Diarrhea

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Overview
Diarrhea (in American English) or diarrhoea (in British English) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements. Although for many people diarrhea is merely unpleasant, diarrhea that is both acute and severe is a common cause of death in developing countries and a major cause of infant death worldwide. It is often due to gastroenteritis.

Types of diarrhea
There are at least four types of diarrhea: secretory diarrhea, osmotic diarrhea, motility-related diarrhea, and inflammatory diarrhea.

Secretory diarrhea
Secretory diarrhea means that there is an increase in the active secretion, or there is an inhibition of absorption. There is little to no structural damage. The most common cause of this type of diarrhea is a cholera toxin that stimulates the secretion of anions, especially chloride ions. Therefore, to maintain a charge balance in the lumen, sodium is carried with it, along with water.

Osmotic diarrhea
Osmotic diarrhea occurs when there is a loss of water due to a heavy osmotic load. This can occur when there is maldigestion (e.g., pancreatic disease or Coeliac disease), where the nutrients are left in the lumen, which pulls water into the lumen.

Motility-related diarrhea
Motility-related diarrhea occurs when the motility of the gastrointestinal tract is abnormally high. If the food moves too quickly, there is not enough time for sufficient nutrients and water to be absorbed. This can be due to a vagotomy or diabetic neuropathy, or a complication of menstruation.

Inflammatory diarrhea
Inflammatory diarrhea occurs when there is damage to the mucosal lining or brush border, which leads to a passive loss of protein-rich fluids, and a decreased ability to absorb these lost fluids. Features of all three of the other types of diarrhea can be found in this type of diarrhea. It can be caused by bacterial infections, viral infections, parasitic infections, or autoimmune problems such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Causes
The principal cause of diarrhea stems from ingestion of unsafe drinking water (typically from admixture of raw sewage to water supplies); the occurrence is predominantly in lesser developed countries.

Causes of diarrhea can be infection, allergy, food intolerance, foodborne illness and/or extreme excesses of Vitamin C and/or magnesium and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Temporary diarrhea can also result from the ingestion of laxative medications or large quantities of certain foods like prunes with laxative properties. There are other conditions which involve some but not all of the symptoms of diarrhea, and so the formal medical definition of diarrhea involves defecation of more than 200 grams per day (although formal weighing of stools to determine a diagnosis is rarely actually carried out).

Diarrhea occurs when insufficient fluid is absorbed by the colon. As part of normal digestion, food is mixed with large amounts of water. The water is supplied, as needed, by the stomach and small intestine. The colon recovers this water, leaving the remaining material as a semisolid stool. If the colon is damaged or inflamed, however, absorption is inhibited, and watery stools result.

Diarrhea is most commonly caused by viral infections or bacterial toxins. In sanitary living conditions and with ample food and water available, an otherwise healthy patient typically recovers from the common viral infections in a few days and at most a week. However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and can become life-threatening without treatment.

Diarrhea can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as dysentery, Montezuma's Revenge, cholera, or botulism, and can also be indicative of a chronic syndrome such as Crohn's disease. Though appendicitis patients do not generally have diarrhea, it is a common symptom of a ruptured appendix. It is also an effect of severe radiation sickness.

Diarrhea can also be caused by dairy intake in those who are lactose intolerant.

Symptomatic treatment for diarrhea involves the patient consuming adequate amounts of water to replace that loss, preferably mixed with electrolytes to provide essential salts and some amount of nutrients. For many people, further treatment is unnecessary. The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required:


 * Diarrhea in infants;
 * Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children;
 * Diarrhea associated with blood;
 * Diarrhea that continues for more than two weeks;
 * Diarrhea that is associated with more general illness such as non-cramping abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, etc;
 * Diarrhea in travelers, since they are more likely to have exotic infections such as parasites;
 * Diarrhea in food handlers, because of the potential to infect others;
 * Diarrhea in institutions such as hospitals, child care centers, or geriatric and convalescent homes.

A severity score is used to aid diagnosis.

