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Diarrhea

Condition Overview:

Diarrhea is an increase in the volume, wateriness, or frequency of bowel movements.

The frequency of bowel movements alone is not the defining feature of diarrhea. Some people normally move their bowels 3 to 5 times a day. People who eat large amounts of vegetable fiber may produce more than a pound of stool a day, but the stool in such cases is well formed and not watery. Diarrhea occurs when not enough water is removed from the stool, making the stool loose and poorly formed. Diarrhea is often associated with gas, cramping, an urgency to move the bowels (defecate), nausea, and vomiting.

Diarrhea is characterized by frequent loose stools. The consistency of the stool can be anything from soft and pasty to completely watery. The color can range from brown to clear. Black stools may indicate bleeding in the digestive tract, although some drugs used to treat diarrhea (those containing bismuth subsalicylateSome Trade Names PEPTO-BISMOL) turn the stools black as well. When a black color is caused by blood (melena), the stools are usually tarry and foul-smelling.Cramping may occur before and with a bowel movement, and sometimes large amounts of gas are passed with the stool. Some people experience nausea, especially if the diarrhea is caused by an infectious organism or a toxic substance.

Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and a loss of electrically charged particles (electrolytes), such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride, from the blood. If large amounts of fluid and electrolytes are lost, blood pressure can drop enough to cause fainting (syncope), heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias), and other serious disorders. At particular risk are the very young, older people, the debilitated, and people with very severe diarrhea. Bicarbonate may be lost in the stool as well, leading to metabolic acidosis .