Causes of Frequent Diarrhea

Diarrhea is caused by problems in the digestive system that result in loose, watery and sometimes frequent stools. Once food is eaten, it remains liquefied during most of the digestive process. Most fluids are absorbed when passing through the colon so that only semi-solid stools remain. However, in cases of diarrhea, food and fluids are not adequately absorbed, due to passing to quickly or in too large an amount through the colon. The result is a watery, loose bowel movement. Diarrhea is typically not a serious condition, but it can be brought on by any number of factors.

Viral Gastroenteritis

• Viral gastroenteritis is nothing more than the stomach flu. It is the most common cause of frequent diarrhea. It is a mild, viral infection that often causes disturbances within the digestive system, sometimes leading to diarrhea. This type of diarrhea generally subsides within a few days, after the virus has run its course.

Food Poisoning

• Diarrhea is often brought on by food poisoning. When consuming food products contaminated with bacteria, the after-effects cause problems in the digestive system leading to diarrhea.

Travelers' Diarrhea

• Food products can also be contaminated with parasites. Once these parasites enter the body, they settle in the digestive system, causing diarrhea. This "Travelers' Diarrhea" is only common when travelling to countries that are not yet fully developed.

Medications

• Many medications such as laxatives that contain magnesium, or chemotherapy treatments can cause diarrhea. But diarrhea is most commonly caused by the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria, which disturbs the natural balance of the intestines. This disturbance will occasionally lead to a bacterial infection and cause diarrhea.

Medical Conditions

• Diarrhea is often a symptom of a more serious medical condition such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac Disease or Crohn's Disease. All of these conditions deal with disturbances within the digestive system.

Malabsorption Syndrome

• Some individuals are unable to absorb and digest certain foods or the nutrients within food. If the food is not absorbed properly, it will result in diarrhea. Some individuals cannot tolerate the protein found in cows' milk (lactose intolerance), while others cannot process the sugars found in fruits (fructose intolerance).

Surgery

• Diarrhea is often a side effect of surgery. Patients who have undergone gallbladder removal surgery or abdominal surgery frequently struggle with diarrhea.