Diarrhea is when your bowel movements become loose, watery, or more frequent than usual. It can be mild and brief, or it can last longer and interfere with your daily life. Short-term diarrhea is often caused by infections, food intolerances, or medication side effects. Longer-lasting diarrhea can be related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, problems absorbing nutrients, or other underlying conditions. When diarrhea is severe, persistent, or associated with weight loss, blood, or dehydration, it deserves careful evaluation by a digestive specialist.
Diarrhea can show up as frequent, urgent trips to the bathroom, watery or mushy stools, abdominal cramping, and sometimes nausea, bloating, or gas. If it continues or is severe, you may also feel weak, lightheaded, or notice signs of dehydration.
Call our office if diarrhea lasts more than 2–3 days, keeps coming back, or you notice mucus or small amounts of blood. Also contact us if you’re losing weight, have low appetite or unusual fatigue, symptoms wake you at night or disrupt daily life, or you have a digestive condition and your symptoms change or worsen.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have signs of severe dehydration (very little urine, dizziness, confusion, very dry mouth, or fainting). Seek emergency care if you have heavy blood in the stool or black tarry stools, severe or worsening abdominal pain/swelling, or a high fever with diarrhea and you feel very unwell.
We start by asking how long the diarrhea has been going on, how often you are having stools, and whether you’ve noticed blood, mucus, weight loss, fever, or nighttime symptoms. We also review your diet, medications, recent antibiotic use, travel, and any personal or family history of digestive disease.
If needed, testing may include blood work, stool studies for infection or inflammation, and sometimes a colonoscopy or imaging if there are red-flag signs or long-standing symptoms. The goal is to determine whether the diarrhea is likely from an infection, IBS, IBD, malabsorption, or another cause so we can tailor treatment.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity. For many people with short-term diarrhea, the focus is on preventing dehydration, using simple diet changes, and letting the illness run its course. When diarrhea is more severe or long-lasting, we may recommend medications to calm the bowel, treat infections, reduce inflammation, or address conditions like IBS or IBD. We’ll also look for medication side effects or food intolerances that can be improved with adjustments.
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