Diarrhoea: Diarrhoea is listed as an alternate name or description for symptom:
Causes of Diarrhea (Diarrhoea): See detailed list of causes below.
Medical Book Extracts related to Diarrhea (Diarrhoea): Refer to the excerpt book sections about Diarrhea below.
Diarrhea (medical symptom): Loose, soft, or watery stool.
Diarrhea (medical symptom): Diarrhea is a very common symptom. Everyone is familiar with a sudden bout of acute diarrhea. Although many people assume sudden diarrhea is "something you ate" (i.e. food poisoning), it is commonly caused by infectious diarrhea (usually a gastrointestinal virus) and also parasitic conditions such as giardia or crypto.
There are also many other possible causes of diarrhea. Surprisingly, even constipation or fecal impaction can cause diarrhea or fecal incontinence, as only watery feces passes around the blockage. Diarrhea can indicate a serious condition and can itself be potentially serious if it leads to dehydration. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about any diarrhea or related symptoms.
Chronic diarrhea refers in medical terms to repeated bouts of diarrhea over a prolonged period, rather than the common usage of "chronic diarrhea" to mean severe diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea is a symptom that can also indicate several serious medical conditions.
It is important to distinguish true "diarrhea" (various degrees of softness of stool) from fecal incontinence, which is an inability to control or prevent bowel motions. Some people will say "diarrhea" when they are really talking about fecal incontinence. In many cases of acute diarrhea, diarrhea will cause (temporary) fecal incontinence, but sometimes they are entirely different issues.
Diarrhea (medical symptom): Diarrhea--loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day--is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. However, prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of other problems.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and the elderly, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. (Source: excerpt from Diarrhea: NIDDK)
The list of medical condition causes of Diarrhea (Diarrhoea) includes:
Review the causes of the following types of more specific symptoms for Diarrhoea:
Research the causes of these related symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Diarrhoea:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are more broader types of symptom than Diarrhoea:
For a medical symptom description of 'Diarrhoea', the following symptom information may be relevant to the symptoms: Diarrhea (symptom). However, note that other causes of the symptom 'Diarrhoea' may be possible.
More information on symptom: Diarrhea:
Diarrhoea: Diarrhoea is listed as an alternate name or description for Diarrhea. For a medical symptom description of 'Diarrhoea', the following disease information may be relevant to the symptoms: Diarrhea (disease information). However, numerous other possible causes of the symptom may be possible.
Diarrhoea (medical condition): Loose or watery stool.
Diarrhoea (medical condition): Diarrhea is any form of loose or watery stool, and is all too common. Acute diarrhea with a sudden onset is often caused by something eaten, such as food poisoning, viruses or bacteria as in infectious diarrhea or traveler's diarrhea, or even surprisingly by constipation. Chronic diarrhea that is ongoing could be any of numerous problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, diabetic diarrhea, certain medications, or various other underlying conditions. See also the full list of conditions with symptoms of diarrhea.
Diarrhea is potentially serious if it leads to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. This is true especially in infants, children, the elderly, or other at risk groups.
Diarrhoea: Diarrhea--loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day--is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. However, prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of other problems.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and the elderly, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. (Source: excerpt from Diarrhea: NIDDK)
More information on medical condition: Diarrhea:
Free access to excerpts from published medical book extracts about the causes and diagnosis of Diarrhea from the following published medical books is available for more detailed information that is related to Diarrhoea.
... Is there blood in the stool? From the algorithm, blood in the stool should indicate that there is Salmonella , Shigella ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Is there a positive drug or alcohol history? It is well known that alcohol can cause diarrhea, as do drugs in common use, such as digitalis, diuretics, beta ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Diarrhea is defined as an increase in the volume of bowel movements. Acute diarrhea is designated as being of less than 4 weeks’ duration. Many patients describe increased frequency or decreased consistency of bowel... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Chronic diarrhea is defined as increased volume bowel movements persisting for more than 4 weeks. Mechanisms of diarrhea are categorized as increased secretion, decreased absorption, osmotic diarrhea, or abnormal intestinal... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Chronic diarrhea (nonbloody, without weight loss) is defined as increased total daily stool output (greater than 10 g/kg/day), associated with increased stool water content; diarrhea is classified as chronic... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Diarrhea is considered chronic when it last longer than 14 days. Weight loss with diarrhea should always be concerning and deserves thorough investigation. Collectively the malabsorption syndromes are the most common etiologic... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Acute diarrhea is an abrupt onset of increased fluid content of stool above about 10 mL/kg/day and increased frequency from 4–5 to more than 20 times daily. It is a major problem worldwide because of excessive... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The differential diagnosis of diarrhea may be approached from either an anatomic or a physiologic basis. The anatomic approach is used in Table 22. In the stomach and duodenum, pernicious anemia and Zollinger–Ellison ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows a loss or an impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from many GI, neurologic, and psychological disorders; the effects of drugs; or surgery. In some... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient's normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Acute Diarrhea Infections Viral gastroenteritis (adenovirus, Norwalk agent, rotavirus, etc.) Bacterial ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows any loss or impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from various GI, neurologic, and psychological disorders; the effects of drugs; or surgery. In some... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel elimination habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Francis G. O’Connor Diarrhea is one of the most common clinical complaints encountered by primary care providers. Although diarrhea infrequently requires a significant... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing (5) ... Diagnostic assessment ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview ❑ Viral gastroenteritis ❑ Staphylococcal enterotoxin ❑ E. coli ❑ Salmonella ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview Altered Intestinal Motility ❑ Irritable bowel syndrome ❑ Diabetic enteropathy ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Definedas fecal soiling beyond 4 yrs of age. Until this age, children arelearning normal bowel control and bowel habits. Primary fecal incontinence exists whenchild has never achieved adequate bowel control; secondary... Principal Causes of Fecal Incontinence ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Definedas stools that are more fluid and frequent than normal. Can be acute or chronic (>2–3wks in duration). Acute diarrhea is discussed in first section ofthis chapter,... Principle Causes of Acute Diarrhea ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Acute Diarrhea ... Diagnostic Approach: Acute Diarrhea ... Principle Causes of Chronic Diarrhea ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Chronic Diarrhea ... Diagnostic Approach: Chronic Diarrhea ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows a loss or an impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from many GI, neurologic, and psychological... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient's normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute infection... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
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