Diarrhea

Diarrhea is loose, watery stools. A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. People with diarrhea may pass more than a quart of stool a day.

What is Diarrhea?

The term diarrhea (also spelled diarrhoea) refers to passage of loose, watery stools. The usual frequency of passing loose stools or watery stools in cases of diarrhea is at least three or more times a day.

Diarrhea Treatment

Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea: Distinguishing Between Common and Serious Causes

Diarrhea Symptoms

Diarrhea Causes

Diarrhea Prevention

Diarrhea Epidemiology

Diarrhea in Children

Acute Diarrhea

Chronic Diarrhea

Latest Diarrhea News and Research

Study highlights the importance of clean water and sanitation in controlling endemic cholera

Public health strategies, from vaccination to improving sanitary conditions, may have different impacts depending on whether a disease is endemic - persisting in a particular location for an extended period of time - or a new outbreak, because the dominant transmission routes may differ, according to a new study.

18 Apr 2025

Lower temperatures increase the risk of gastroenteritis among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Colder temperatures are linked with increased risk of diarrhea among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for climate-sensitive health strategies in refugee settings.

18 Apr 2025

Why measles is back in the U.S. and what doctors must know now

Measles is making a troubling comeback in the U.S., driven by declining vaccination rates and rising vaccine hesitancy. Pediatric infectious disease experts provide clinical guidance to help healthcare providers recognize, manage, and prevent measles in today’s outbreak-prone environment.

14 Apr 2025

What really causes keto flu, and how can you prevent it?

A scoping review from the University of Bergen identifies a wide range of transient symptoms—collectively known as "keto flu"—that occur during the initiation of a ketogenic diet. The review explores their physiological basis and highlights strategies, such as MCTs and electrolyte supplementation, to ease the transition.

13 Apr 2025

Oklahoma Children's Hospital improves care for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome

In years past, health care providers took a punitive stance toward women giving birth to babies exposed to substances like opioids in the womb.

9 Apr 2025

High fiber diet helps protect against dangerous gut infections

A study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe by Brazilian and American researchers suggests that a diet rich in soluble fiber can protect the intestine against pathogenic bacteria.

9 Apr 2025

Treating SIBO holistically helps patients feel better, new study finds

A 90-day real-world study in Spain shows that a comprehensive, personalized treatment for SIBO significantly improves patients’ quality of life—even when breath tests remain abnormal.

7 Apr 2025

New study reveals hidden spread of C. diff in intensive care units

One of the most common health care-associated infections spreads within intensive care units (ICUs) more than three times more than previously thought, new research has found.

4 Apr 2025

Genetic research offers hope for children with rare intestinal disorders

Further genetic testing would show that Sophie has one of a group of rare conditions called CODE (congenital diarrhea and enteropathies) that disrupts the function of cells in the intestine, causing diarrhea and preventing infants from absorbing the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

3 Apr 2025

Texas A&M research sheds light on Giardia and Cryptosporidium pathogens in canine facilities

The pathogens Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium are common causes of sometimes-fatal intestinal diseases in humans, other mammals and birds worldwide.

2 Apr 2025

New study explores link between gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder

Researchers evaluate the relationship between the gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder.

2 Apr 2025

Novel ARPC1B mutation identified in a patient with recurrent eosinophilia

Immunodeficiency disorders linked to cytoskeleton defects are rare and complex, often presenting with diverse clinical features.

1 Apr 2025

Does COVID-19 affect heart rate variability after recovery?

Researchers determine the impact of mild COVID-19 on heart rate variability.

31 Mar 2025

Cabozantinib gains FDA approval for treating advanced neuroendocrine tumors

Cabozantinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with previously treated advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

26 Mar 2025

C. diff uses toxic compound to gain competitive advantage in the gut

The pathogen C. diff - the most common cause of health care-associated infectious diarrhea - can use a compound that kills the human gut's resident microbes to survive and grow, giving it a competitive advantage in the infected gut.

25 Mar 2025

CDC study identifies leading culprits of foodborne illness

Researchers from the CDC and Colorado School of Public Health estimate that seven major pathogens caused 9.9 million foodborne illnesses in the US in 2019. Norovirus led illness and hospitalization counts, while Salmonella caused the most deaths.

25 Mar 2025

Research identifies pressure-sensing protein behind gut motility

After every meal, the intestines perform an action called peristalsis - moving food through their hollow interiors with coordinated contractions and relaxations of the smooth muscle.

25 Mar 2025

CDC confirms black-legged ticks can cause red meat allergy in humans

Researchers confirmed that black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) can trigger alpha-gal syndrome in humans. A 10-year surveillance in Maine identified 23 confirmed cases of the meat allergy outside the lone star tick’s known range.

23 Mar 2025

Mount Sinai-led research uncovers mechanisms behind Crohn's disease inflammation

A research team led by Mount Sinai has uncovered mechanisms of abnormal immune cell function that may lead to Crohn's disease, according to findings published in Science Immunology on March 21.

22 Mar 2025

Plant-based diets and IBD

This study highlights the link between plant-based diets and reduced IBD risk, suggesting dietary choices play a crucial role in managing chronic inflammation.

19 Mar 2025