Diarrhea can have many causes, and figuring out why you’re experiencing it often requires considering several factors such as recent foods, medications, infections, and underlying health conditions. Here’s a practical overview to help guide next steps and what might be worth discussing with a clinician. Direct answer
- Common reasons people get diarrhea include viral or bacterial infections (including travel-related or contaminated food/water), side effects from medicines (notably antibiotics or certain supplements), lactose intolerance or other food intolerances, and digestive disorders (like IBS, Crohn’s disease, or celiac disease). In many cases it’s short-lived and resolves within a few days, but persistent or frequent diarrhea warrants medical evaluation. [web results summarized from reputable sources]
What to consider about your situation
- Timing and pattern:
- Acute diarrhea (less than 2 weeks) is most often due to infections, food poisoning, or medication side effects.
* Chronic diarrhea (longer than 4 weeks) or persistent diarrhea may suggest a more complex issue such as inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption, or dietary intolerances.
- Triggers and exposures:
- Recent meals, travel, or exposure to others with similar symptoms can point toward infectious causes or foodborne illness. Lactose-containing foods can trigger symptoms in people with lactose intolerance.
- Medications and substances:
- Antibiotics, magnesium-containing antacids, chemotherapy, or other drugs can cause diarrhea by disrupting gut bacteria or motility.
- Underlying conditions to discuss with a clinician:
- Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or pancreatic insufficiency can present with chronic diarrhea.
What you can do now
- Hydration and electrolytes:
- Replenish fluids and electrolytes with oral rehydration solutions or a clear fluid approach (water, broth, diluted juice) to prevent dehydration. Avoid excess caffeine or alcohol.
- Diet adjustments:
- BRAT-like foods (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) can be gentle during a brief episode. Some people benefit from avoiding dairy if lactose intolerance is suspected, or reducing fructose/sorbitol if those are concerns.
- When to seek medical care urgently:
- Diarrhea with symptoms of dehydration (very dry mouth, little urine, dizziness), blood in stool, fever above 38.3°C (100.9°F) for more than a day, severe abdominal pain, or if it lasts more than a few days (or diarrhea recurs frequently). Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems require closer monitoring.
- Diagnostic steps a clinician might take:
- Review medications and recent exposures, stool tests for infections, blood tests, and possibly tests for lactose/fructose intolerance or celiac disease if warranted. In some cases, a short trial of dietary modification or a colon assessment might be considered.
Bottom line
- Most new diarrhea cases are due to infections or medication effects and resolve on their own with supportive care within a few days. If the diarrhea is persistent, recurrent, severe, or accompanied by dehydration or blood in the stool, a healthcare professional should evaluate to identify the exact cause and tailor treatment.
If you’d like, share details about:
- How long the diarrhea has been happening and its severity
- Any recent meals, travel, medications, or supplements
- Associated symptoms (fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, blood in stool, weight loss)
With that, I can help interpret potential triggers and what questions to ask your clinician.
