Traveler’s DiarrheaIf you are traveling in a different part of the world and come down with diarrhea, there’s a pretty good chance that you have traveler’s diarrhea. As with most types of severe diarrhea, you should see your doctor if the symptoms stick around once you’re home. “If the diarrhea persists after the patient is back from a trip, the stool should be tested for parasites, and the patient should be evaluated for an underlying condition that has been unmasked by an infection — for example, inflammatory bowel disease,” said Dr. Charabaty. “After an episode of infectious diarrhea, the diarrhea can persist for several months to years because the gut flora and motility has been altered — that’s what we call post-infectious diarrhea or post-infectious IBS.” Show
Diarrhea and MedicationsMedications to treat certain conditions are very common causes of diarrhea. Hundreds, in fact, may be to blame, said Dr. Kussin. Luckily, when it comes to medicine and diarrhea the advice is fairly straightforward. “If a new medication is started and diarrhea follows within a few days to weeks, your doctor may want to stop the agent and see what happens,” said Kussin. “There are so many therapies for so many conditions that if a medication causes diarrhea, there are alternatives that can take its place.” Diarrhea and Digestive DisordersMedical conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease can also cause of diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis can lead to sores or ulcers on the internal lining of the colon, resulting in frequent bouts of diarrhea and abdominal cramps. “Crohn’s is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that often manifests with diarrhea as well as abdominal pain, blood in the stool, anemia, and sometimes weight loss and fever,” said Charabaty. “Celiac disease is a disease caused by an allergy to gluten, which is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. In patients with celiac disease, gluten is toxic to their small bowel, destroying its normal lining. This in turn prevents the absorption of water and nutrients, causing not only diarrhea, but also weight loss, anemia, osteoporosis, and other intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms.” Diarrhea After SurgeryA variety of surgeries in and around the digestive tract can cause short-term diarrhea as a potential side effect. In most cases, this should pass after a few days, but see your doctor if it continues unabated. “Resection of part of the small bowel or the large bowel can cause diarrhea because we are removing a portion of the gut responsible for absorbing water,” said Charabaty. “Certain types of surgeries also promote small bowel bacterial overgrowth, which in turn can cause diarrhea. Removal of the gallbladder can also cause diarrhea because of the bile salts irritating the colon and causing leakage of water into the colon lumen.” Diarrhea and AllergiesIt’s not a common symptom, but some people who experience the red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and wheezing of allergies in the spring may also have a case of diarrhea on top of it all. “Diarrhea as the sole symptom of seasonal allergies would be uncommon,” said Kussin. “As a part of a suite of symptoms that recurs yearly, then it is likely caused by a sensitivity to an environmental allergen.” In addition to other diarrhea medications, Kussin said that this symptom may respond to antihistamines just like your other allergy symptoms. With any underlying disorder causing your diarrhea, your doctor will likely treat the diarrhea along with the other symptoms of the condition to get you feeling better.
— Written By Sarah Lewis, PharmD Updated on May 5, 2021
Getty Diarrhea is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States. It means frequently passing loose or watery stools. Diarrhea can be mild, with a few episodes during the day. You can also have severe diarrhea that strikes more than 10 times a day and accompanies other worrisome symptoms. In most cases, diarrhea is not harmful and resolves within a few days. But there are times when diarrhea is a concern. Acute DiarrheaAcute diarrhea is diarrhea that comes on suddenly and usually lasts 1 to 3 days, but can continue for as long as 2 weeks. The most common cause is a viral infection, or gastroenteritis. In children, rotavirus is the most common culprit. Norovirus is more common in adults. Bacterial and parasitic infections are also possible causes of acute diarrhea. With acute diarrhea, you may also have cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting or fever. The biggest danger is dehydration due to loss of fluids in the stool. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
It can be hard to tell if infants, toddlers and children are becoming dehydrated when they can’t tell you how they feel. In infants and young children, signs of dehydration to look for include:
Treating acute diarrhea focuses on preventing dehydration. You need to drink plenty of liquids to replace fluids lost in the stool. You also need to replace electrolytes with choices like sports drinks or salty broths. For children, choose oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte. You can also eat bland foods, such as rice or plain crackers or toast. Avoid foods that can worsen diarrhea, such as greasy, fatty, spicy, or high-fiber foods. Adults with viral diarrhea can use over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines. Avoid these medicines if you have bloody diarrhea or high fever, which can be signs of a bacterial or parasitic infection. They can worsen the diarrhea if this is the case. And do not use these medicines at all in children. Chronic DiarrheaChronic diarrhea lasts for 4 weeks or longer. It typically signals something other than a viral infection as the root cause. It could be something simple, such as a food intolerance, or it could mean a more serious condition, such as colon cancer. In general, doctors classify chronic diarrhea as:
Other causes of chronic diarrhea do not fit neatly into one of the three categories. International travelers may have acquired an intestinal parasite. Irritable bowel syndrome and uncontrolled diabetes are other good examples. Finding the cause of chronic diarrhea usually involves testing. This could include lab tests, stool samples, and imaging tests to look at the bowel and how it functions. Treating chronic diarrhea depends on the underlying cause. When to See a DoctorDiarrhea is usually not an urgent medical problem. However, dehydration can be life threatening. Dehydration is especially dangerous in infants, young children, older adults, and people with a weakened immune system. Seek immediate medical attention for signs and symptoms of dehydration. You should also find medical care right away for severe diarrhea or any of the following symptoms:
In addition, adults should not wait until they have had diarrhea for a week. See your doctor if diarrhea does not improve within 2 to 3 days. Why do I have stomach pain and diarrhea for a week?When you have stomach upset related to infection, food intake, or overeating, it will likely pass in a matter of days or a week. If you experience ongoing diarrhea and stomach upset, however, it may be indicative of a medical problem such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
When should I worry about diarrhea and stomach pains?Seek medical help if you're having abdominal pain and diarrhea that last for 3 days, if the pain grows increasingly worse over a 24-hour period, or if it's accompanied by any of these symptoms: frequent nausea or vomiting. a sustained fever of 101°F (38.3°C) for adults or 100.4°F (38°C) for children.
Is it normal to have diarrhea for 7 days?In children, diarrhoea will usually pass within 5 to 7 days and will rarely last longer than 2 weeks. In adults, diarrhoea usually improves within 2 to 4 days, although some infections can last a week or more.
Should I be concerned if I have diarrhea for a week?But when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days into weeks, it usually indicates that there's another problem — such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a more serious disorder, including persistent infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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Stomach cramps and diarrhea for a week
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