Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a condition in which loose, watery stools are passed
more often than normal.
What is going on in the body?
Diarrhea occurs when the colon or large intestine becomes
irritated. This can be caused by many things, including infection, chemical
toxins, inflammation,
stress, or anxiety. The colon responds to this irritation in these
ways:
The amount of water and mucus in the stool is increased.
The amount of water the colon reabsorbs from the stool is decreased.
The intestine empties the stools from the body more often.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Viruses cause most episodes of diarrhea. Other common causes are as follows:
a bacterial infection, such as
traveler's diarrhea
certain medicines, including
antibiotics
diet, including an excess of fruit or fruit juice
inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn''s disease or ulcerative colitis
intestinal
obstruction, or blockage, in the lower part of the bowel
irritable bowel
syndrome, a condition in which the intestines are abnormally
sensitive to stimuli
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