Everyone battles with diarrhea from time to time. Diarrhea refers to a condition in which a person makes frequent trips to the toilet and passes loose, watery stool. It is a common illness and is usually not considered to be very serious. Most cases of diarrhea last from two to three days and can be treated by over-the-counter medicines or some home remedies. In some cases, chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of other serious illnesses such as cholera, Crohn’s disease, and dysentery. Severe diarrhea may lead to dehydration (due to the loss of water and nutrients from the body) and can prove to be fatal. Consult a doctor immediately if the condition does not improve after a couple of days or if the stool contains blood.

Causes and Risk Factors

The food and fluids that are ingested are typically liquefied by the digestive system for easy absorption by the cells of the body. Most of this liquid is absorbed by the colon walls, and what remains is the semisolid stool that is excreted from the body. Diarrhea is caused when the food passes too quickly and often in large quantities from the colon, which gives it very little or no time to absorb the liquid. Here are some of the common causes of diarrhea:

Pathogens: Some of the common pathogens that cause diarrhea are viruses, parasites, and bacteria. These pathogens are typically found in contaminated food and water. Some of the common viruses that cause diarrhea are the Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, viral hepatitis, and the herpes simplex virus. Acute childhood virus is usually caused by rotavirus. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium can cause diarrhea and campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, and Escherichia coli (E. Coli) are some of the common diarrhea-causing bacteria. Most cases of diarrhea that are caused by pathogens are usually observed when the quality of hygiene or sanitation is poor so these cases usually occur in underdeveloped or developing countries.