Diarrhea is a common digestive disorder characterized by frequent, loose or watery stools. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including bacterial or viral infections, food sensitivities, or medication side effects. There are four main types of diarrhea:
1. Acute Diarrhea: Acute diarrhea is the most common type of diarrhea and typically lasts 2-3 days. It is usually caused by an infection, such as a bacterial or viral infection, or food poisoning. Symptoms can include frequent, watery stools, abdominal cramps, nausea, bloating, and fatigue.
2. Chronic Diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea is defined as lasting for more than 4 weeks and is usually caused by an underlying medical condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or a food intolerance. Symptoms of chronic diarrhea include frequent, watery stools, bloating, cramping, and fatigue.
3. Osmotic Diarrhea: Osmotic diarrhea is caused by the presence of undigestible substances in the intestine that draw water into the bowel, resulting in watery stools. Common causes of osmotic diarrhea include lactose intolerance, malabsorption syndromes, and the ingestion of certain medications.
4. Secretory Diarrhea: Secretory diarrhea is caused by an overproduction of fluids in the intestines, which can be caused by certain bacterial or viral infections or certain medications. Symptoms of secretory diarrhea include frequent, watery stools, abdominal cramps, and bloating.