Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Everyone occasionally has diarrhea — loose, watery and more-frequent bowel movements. You might also have abdominal cramps and produce a greater volume of stool. Diarrhea varies in specific symptoms, severity and duration.

Acute diarrhea, which lasts from two days to two weeks, is typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.

Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than does acute diarrhea, generally more than four weeks. Chronic diarrhea can indicate a serious disorder, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

June 16, 2020

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  35. Cryptosporidium infection
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  54. Fecal incontinence
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  57. Food poisoning
  58. Gastroenteritis: First aid
  59. GI Stents
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  61. Global Bridges
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  65. Hirschsprung's disease
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  67. Hunter syndrome
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  69. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
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  72. Intestinal obstruction
  73. Intussusception
  74. Irritable bowel syndrome
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  76. Jet lag disorder
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  79. Legionnaires' disease
  80. Listeria infection
  81. Malaria
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  139. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome