Diarrhea causes

Diarrhea Microchapters
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Classification Acute Diarrhea Chronic diarrhea
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; M.Umer Tariq [3]

Causes

The principal cause of diarrhea stems from ingestion of unsafe drinking water (typically from admixture of raw sewage to water supplies); the occurrence is predominantly in lesser developed countries.

Causes of diarrhea can be infection, allergy, food intolerance, foodborne illness and/or extreme excesses of Vitamin C and/or magnesium and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Temporary diarrhea can also result from the ingestion of laxative medications or large quantities of certain foods like prunes with laxative properties. There are other conditions which involve some but not all of the symptoms of diarrhea, and so the formal medical definition of diarrhea involves defecation of more than 200 grams per day (although formal weighing of stools to determine a diagnosis is rarely actually carried out).

Diarrhea occurs when insufficient fluid is absorbed by the colon. As part of normal digestion, food is mixed with large amounts of water. The water is supplied, as needed, by the stomach and small intestine. The colon recovers this water, leaving the remaining material as a semisolid stool. If the colon is damaged or inflamed, however, absorption is inhibited, and watery stools result.

Diarrhea is most commonly caused by viral infections or bacterial toxins. In sanitary living conditions and with ample food and water available, an otherwise healthy patient typically recovers from the common viral infections in a few days and at most a week. However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and can become life-threatening without treatment.

Diarrhea can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as dysentery, Montezuma's Revenge, cholera, or botulism, and can also be indicative of a chronic syndrome such as Crohn's disease. Though appendicitis patients do not generally have diarrhea, it is a common symptom of a ruptured appendix. It is also an effect of severe radiation sickness.

Diarrhea can also be caused by dairy intake in those who are lactose intolerant.

Causes According to Duration

Acute Diarrhea

• Addison's Disease
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Appendicitis
• Bacterial:
  • Aeromonas
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Chlamydia
  • Clostridium Difficile
  • E.coli
  • Enterobacter
  • Klebsiella
  • Neisseria gonorrhea
  • Plesiomonas
  • Salmonella
  • Shigella
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Vibrio cholerae
  • Yersinia enterocolitica
• C-cell carcinoma
• Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (first manifestation)
• Colon cancer
• Drugs:
  • Abuse of laxatives
  • Alcohol
  • Antibiotics
  • Biguanides
  • Chemotherapeutics
  • Chemotherapy
  • Cholestyramin
  • Digitalis
  • Diuretics
  • Ergotamine
  • Hydralazine
  • Mushroom poisoning
  • Opiate withdrawal
  • Parasympathomimetics
  • Quinidine
  • Reserpine
  • Uremia
  • Warfarin
• Food:
  • Bacillus cereus
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Staphylococcus aureus
• Food allergy
• Graft-host reaction after allogenic bone marrow transplantation
• Heavy metal intoxication
• HIV
• Hyperthyroidism
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Ischemic-hemorrhagic colitis
• Lactose intolerance
• Neoplasia
• Other hormone-producing tumor
• Parasites:
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Entamoeba histolytica
  • Giardia intestinalis
  • Hyperthyroidism
• Runner's diarrhea
• Traveler's diarrhea
  • Most commonly seen germs:
    • Aeromonas
    • Campylobacter jejuni
    • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
    • Protozoa
    • Rotavirus
    • Salmonella
    • Shigella
• Typhoid Fever
• Viral:
  • Adenovirus
  • Coxsackie virus
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses
  • Influenza virus
  • Norwalk virus
  • Poliovirus
  • Rotavirus

