Cause | Common Features* | Tests |
---|---|---|
Acute diarrhea (lasting less than 2 weeks) | ||
Antibiotic use | Recent use of antibiotics Often no other symptoms | A doctor’s examination Sometimes tests for Clostridioides difficile toxin in stool |
Often with vomiting Dehydration common especially among infants and young children Sometimes fever and abdominal pain Rarely blood in stool Sometimes recent contact with infected people (such as those at a day care center, at a camp, or on a cruise), with animals at a petting zoo (where Escherichia [E.] coli may be acquired), or with reptiles (which may be infected with Salmonella bacteria) or recent consumption of undercooked, contaminated food or contaminated water | A doctor’s examination Sometimes examination and testing of stool | |
Hives, swelling of the lips, and difficulty breathing within minutes to several hours after eating Sometimes vomiting Often an already identified food allergy | A doctor’s examination | |
Abdominal pain, vomiting, and usually bloody diarrhea for a few days, followed by development of pale skin and decreased urination Sometimes bleeding in the skin (seen as tiny reddish purple dots or splotches) | Blood tests Examination and testing of stool | |
Chronic diarrhea (lasting 2 weeks or more) | ||
Vomiting Poor feeding Weight loss, poor growth, or both Blood in stools | Stool tests Symptoms that lessen when the formula is changed Possibly endoscopy, colonoscopy, or both | |
Excessive consumption of fruit juices (especially apple, pear, and prune) | Drinking more than 4–6 ounces (120–180 milliliters) of fruit juice a day Often no other symptoms except diarrhea | A doctor’s examination Resolution of diarrhea after decreasing consumption of fruit juices |
Inflammatory bowel disease Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) In inflammatory bowel diseases, the intestine (bowel) becomes inflamed, often causing recurring abdominal pain and diarrhea. The 2 primary types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn... read more such as | Blood in stool, crampy abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, and poor growth Sometimes arthritis, rashes, sores in the mouth, and tears in the rectum | Colonoscopy Sometimes CT or x-rays after barium is inserted in the rectum (barium enema) |
Lactose intolerance Lactose Intolerance Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar lactose because of a lack of the digestive enzyme lactase, leading to diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Lactose intolerance is caused... read more (inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk and dairy products) | Abdominal bloating, passing of gas (flatulence), and explosive diarrhea Diarrhea after consumption of milk and dairy products | A doctor’s examination Sometimes a breath test to detect hydrogen (indicates undigested carbohydrates) Examination and analysis of stool to check for unabsorbed carbohydrates |
Malabsorption disorders such as | Light-colored, soft, bulky, and unusually foul-smelling stool that may appear oily Abdominal bloating and flatulence Poor weight gain With cystic fibrosis, frequent respiratory infections With acrodermatitis enteropathica, rash and cracks in the corners of the mouth | Examination and testing of stool If celiac disease is suspected, blood tests to measure antibodies against gluten (a protein in wheat) and biopsy of the small intestine If cystic fibrosis is suspected, a sweat test and possibly genetic testing If acrodermatitis enteropathica is suspected, a blood test for zinc deficiency |
A weakened immune system due to
| Frequent infections Weight loss or poor weight gain Sometimes an already identified HIV infection | Blood tests for HIV A complete blood cell count and other blood tests to evaluate the immune system |
* Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. | ||
† Infections by bacteria, parasites, or viruses can also cause chronic diarrhea. | ||
CT = computed tomography; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus. |