Causes include infections (like norovirus) or medical conditions such asceliac diseaseandirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Some cases of watery diarrhea are self-limiting and don’t require treatment.
Infants and young children are at high risk due to their small body size.
Liderina / Getty Images
They occur in episodes at least three times a day, often with an explosive rush of watery stool.
Sometimes, there is a complete lack of control over your bowel movements.
Acute diarrhea:This punch in typically resolves after a couple of days.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin for Verywell Health
It may last longer but is generally self-limiting.
Chronic diarrhea:In contrast, chronic diarrhea lasts four weeks or longer.
Chronic diarrhea can come and go or be continuous.
Illustration by Cindy Chung for Verywell Health
It may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
This leads to watery diarrhea, cramping, and nausea.
The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis include:
Does COVID-19 Cause Diarrhea?
COVID-19 can affect the digestive tract and cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
A 2021 review of studies found that 12% of acute COVID infections involved diarrhea.
The risk increased with the severity of the infection.
Bacterial Causes
There are several types of bacterial infections associated with watery diarrhea.
Most are foodborne and spread through contaminated food or improper hygiene.
They include the following:
Medications
Several different medications list diarrhea as a side effect.
Examples of medications that commonly cause diarrhea include:
This list is not exhaustive.
If you experience diarrhea after a dose adjustment or beginning a new medication, contact your healthcare provider.
The foods are then reintroduced one by one to see if any cause diarrhea.
For example,antibioticscan treat bacterial infections.
Antiparasitic drugs may be used if parasites cause symptoms.
Viral causes usually resolve on their own.
Sometimes, a healthcare provider may recommendImodium (loperamide), an over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrheal medication.
Replacing Lost Fluids
It’s important to replace lost fluids to avoid dehydration.
This can be a problem since gastroenteritis often causes nausea and vomiting.
The hospital can also prescribeantiemetic drugsto ease nausea and vomiting.
If you have a known food intolerance, avoid foods that may trigger your diarrhea.
Consider talking to your healthcare provider before beginning probiotics for diarrhea treatment.
Complications
Watery diarrhea is often harmless and fleeting.
But, in some cases, it can lead to serious complications of dehydration ormalabsorptionof vitamins and nutrients.
Watch for:
Prevention
Watery diarrhea can be avoided by taking certain precautions.
These include washing your hands frequently, ensuring food safety, and getting certain vaccinations.
Improved Hygiene
Most germs that cause watery diarrhea are spread through contaminated food and water.
This is often triggered by unhygienic practices.
The best way to avoid infections is to wash your hands after using the bathroom and handling food.
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