Acute Diarrhea

 * Addison's Disease
 * Adrenal insufficiency
 * Appendicitis
 * Bacterial:
 * Aeromonas
 * Campylobacter jejuni
 * Chlamydia
 * Clostridium Difficile
 * E.coli
 * Enterobacter
 * Klebsiella
 * Neisseria gonorrhea
 * Plesiomonas
 * Salmonella
 * Shigella
 * Staphylococcus aureus
 * Vibrio cholerae
 * Yersinia enterocolitica
 * C-cell carcinoma
 * Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (first manifestation)
 * Colon cancer
 * Drugs:
 * Abuse of laxatives
 * Alcohol
 * Antibiotics
 * Biguanides
 * Chemotherapeutics
 * Chemotherapy
 * Cholestyramin
 * Digitalis
 * Diuretics
 * Ergotamine
 * Hydralazine
 * Mushroom poisoning
 * Opiate withdrawal
 * Parasympathomimetics
 * Quinidine
 * Reserpine
 * Uremia
 * Warfarin
 * Food:
 * Bacillus cereus
 * Clostridium perfringens
 * Staphylococcus aureus
 * Food allergy
 * Graft-host reaction after allogenic bone marrow transplantation
 * Heavy metal intoxication
 * HIV
 * Hyperthyroidism
 * Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
 * Ischemic-hemorrhagic colitis
 * Lactose intolerance
 * Neoplasia
 * Other hormone-producing tumor
 * Parasites:
 * Cryptosporidium
 * Entamoeba histolytica
 * Giardia intestinalis
 * Hyperthyroidism
 * Runner's diarrhea
 * Traveler's diarrhea
 * Most commonly seen germs:
 * Aeromonas
 * Campylobacter jejuni
 * Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
 * Protozoa
 * Rotavirus
 * Salmonella
 * Shigella
 * Typhoid Fever
 * Viral:
 * Adenovirus
 * Coxsackie virus
 * Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
 * Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses
 * Influenza virus
 * Norwalk virus
 * Poliovirus
 * Rotavirus

Chronic Diarrhea

 * Achylia
 * Addison's Disease
 * Amebiasis
 * Amyloidosis
 * Anxiety
 * Autonomous neuropathy
 * Bacterial gastroenteritis
 * Bacterial toxins
 * Behcet syndrome
 * Bile acid malabsorption
 * Biliary fistula
 * Carcinoid syndrome
 * Carcinoma of the pancreas
 * Celiac Sprue
 * Chologenic diarrhea
 * Collagenous colitis
 * Colitis after radiation therapy
 * Colon cancer
 * Crohn's Disease
 * Cryptosporidiosis
 * Diabetes Mellitus
 * Diabetic enteropathy
 * Diverticular disease
 * Drugs:
 * Antacids
 * Antipholgistics
 * Anthraquinones
 * Castor oil
 * Lactulose
 * Mannitol
 * Prostaglandins
 * Sorbitol
 * Dumping syndrome
 * Enteropathogenic viruses
 * Excess coffee, tea, coke
 * Exudative diarrhea
 * Fecal impaction
 * Food allergy
 * Gastric surgery/Billroth operation
 * Gastrinoma
 * Gastrocolic fistula
 * Giardia
 * Hyperthyroidism
 * HIV
 * Idiopathic lymphangiectasis
 * Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 * Intestinal atrophy (post-radiation therapy)
 * Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
 * Irritable colon
 * Lymphocytic colitis
 * Lymphomas
 * Malabsorption
 * Maldigestion
 * Medullary thyroid carcinoma
 * Mesenteric ischemia
 * Motility disorders of gastrointestinal (GI) tract
 * Neuroendocrine tumors
 * Nontropical sprue
 * Obstructive jaundice
 * Parasites:
 * Ascariasis
 * Hookworm
 * Whipworm
 * Pellagra
 * Polyarteritis
 * Polyposis
 * Postileal resection
 * Postvagotomy
 * Proctitis
 * Prostaglandins
 * Radiation proctitis
 * Rectal surgery
 * Scleroderma
 * Short bowel syndrome
 * Tuberculosis
 * Ulcerative colitis
 * Unabsorbed dietary fat
 * Vegetative lability
 * Verner-Morrison Syndrome
 * Villous adenoma
 * Villous carcinoma
 * Whipple's Disease
 * Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Causes According to Etiology

 * Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food or water can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
 * Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.
 * Food intolerances. Some people are unable to digest food components such as artificial sweeteners and lactose—the sugar found in milk.
 * Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium.
 * Reaction to medicines. Antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cancer drugs, and antacids containing magnesium can all cause diarrhea.
 * Intestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease often lead to diarrhea.
 * Functional bowel disorders. Diarrhea can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.

Complete Differential Diagnosis of the Causes of Diarrhea
(By organ system)

The Complete Differential Diagnosis of the Causes of Diarrhea
(In alphabetical order)


