The Causes of Severe Diarrhea

Diarrhea is loose and watery stools that most people experience at some time in their lifetime. Fever, chills, dehydration and severe abdominal cramping also occur with severe diarrhea. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a couple of days poses a very serious risk of dehydration, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Bacterial Infection

• Food and water that is infected with parasites and bacteria leads to severe diarrhea. The condition is known as traveler’s diarrhea when patients suffer from the condition in contaminated food and water in developing countries, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bacteria commonly found in food and water in these areas include Escherichia coli, salmonella and campylobacter. A parasite known to cause severe diarrhea in patients is Giardia lamblia. Antibiotics and fluids treat severe bacterial and parasitic diarrhea. The treatment may not work in some cases, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Viruses

• Rotavirus is a common cause of severe diarrhea in children, according to Health Central. Diarrhea caused by a virus is contagious, but hand washing and good hygiene prevents the spread of the condition. Cytomegalovirus, Norwalk and herpes simplex also cause severe diarrhea in patients, according to the Mayo Clinic. Antibiotics will not treat this type of diarrhea, but fluid replacement is essential to prevent dehydration.

Disease

• Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, colitis and celiac disease cause the symptoms of severe diarrhea in some patients. Chronic diarrhea is common in patients with these conditions. Nervous diarrhea occurs in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and occurs during times of high stress such as before a job interview, according to USA Today. Constant stress can cause severe diarrhea to become chronic. Fluid replacement and stress reduction may help patients with this form of severe diarrhea.

Medications

• Antibiotics cause severe diarrhea in some patients. These medications destroy good bacteria in the intestines along with bad, which creates an imbalance in the body leading to diarrhea. Doctors stop antibiotic medications when the diarrhea symptom is severe and chronic.

Foods

• Certain foods cause severe diarrhea in some patients, including dairy products and artificial sweeteners. A patient who is lactose intolerant experiences severe diarrhea and abdominal cramping after eating dairy foods. Fructose, a sugar found in fruits, causes the symptom in some patients.

Gallbladder Surgery

• Patients often experience severe diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery. The condition occurs when food passes through the digestive system rapidly or when there is an excessive amount of bile in the colon. Changes in diet help to control severe diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery.