Watery or liquid diarrhea can be caused by a gastrointestinal viral infection, a bacterial or parasitic infection, or lactose intolerance, but it can also be caused by a medical condition, such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
This type of diarrhea is characterized by watery, loose stools that occur at least three times a day and may appear as explosive diarrhea or be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, fever, or a change in stool color, such as yellow, brown, or black. Learn what the color of your stool means.
Whenever watery diarrhea occurs, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist so he can identify the cause and indicate the most appropriate treatment and prevent complications such as dehydration.
main reason
The main causes of watery diarrhea are:
1. Viral gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis can cause watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and symptoms can last up to 7 days if not treated properly.
This type of infection can be caused by viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus or adenovirus and is spread, for example, through the consumption of contaminated food and water.
To do: You should stay hydrated, drink plenty of water or homemade serums, rest and eat small, frequent meals of light foods such as toast, bananas or rice. Learn what to eat when you have diarrhea.
However, if the diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, or if the patient is a child or elderly person, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to begin the most appropriate treatment.
2. Bacterial infection
Watery diarrhea can also be caused by a bacterial infection and be accompanied by abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, or bloody stools. Learn about other causes of blood in your stool.
The main bacteria causing watery diarrhea are salmonella, E. coli anyone Shigella spp., Spread through ingestion of contaminated food or water.
To do: It is important to drink plenty of water and eat a bland diet. Apart from this, it is recommended to see a doctor for diagnosis, identification of the type of bacteria and indication of antibiotic treatment.
3. Parasitic infection
Some parasites, e.g. Giardia lamblia, roundworms anyone Entamoeba histolyticacan also cause watery diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, bloody stools, fever, or tiredness.
in the case of Giardia lamblia, yellow liquid diarrhea may also occur, which may be acute and severe or mild and persistent. Learn about other symptoms of giardiasis.
To do: Treatment should be done in consultation with a gastroenterologist or general practitioner and usually involves antiparasitic drugs such as metronidazole, secnidazole, albendazole or mebendazole, depending on the type of parasite.
4. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance causes watery diarrhea and abdominal pain, which may begin a few hours after consuming dairy products, along with excessive gas or nausea. Learn how to know if you are lactose intolerant.
Lactose intolerance occurs due to a lack or deficiency of the enzyme lactase, and the severity of symptoms may vary depending on each individual’s level of intolerance.
To do: You should avoid dairy products such as cow’s or goat’s milk, cheese, yogurt, or whey protein, and consult a gastroenterologist who can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe lactase medication.
Additionally, it is important that patients stay hydrated during episodes of diarrhea by taking regular sips of water or homemade serum.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by inflammation of the intestinal villi that can lead to alternating episodes of watery diarrhea and constipation.
Additionally, other symptoms include abdominal pain, excessive gas production, and bloating.
Although the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not fully understood, symptoms are known to worsen during times of stress and anxiety.
To do: Treatment must be supervised by a gastroenterologist and include changes in diet and/or the use of probiotics and antidepressants, which can help relieve pain and other symptoms.
Additionally, you should engage in activities that reduce stress to prevent symptoms from worsening or progressing. Learn about the main treatments for irritable bowel syndrome.
6. Celiac disease
Diarrhea with yellow, light brown, or gray fluid may be caused by celiac disease, or it may appear as oily or frothy diarrhea with a foul odor.
Celiac disease is a severe gluten intolerance that causes intestinal irritation and malabsorption when people eat foods containing wheat, rye, or barley, which speeds up the passage of stool in the intestines and increases the amount of fat in the stool .
Often, people with celiac disease experience improvement in symptoms after eliminating gluten-containing foods from their diet.
To do: It is important to consult a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis of the disease and start a gluten-free diet. In some cases, doctors may also recommend immunosuppressive medications. Learn about treatments for celiac disease.
7. Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal lining that may be caused by genetic factors or immune system dysfunction.
The disease causes symptoms such as watery diarrhea, which may be yellow in color due to malabsorption of nutrients, as well as abdominal pain or blood or mucus in the stool. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
To do: Treatment as directed by the gastroenterologist must be followed and usually includes the use of corticosteroid drugs, immunosuppressants, or biological therapies in addition to changes in dietary habits. In some cases, doctors may also recommend surgery to remove the damaged portion of the intestine.
8. Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the intestinal lining that can lead to bleeding or ulcers in the intestines and watery diarrhea with fresh, brown or black blood and a foul odor.
Additionally, diarrhea can be chronic and accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, mucus in the stool, fever, excessive intestinal gas, or anemia.
To do: Treatment must be supervised by a gastroenterologist and varies depending on the severity of symptoms and may include the use of immunosuppressive drugs or biological therapies, or even surgery.
When to see a doctor
You should consult a gastroenterologist if your watery diarrhea has the following characteristics:
- No improvement or worsening of symptoms within 1 or 2 days;
- Presence of blood, mucus, or pus;
- yellow, green, dark brown or black;
- fever;
- Severe abdominal pain;
- lose weight.
In addition, if you have symptoms of dehydration such as headache, fatigue, dry mouth, decreased urination, confusion, palpitations, etc., you should go to the hospital immediately for prompt treatment, because this is an emergency situation. medical. Learn how to recognize symptoms of dehydration.