 * 2C-B
 * 2-Ethylhexanol
 * 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency
 * 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency
 * 5-HT3 antagonist
 * 5-MeO-AMT
 * 5-Methoxy-diisopropyltryptamine
 * Abacavir
 * Abdominal abscess
 * Abdominal cancer
 * Abetalipoproteinemia
 * Abrin
 * Acacia nilotica
 * Acacia senegal
 * Acamprosate
 * Acarbose
 * Acebutolol
 * Achlorhydria
 * Aciclovir
 * Acitretin
 * Aconitine
 * Acquired angioedema
 * Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
 * Acrodermatitis enteropathica
 * Acrodynia
 * Acute appendicitis
 * Acute gastritis
 * Acute kidney failure
 * Acute pancreatitis
 * Acute tin poisoning
 * Acute zinc toxicity
 * Addison's disease
 * Adefovir
 * Adenophorea Infections
 * Adenoviridae Infections
 * Adjustable gastric band
 * Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital type 3
 * Adrenal tumor
 * Aeromonas hydrophila
 * Agastache rugosa
 * Alatrofloxacin Injection
 * Alchornea castaneifolia
 * Alcohol intoxication
 * Alcohol withdrawal
 * Aldesleukin
 * Alendronate
 * Aliskiren
 * Allergic disorders
 * Allopurinol
 * Alosetron
 * Alpha-amanitin
 * Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor
 * Alprazolam
 * Altretamine
 * Amanita phalloides
 * Ambenonium
 * Amebiasis
 * Amifostine
 * Amikacin
 * Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide
 * Aminocaproic acid
 * Aminophylline
 * Amlexanox
 * Amlodipine and Benazepril
 * Ammonium lauryl sulfate
 * Amnesic shellfish poisoning
 * Amoxycillin
 * Amphotericin B
 * Ampicillin
 * Amprenavir
 * Amyloidosis
 * Anagrelide
 * Anakinra
 * Anastrozole
 * Ancylostoma duodenale
 * Angel's trumpet (D. suaveolans)
 * Angioedema
 * Anguillulosis
 * Anisindione
 * Anopsology
 * Anthrax
 * Antonine Plague
 * Anxiety-tension syndrome
 * Apomorphine
 * Appendicitis
 * Applesauce
 * Aprepitant
 * Arakawa's syndrome II
 * Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase deficiency
 * Arsenic poisoning
 * Ascariasis
 * Aspartylglycosaminuria
 * Astrovirus
 * Atazanavir
 * Atenolol
 * Athabaskan severe combined immunodeficiency
 * Atorvastatin
 * Atovaquone
 * Auranofin
 * Autoimmune adrenalitis
 * Autoimmune enteropathy
 * Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome
 * Autonomic neuropathy
 * Ayahuasca
 * Azithromycin
 * Aztreonam Injection
 * Baber's syndrome
 * Bacillary dysentery
 * Bacillus cereus
 * Bacterial overgrowth of small intestine
 * Bacterial toxins
 * Balantidiasis
 * Barium nitrate
 * Barium Sulfate
 * Beatrice (psychedelic)
 * Beef tapeworm
 * Bepridil
 * Bethanechol
 * Bevacizumab Injection
 * Bezafibrate
 * Bicalutamide
 * Biguanide
 * Bile acid malabsorption syndrome
 * Bile acid sequestrant
 * Biliary atresia
 * Biliary tract cancer
 * Bisacodyl
 * Bisoprolol
 * Blastocystis hominis
 * Blind loop syndrome
 * Boron overuse
 * Borrelia anserina
 * Bortezomib
 * Botulism
 * Brainerd diarrhea
 * Brennemann's syndrome
 * Bromelain
 * Brompheniramine
 * Brown-Symmers disease
 * Bumetanide
 * Buspirone
 * Busulfan
 * Caecitis
 * Campylobacter jejuni
 * Candesartan
 * Candida
 * Capecitabine
 * Capillaria
 * Capsaicin
 * Carbamazepine
 * Carbon monoxide toxicity
 * Carboplatin
 * Carcinoid syndrome
 * Carmustine
 * Carnitine overuse
 * Carteolol
 * Carvedilol
 * Casanthranol
 * Cascara sagrada
 * Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
 * Cefaclor
 * Cefadroxil
 * Cefamandole Nafate Injection
 * Cefazolin
 * Cefdinir
 * Cefepime Injection
 * Cefoperazone Sodium Injection
 * Cefotaxime Sodium Injection
 * Cefotetan Disodium Injection
 * Cefoxitin Sodium Injection
 * Cefpodoxime
 * Ceftazidime Injection
 * Ceftizoxime Sodium Injection
 * Ceftriaxone Sodium Injection
 * Cefuroxime
 * Celiac disease
 * Cephalexin
 * Cephalosporins
 * Cephalothoracic progressive lipodystrophy
 * Cephradine Injection


 * Cerivastatin
 * Cestoda
 * Cetuximab Injection
 * Cevimeline
 * Chenodeoxycholic acid
 * Chloral Hydrate
 * Chlorambucil
 * Chlordane
 * Chlordiazepoxide
 * Chlorodyne
 * Chloroquine
 * Chlorothiazide
 * Chlorpheniramine
 * Chlorthalidone
 * Cholecystitis
 * Cholestatic jaundice
 * Cholestyramine
 * Chronic fatigue syndrome
 * Chronic granulomatous disease
 * Chronic myeloproliferative disorders
 * Ciclosporin
 * Cidofovir Injection
 * Ciguatera poisoning
 * Cilostazol
 * Cimetidine
 * Cinacalcet
 * Cinchonism
 * Ciprofloxacin
 * Cisapride
 * Citalopram
 * Cladribine
 * Clamoxyquine
 * Clarithromycin
 * Classic galactosemia
 * Clindamycin
 * Clofarabine
 * Clofibrate
 * Clomipramine
 * Clonazepam
 * Clopidogrel
 * Clorazepate
 * Clostridium Difficile
 * Clostridium perfringens food poisoning
 * Clostridium sordellii
 * Clostridium welchii
 * Coccidia
 * Colchicine toxicity
 * Colestyramine
 * Colistimethate Injection
 * Colitis
 * Colonic inertia
 * Colonic malakoplakia
 * Colonic villous adenomata
 * Colorectal cancer
 * Colorectal polyps
 * Common migraine
 * Common variable immunodeficiency
 * Complement 5 deficiency
 * Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1B
 * Congenital short bowel]]
 * Congenital sucrose-isomaltose malabsorption
 * Congenital toxoplasmosis
 * Cornelia de Lange syndrome 2
 * Cree leukoencephalopathy
 * Crohn's disease
 * Cronkhite-Canada disease
 * Cryptosporidiosis
 * Cyclophosphamide
 * Cyclosporiasis
 * Cyproheptadine
 * Cysticercosis
 * Cytarabine
 * Cytomegalovirus
 * Dactinomycin
 * Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
 * Dantrolene
 * Daptomycin
 * Darbepoetin Alfa Injection
 * Darifenacin
 * Darunavir
 * Darvocet withdrawal
 * Dasatinib
 * Daunorubicin
 * Deal-Barratt-Dillon syndrome
 * Deferasirox
 * Delavirdine
 * Deracoxib
 * Desoxyn
 * Destroying angel
 * Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine
 * Dextromethorphan
 * Diabetes insipidus
 * Diabetic neuropathy
 * Diacerein
 * Diazepam
 * Diazinon
 * Dibasic aminoaciduria 2
 * Diclofenac and Misoprostol
 * Dicloxacillin
 * Didanosine
 * Dientamoeba fragilis
 * Diffuse systemic sclerosis
 * Diflunisal
 * Digoxin
 * Dilaudid withdrawal
 * Diltiazem
 * Diphyllobothrium infection
 * Dipylidium caninum infection
 * Dipyridamole
 * Dirithromycin
 * Dissociative disorder
 * Distigmine
 * Distomatosis
 * Diverticulitis
 * Docetaxel
 * Dofetilide
 * Dolasetron
 * Donepezil
 * Doripenem
 * Doxorubicin
 * Doxycycline Injection
 * Dracunculiasis
 * DTPA
 * Duloxetine
 * Ebola
 * Echinococcosis
 * Efavirenz
 * Egg Hypersensitivity
 * Emtricitabine
 * Enalapril
 * End stage liver failure
 * Endometriosis
 * Endosulfan
 * Enoxacin
 * Entacapone
 * Entamoeba histolytica
 * Enteritis
 * Entero-Aggregative Escherichia coli
 * Enterocele
 * Enterocolitis
 * Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Infection
 * Entero-Toxic Escherichia coli
 * Envenomization by the Martinique lancehead viper
 * Epirubicin Injection
 * Eplerenone
 * Epoetin Alfa Injection
 * Ergotamine
 * Ergotism
 * Erlotinib
 * Erythromycin
 * Escherichia coli
 * Esomeprazole
 * Estazolam
 * Estradiol Topical
 * Ethacrynic Acid
 * Ethanol
 * Ethosuximide
 * Ethylmalonic encephalopathy
 * Etidronate
 * Etodolac
 * Etoposide
 * Everolimus
 * Ewing's sarcoma
 * Exemestane
 * Exenatide
 * Exenatide Injection
 * Ezetimibe
 * Fabry's disease
 * Famciclovir
 * Familial amyloid polyneuropathy
 * Familial polyposis, autosomal recessive
 * Familial visceral myopathy
 * Famotidine
 * Fanconi-ichthyosis-dysmorphism
 * Fasciolopsiasis
 * Favism
 * Felbamate
 * Fexofenadine
 * Filariasis
 * Flavivirus


 * Floxuridine
 * Fluconazole
 * Flucytosine
 * Fludarabine Phosphate
 * Fluke infections
 * Fluoride
 * Fluorouracil
 * Fluoxetine
 * Flurazepam
 * Flutamide
 * Fluticasone Nasal Spray
 * Fluvastatin
 * Fluvoxamine
 * Folate deficiency
 * Folic acid toxicity
 * Food allergies
 * Food intolerances
 * Food poisoning
 * Fosamprenavir
 * Foscarnet Sodium Injection
 * Fosinopril
 * Frovatriptan
 * Fructose malabsorption
 * Fulvestrant Injection
 * Functional disorders
 * Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor
 * Fusarium venenatum
 * Gabapentin
 * Galactosemia
 * Galantamine
 * Ganciclovir
 * Gangrene
 * Garlic
 * Gastric dumping syndrome
 * Gastrinoma
 * Gastritis
 * Gastroenteritis
 * Gastrointestinal amyloidosis
 * Gastrointestinal neoplasm
 * Gatifloxacin
 * Gefitinib
 * Gemcitabine Hydrochloride
 * Gemeprost
 * Gemfibrozil
 * Gentamicin
 * Giardia lamblia
 * Gilbert's syndrome
 * Ginseng overuse
 * Glatiramer Injection
 * Glénard syndrome
 * Glucagonoma Syndrome
 * Glucosamine
 * Glucose-galactose malabsorption
 * Glutathione Synthetase Deficiency
 * Gluten sensitivity
 * Glycopyrrolate
 * Gnathostoma Infection
 * Graft versus host disease
 * Granisetron
 * Graves' Disease
 * Griseofulvin
 * Guanethidine
 * Guanfacine
 * Habba Syndrome
 * Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
 * Hartnup disease
 * Heavy metal ingestion
 * Helminthiasis
 * Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, familial, 4
 * Hepatitis
 * Hepatitis A
 * Hepatitis B
 * Hepatitis C
 * Hepatitis D
 * Hepatitis E
 * Hepatitis X
 * Heroin dependence
 * Heroin withdrawal
 * Heterophyiasis
 * Hookworm infection
 * Human ehrlichiosis
 * Hydralazine
 * Hydrochlorothiazide
 * Hydrocodone withdrawal
 * Hydroxychloroquine
 * Hydroxyurea
 * Hymenolepis infection
 * Hyoscyamine
 * Hyperchloremia
 * Hyper-IgD syndrome
 * Hyperthyroidism
 * Ibandronate Injection
 * Ibuprofen
 * Idarubicin
 * Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome
 * Idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction
 * Idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis
 * Iduronate-2-sulfatase deficiency
 * Ileitis
 * Imatinib
 * Imipenem
 * Inborn amino acid metabolism disorder
 * Indomethacin
 * Inflammatory bowel disease
 * Infliximab Injection
 * Insect sting allergies
 * Interferon alpha
 * Interferon Beta-1b Injection
 * Intestinal Flu
 * Intestinal lymphangiectasis
 * Intestinal pseudoobstruction chronic idiopathic
 * Intrinsic factor, congenital deficiency
 * Irinotecan
 * Iron supplements
 * Irritable bowel syndrome
 * Ischemic colitis
 * Isocarboxazid
 * Isomalt
 * Isosporiasis
 * Isradipine
 * Itraconazole
 * Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
 * Juvenile polyposis of infancy
 * Kanamycin
 * Kaposi's sarcoma
 * Katayama fever
 * Kawasaki disease
 * Ketorolac
 * Laburnum
 * Lactose Intolerance
 * Lamivudine
 * Lamotrigine
 * Lanreotide
 * Lansoprazole
 * Lanthanum
 * Lapatinib ditosylate
 * Lassa fever
 * Laxative abuse
 * Lead poisoning
 * Leflunomide
 * Legionella pneumophila
 * Legionnaires' disease
 * Leiner disease
 * Leptospirosis
 * Letrozole
 * Leuprolide
 * Levalbuterol Oral Inhalation
 * Levetiracetam
 * Levocarnitine Injection
 * Levodopa and Carbidopa
 * Levofloxacin Injection
 * Levy-Yeboa Syndrome
 * Lincomycin
 * Linezolid
 * Liothyronine sodium
 * Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia
 * Lisinopril
 * Listeriosis
 * Lithium
 * Lomefloxacin
 * Lopinavir
 * Loracarbef
 * Loratadine
 * Lorazepam
 * Loxapine Oral
 * Lycorine
 * Lymphangiectasis
 * Lymphocytic colitis
 * Lymphogranuloma venereum
 * Magnesium Hydroxide
 * Malabsorption syndrome
 * Malaria
 * Malassimilation
 * Malonic aciduria
 * Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency
 * Marburg virus
 * Marine toxins
 * Mazindol
 * Measles
 * Mebendazole


 * Mechlorethamine
 * Meckel diverticulitis
 * Meclofenamate
 * Mefenamic acid
 * Mefloquine
 * Megaloblastic anemia
 * Megesterol
 * Melarsoprol
 * Meprobamate
 * Mercaptopurine
 * Mercury poisoning
 * Meropenem
 * Mesalazine
 * Mesna
 * Mesoridazine Oral
 * Mesothelioma, adult malignant – peritoneal
 * Metabolic disorders
 * Metagonimiasis
 * Metal fume fever
 * Metformin
 * Methenamine
 * Methotrexate toxicity
 * Methoxychlor
 * Methsuximide Oral
 * Methyclothiazide
 * Methylergonovine
 * Methyprylon
 * Metoclopramide Oral
 * Metolachlor
 * Metolazone
 * Metoprolol
 * Metronidazole
 * Miconazole Injection
 * Mifepristone
 * Miglitol
 * Mineral oil
 * Minocycline
 * Misoprostol
 * Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum)
 * Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome
 * Mitotane
 * Mixed connective tissue disease
 * Moclobemide
 * Modafinil
 * Moexipril
 * Moricizine
 * Morphine withdrawal
 * Moxifloxacin
 * Mucopolysaccharidosis
 * Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
 * Muscarine
 * Mycobacterium avium Complex
 * Mycophenolate
 * Myleofibrosis
 * Myocarditis
 * Nabumetone
 * Nafcillin
 * Nalidixic acid
 * Naltrexone
 * Naphthalene
 * Natalizumab injection
 * Natamycin
 * Nateglinide oral
 * Necrotizing fasciitis
 * Nelfinavir
 * Neostigmine
 * Netilmicin
 * Neuroendocrine tumors
 * Neurofibromatosis
 * Neutropenia
 * Nevirapine
 * Niclosamide
 * Nicotine poisoning
 * Nizatidine
 * Norfloxacin
 * Norwalk gastroenteritis
 * Norwalk Virus
 * Nystatin
 * Obal syndrome
 * Ofloxacin oral
 * Ogilvie's syndrome
 * Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
 * Oleander
 * Omalizumab injection
 * Omenn syndrome
 * Omeprazole
 * Ondansetron
 * Opioid withdrawal
 * Opisthorchis infection
 * Organophosphates
 * Orlistat
 * Oseltamivir
 * Oxaliplatin
 * Oxazepam
 * Oxcarbazepine
 * Oxtriphylline
 * Oxybutynin
 * Oxyphenisatine
 * Palivizumab injection
 * Pancreatic adenoma
 * Pancrelipase
 * Pantoprazole
 * Paragonimus Infection
 * Paraquat
 * Parathion
 * Pegaspargase
 * Peginterferon alfa-2a
 * Peginterferon alfa-2b
 * Pellagra
 * Pelvic abscess
 * Pemetrexed injection
 * Pemoline
 * Penbutolol
 * Penicillin allergy
 * Penicillium marneffei
 * Pentamidine
 * Pentostatin
 * Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
 * Pergolide
 * Perindopril
 * Periodic hyperlysinemia
 * Pernicious anemia
 * Perphenazine oral
 * Persin
 * Phenolphthalein
 * Phentermine
 * Phentolamine
 * Phycomycosis
 * Phytohaemagglutinin
 * Pilocarpine
 * Pimecrolimus topical
 * Pimozide
 * Piroxicam
 * Plicamycin
 * Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
 * POEMS syndrome
 * Phytolacca Americana
 * Pollen allergy
 * Porphyria
 * Portal vein thrombosis
 * Posaconazole
 * Postgastrectomy syndrome
 * Solanum tuberosum
 * Powell-Buist-Stenzel syndrome
 * Pramipexole
 * Pramlintide injection
 * Prazepam
 * Praziquantel
 * Prazosin and polythiazide
 * Procainamide
 * Procarbazine
 * Proctitis
 * Promethazine
 * Propafenone
 * Propranolol Oral
 * Protein losing enteropathy
 * Protriptyline
 * Pseudoephedrine and triprolidine
 * Pseudomembranous colitis
 * Psittacosis
 * Ptomaine food poisoning
 * Pyridostigmine
 * Q fever
 * Quinapril
 * Quinidine Oral
 * Quinupristin/dalfopristin
 * Rabeprazole
 * Radiation sickness
 * Raltitrexed
 * Rambaud-Galian syndrome
 * Ramipril
 * Ranitidine
 * Rasagiline
 * Rectal cancer
 * Refsum disease, infantile form
 * Repaglinide
 * Reserpine
 * Retapamulin
 * Rhabditida Infections


