Diarrhea occurs when the food and liquids you eat pass through your digestive system too quickly, producing loose, loose stools. Diarrhea can be caused by many things, including viruses, bacteria, medications, and certain foods. Since there are so many causes of diarrhea, identifying the right one is not an easy task. If you want to know more about how to identify the cause of diarrhea, read on.

Determine if you have a temporary illness

Determine if you have a virus. Viruses are a common cause of diarrhea and can be spread by shaking hands, sharing utensils, and touching the same surfaces. Children who go to school or daycare are at higher risk of contracting viruses and, in turn, bacteria. If you or your child have recently been in a public place where people gathered, you may have the virus.

• Bacterial gastroenteritis is a bacterial infection of the small intestine and stomach. It has symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and nausea, which may last for 3 days.
• Rotavirus is the most common virus that causes diarrhea in children. Other symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and nausea.
• If you think a virus may be the cause of diarrhea, see your doctor.

Evaluate the possibility of bacterial cause of diarrhea. The bacteria that cause diarrhea are most often spread between individuals through food that has not been properly refrigerated or cleaned. Diarrhea caused by bacteria is a sign of food poisoning.

• Have you eaten at a new restaurant recently or had food that tasted weird? Think back to what you had at your last few meals.
• Other symptoms of food poisoning include headache and vomiting. The condition usually resolves on its own within a few days.
• If symptoms of food poisoning persist, see your doctor.

Determine if you are infested with parasites. This cause of diarrhea is usually spread by drinking unclean water. If you swim in a lake or river that may be contaminated or drink unclean water, you may be infected with the parasites that cause these symptoms.

• People traveling abroad often encounter this problem, but it usually occurs after about 12 hours.
• If your symptoms don’t resolve within a day or two, see your doctor.

Consider Ongoing Illness

Consider gastrointestinal allergies. This is a common cause of diarrhea and uncomfortable abdominal pain. It can also cause cramping and bloating, and make you run to the bathroom more often than usual.

• Gastrointestinal allergies can be controlled by adjusting your diet and other lifestyle habits.
• Gastrointestinal allergies are aggravated by stress. Determine if this is the cause of your symptoms.

Determine if you have gastrointestinal allergies. The disease causes inflammation of the intestines and stomach, and the result of this damage is frequent diarrhea and another discomfort. If you have chronic diarrhea, ask your doctor if gastrointestinal allergies are the cause.

Ask your doctor if it’s an abdominal disease. It can be caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in oats, rye, and barley. It can cause fatigue, irritability, general restlessness, and a host of other symptoms including diarrhea. Talk to your doctor about whether this is the current problem.

Evaluate whether your symptoms are related to other medical conditions. Watch for symptoms other than diarrhea to determine if there is a more serious problem.

• Conditions such as AIDS, Crohn’s disease, hyperthyroidism, Addison’s disease, and colon cancer can cause diarrhea.
• Talk to your doctor about your symptoms to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Reasons to Check Food or Medicine

Being careless with food often results in diarrhea. Be vigilant about your food and look for anything in your daily diet that may be irritating your system and causing these symptoms. If stopping food for a few days makes a difference, consider eliminating it from your diet permanently.

• Foods that produce chronic gas, such as beans, other legumes, cabbage, broccoli, and nuts, may cause diarrhea when you eat large amounts.
• Try eliminating caffeine from your diet. Caffeine stimulates the gastrointestinal system and causes more frequent gastrointestinal activity.
• Fat can also cause diarrhea, especially saturated fat in fried foods and snacks.
• Artificial flavors in soft drinks and candies can cause diarrhea.
• Some people have difficulty digesting red meat, so try not to eat these.
• Alcohol can irritate the stomach and cause diarrhea.

Determine whether any new medicines are causing diarrhea. Starting to take antibiotics such as quinidine, colchicine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause severe diarrhea. Taking too many laxatives can also cause diarrhea. Let your doctor know if you are taking a drug that may cause unwanted symptoms.

Tips

If diarrhea is accompanied by a fever over 38.3 degrees Celsius, bloody stools or dehydration, seek medical attention immediately.