhea caused by medication, avoiding the cause will relieve the symptoms of diarrhea.

Stomach cramps, bloating, and remarkable abdominal pain is often felt with diarrhea. Stools are absolutely watery and loose and frequency of bowel passage is within short periods of time. In some cases, blood is sometimes present in the stool. Fever may also be present as well as nausea and vomiting, significantly when diarrhea is caused by an infection.

Viruses such as Norwalk virus, viral hepatitis, rotavirus and herpes simplex virus are some of the common viruses that can cause diarrhea. Campylobacter and salmonella are some of the usual bacteria and parasite that is found to be causative agent for diarrhea. Other possible causes for diarrhea include lactose (sugar found in milk and milk products), medications like antibiotics, artificial sweeteners like sorbitol and mannitol, and other digestive diseases such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.