 * Ribavirin
 * Ricin
 * Rifampin
 * Rilmenidine
 * Riluzole
 * Risedronate
 * Risperidone
 * Ritonavir
 * Rituximab injection
 * Rivastigmine
 * Rizatriptan
 * Roflumilast
 * Rosary pea (Abrus precatorious)
 * Rotavirus
 * Roundworm
 * Sakamoto disease
 * Salmonella enteritidis
 * Salmonellosis
 * Salsalate
 * Sanfilippo syndrome
 * Sapporo-like virus
 * Saquinavir
 * Sarcocystis
 * Sarcosporidiosis
 * Sargramostim injection
 * Satoyoshi syndrome
 * Schistosomiasis
 * Sclerosing Mesenteritis
 * Scombroid food poisoning
 * Secernentea Infections
 * Selegiline
 * Serotonin syndrome
 * Sevelamer
 * Shigellosis
 * Short bowel syndrome
 * Sildenafil
 * Simethicone
 * Simvastatin
 * Sirolimus
 * Sitagliptin
 * Slone's Disease
 * Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome
 * Small bowel lymphoma
 * Smoking stools syndrome
 * Sodium oxybate
 * Sodium picosulfate
 * Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
 * Solanine
 * Solifenacin
 * Somatostatinoma
 * Sorafenib
 * Sorbitol
 * Sotalol
 * Sparfloxacin
 * Spencer disease
 * Sphingolipidosis
 * Spira syndrome
 * Spironolactone
 * Spirurida Infections
 * Spleen Cancer
 * Sprue
 * Stachybotrys chartarum
 * Staphylococcal food poisoning
 * Stavudine
 * Streptobacillus
 * Streptococcal Infections
 * Streptococcus suis
 * Streptozocin
 * Strongyloides
 * Subacute thyroiditis
 * Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency
 * Sucrose intolerance
 * Sulfadiazine
 * Sulfasalazine
 * Sulfisoxazole
 * Sulindac
 * Sumatriptan
 * Sunitinib
 * Superior mesenteric artery occlusion
 * Tacrine
 * Tamsulosin
 * Tapeworms
 * TASB (psychedelics)
 * Tegafur
 * Tegaserod
 * Telbivudine
 * Telithromycin
 * Telmisartan
 * Temozolomide
 * Teniposide
 * Tenofovir
 * Terbinafine
 * Teriparatide (rDNA origin) Injection
 * Tetrodotoxin
 * Thallium
 * Theophylline
 * Thiabendazole
 * Thioguanine
 * Thioridazine
 * Thiothixene Oral
 * Thyroid Carcinoma
 * Thyroid Medication
 * Ticlopidine
 * Tiludronate
 * Tipranavir
 * Tocopherol
 * Tolcapone
 * Topiramate
 * Topotecan
 * Toxocara
 * Toxoplasmosis
 * Tranexamic acid
 * Tranylcypromine
 * Trastuzumab
 * Traveler's diarrhea
 * Trazodone
 * Trematoda
 * Treprostinil
 * Triamterene
 * Triazolam
 * Trichinella spiralis
 * Trichinosis
 * Trichuriasis
 * Trifluoperazine Oral
 * Trihexyphenidyl
 * Trimeprazine
 * Trimethadione
 * Trimethobenzamide
 * Trimetrexate Glucuronate
 * Trimipramine
 * Trovafloxacin
 * Tularemia
 * Turcot syndrome
 * Typhoid fever
 * Ulcerative colitis
 * Urofollitropin
 * Ursodeoxycholic acid
 * Valacyclovir
 * Valganciclovir
 * Valinemia
 * Valproic Acid
 * Valsartan
 * Vanadium
 * Vasculitis hypersensitivity
 * Verapamil and Trandolapril
 * Vibrio cholerae
 * Vibrio mimicus food poisoning
 * Vibrio parahemolyticus
 * Vibrio vulnificus
 * Vinblastine
 * Vinorelbine Tartrate
 * Vipoma
 * Visceral leishmaniasis
 * Vitamin C toxicity
 * Vitamin D
 * Voriconazole
 * Vorinostat
 * Waldmann disease
 * Water hemlock (Cicuta sp.)
 * Waterhouse-Friederichsen syndrome
 * Water-skier colon
 * Weil's syndrome
 * West Nile fever
 * Wheat intolerance
 * Whipple's disease
 * Whipworm Infection
 * Yersinia enterocolitica
 * Zanamivir Inhalation
 * Zidovudine Injection
 * Zinc deficiency
 * Ziprasidone
 * Zoledronic Acid Injection
 * Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
 * Zolmitriptan Oral
 * Zolpidem

Infectious diarrhea
Infectious diarrhea is diarrhea cased by a microbe such as a bacterium, parasite, or virus.

Malabsorption
These tend to be more severe medical illnesses. Malabsorption is the inability to absorb food, mostly in the small bowel but also due to the pancreas.

Causes include celiac disease (intolerance to gluten, a wheat product), lactose intolerance (Intolerance to milk sugar, common in non-Europeans), fructose malabsorption, pernicious anemia (impaired bowel function due to the inability to absorb vitamin B12), loss of pancreatic secretions (may be due to cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis), short bowel syndrome (surgically removed bowel), radiation fibrosis (usually following cancer treatment), and other drugs such as chemotherapy.

Inflammatory bowel disease
The two overlapping types here are of unknown origin:
 * Ulcerative colitis is marked by chronic bloody diarrhea and inflammation mostly affects the distal colon near the rectum.
 * Crohn's disease typically affects fairly well demarcated segments of bowel in the colon and often affects the end of the small bowel.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Another possible cause of diarrhea is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Symptoms defining IBS: abdominal discomfort or pain relieved by defecation and unusual stool (diarrhea or constipation or both) or stool frequency, for at least 3 days a week over the previous 3 months. IBS symptoms can be present in patients with a variety of conditions including food allergies, infective diarrhea, celiac, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Treating the underlying condition (celiac disease, food allergy, bacterial dysbiosis, etc.) usually resolves the diarrhea. IBS can cause visceral hypersensitivity. While there is no direct treatment for undifferentiated IBS, symptoms, including diarrhea, can sometimes be managed through a combination of dietary changes, soluble fiber supplements, and/or medications.

Other important causes

 * Ischemic bowel disease. This usually affects older people and can be due to blocked arteries.
 * Bowel cancer: Some (but not all) bowel cancers may have associated diarrhea. Cancer of the large intestine is most common.
 * Hormone-secreting tumors: some hormones (e.g. serotonin) can cause diarrhea if excreted in excess (usually from a tumor).
 * Bile salt diarrhea: excess bile salt entering the colon rather than being absorbed at the end of the small intestine can cause diarrhea, typically shortly after eating. Bile salt diarrhea is a possible side-effect of gallbladder removal. It is usually treated with cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant.

Alcohol
Chronic diarrhea can be caused by chronic ethanol ingestion. Consumption of alcohol affects the body's capability to absorb water - this is often a symptom that accompanies a hangover after a heavy drinking session. The alcohol itself is absorbed in the intestines and as the intestinal cells absorb it, the toxicity causes these cells to lose their ability to absorb water. This leads to an outpouring of fluid from the intestinal lining, which is in turn poorly absorbed. The diarrhea usually lasts for several hours until the alcohol is detoxified and removed from the digestive system. Symptoms range from person to person and are influenced by both the amount consumed as well as physiological differences. Alcohol-induced diarrhea is often accompanied by "the follow through" where a feeling that the patient is going to break wind (flatulence) instead becomes an uncontrolled episode of diarrhea.

Risk Factors

 * Antibiotic use
 * High-risk sexual behavior (STDs)
 * Immunosuppression
 * Recent travel to endemic area

History and Symptoms

 * History should include:
 * Appearance of bowel movements
 * Travel history
 * Associated symptoms
 * Immune status
 * Woodland exposure

Physical Examination

 * Pulses
 * Blood pressure
 * Orthostatics
 * Skin examination
 * Signs of dehydration
 * Back, genital and rectal examinations
 * Complete abdominal examination

Laboratory Findings

 * Complete blood count (CBC)
 * Glucose
 * White blood cells (WBC)
 * Urinalysis
 * Calcium
 * Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
 * Liver function tests (LFTs)
 * Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) / creatinine
 * Hepatitis serologies
 * Stool examinations:
 * Stool cultures
 * Stool electrolytes
 * Stool osmolality
 * Ova and parasites
 * Fecal lactoferrin
 * Fecal leukocytes
 * Test for C. difficile

MRI and CT

 * Abdominal CT scan may be necessary

Other Diagnostic Studies

 * Breath hydrogen test
 * Endoscopy
 * Barium enema
 * Colonoscopy
 * Sigmoidoscopy
 * HIV testing for those patients suspected of having HIV

Treatment

 * Fluid resuscitation (oral, if not IV)
 * Patients should be advised to do the following until symptoms subside:
 * Hydrate with liquids that are caffeine free and contain glucose
 * Avoid lactose
 * Chew gum that is free of sorbitol
 * Eat raw fruit
 * For patients with lactose intolerance, a lactose-free diet is advised
 * For patients with malabsorption diseases, a gluten free diet is advised
 * Consultation with oncology, surgery and/or gastroenterology may be required for intestinal neoplasm
 * Control blood sugar (diabetic neuropathy)

Acute Pharmacotherapies

 * Antibiotics (malabsorption diseases)
 * Anticholinergics (IBS)
 * Antimolality agents
 * Antibiotic therapy (severe disease)
 * Metoclopramide (diabetic neuropathy)
 * Nonspecific antidiarrheal agents

Chronic Pharmacotherapies

 * Prophylactic therapy with 5-aminosalicylic agents for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Surgery and Device Based Therapy

 * Bowel resection may be necessary for those patients with inflammatory bowel disease

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