Chronic Diarrhea

• Achylia
• Addison's Disease
• Amebiasis
• Amyloidosis
• Anxiety
• Autonomous neuropathy
• Bacterial gastroenteritis
• Bacterial toxins
• Behcet syndrome
• Bile acid malabsorption
• Biliary fistula
• Carcinoid syndrome
• Carcinoma of the pancreas
• Celiac Sprue
• Chologenic diarrhea
• Collagenous colitis
• Colitis after radiation therapy
• Colon cancer
• Crohn's Disease
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Diabetic enteropathy
• Diverticular disease
• Drugs:
  • Antacids
  • Antipholgistics
  • Anthraquinones
  • Castor oil
  • Lactulose
  • Mannitol
  • Prostaglandins
  • Sorbitol
• Dumping syndrome
• Enteropathogenic viruses
• Excess coffee, tea, coke
• Exudative diarrhea
• Fecal impaction
• Food allergy
• Gastric surgery/Billroth operation
• Gastrinoma
• Gastrocolic fistula
• Giardia
• Hyperthyroidism
• HIV
• Idiopathic lymphangiectasis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Intestinal atrophy (post-radiation therapy)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Irritable colon
• Lymphocytic colitis
• Lymphomas
• Malabsorption
• Maldigestion
• Medullary thyroid carcinoma
• Mesenteric ischemia
• Motility disorders of gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Nontropical sprue
• Obstructive jaundice
• Parasites:
  • Ascariasis
  • Hookworm
  • Whipworm
• Pellagra
• Polyarteritis
• Polyposis
• Postileal resection
• Postvagotomy
• Proctitis
• Prostaglandins
• Radiation proctitis
• Rectal surgery
• Scleroderma
• Short bowel syndrome
• Tuberculosis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Unabsorbed dietary fat
• Vegetative lability
• Verner-Morrison Syndrome
• Villous adenoma
• Villous carcinoma
• Whipple's Disease
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Causes According to Etiology

• Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food or water can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
• Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.
• Food intolerances. Some people are unable to digest food components such as artificial sweeteners and lactose—the sugar found in milk.
• Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium.
• Reaction to medicines. Antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cancer drugs, and antacids containing magnesium can all cause diarrhea.
• Intestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease often lead to diarrhea.
• Functional bowel disorders. Diarrhea can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Myocarditis, Portal vein thrombosis, Superior mesenteric artery occlusion
Chemical / poisoning	Acrodynia, Acute tin poisoning, Acute zinc toxicity, Arsenic poisoning, Amnesic shellfish poisoning, D. suaveolans) Arsenic poisoning, Ricinus communis Chlordane, Copper toxicity, Narcissus pseudonarcissus Diazinon, Endosulfan, Isomalt, Datura stramonium Lead poisoning, Mercury poisoning, Metal fume fever, Phoradendron serotinum Naphthalene, Oleander, Organophosphates, Phytohaemagglutinin, Phytolacca Americana, Solanum tuberosum, Abrus precatorious, Solanine
Congenital	Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital type 3, Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1B, Congenital short bowel, Congenital sucrose-isomaltose malabsorption, Congenital syndromes (chloridorrhea), Congenital toxoplasmosis, Intrinsic factor, congenital deficiency Juvenile polyposis of infancy, Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency
Dermatologic	Necrotizing fasciitis
Drug Side Effect	2C-B, 5-HT3 antagonist, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-methoxy-diisopropyl tryptamine, abacavir, acamprosate, acarbose, acebutolol, aciclovir, acitretin, aconitine, adefovir, alatrofloxacin, aldesleukin, alendronate, aliskiren, allopurinol, alosetron, alpha-amanitin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, alprazolam, altretamine, amifostine, amiloride, aminocaproic acid, aminophylline, amlexanox, amlodipine, ammonium lauryl sulfate, amoxicillin, amphetamine, amphotericin B, amprenavir, anadenanthera peregrina, anagrelide, anakinra, anastrozole, anisindione, aprepitant, atazanavir, atenolol, atorvastatin, atovaquone, auranofin, azithromycin, aztreonam, barium nitrate, barium sulfate, benazepril, bepridil, bevacizumab, bezafibrate, bicalutamide, biguanide, bisacodyl, bisoprolol, bortezomib, brompheniramine, bumetanide, buspirone, busulfan, candesartan, capecitabine, carbamazepine, carbidopa, carboplatin, carvedilol, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefamandole nafate, cefazolin, cefazolin, cefdinir, cefepime, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefotetan, cefoxitin, cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cephalexin, cephradine, cerivastatin, cetuximab, cevimeline, chloral hydrate, chlorambucil, chlordiazepoxide, chlorodyne, chlorothiazide, chlorpheniramine, chlorthalidone, cholestyramine, ciclosporin, cidofovir, cilostazol, cimetidine, cinacalcet, cisapride, citalopram, cladribine, clamoxyquine, clarithromycin, clavulanic acid, clindamycin, clofarabine, clofibrate, clomipramine, clonazepam, clopidogrel, clorazepate, colistimethate, cyclophosphamide, cyproheptadine, cytarabine, dactinomycin, dalfopristin, dantrolene, daptomycin, darbepoetin alfa, darifenacin, darunavir, dasatinib, daunorubicin, deferasirox, delavirdine, deracoxib, desoxyn, dextroamphetamine, dextromethorphan, diacerein, diazepam, diclofenac, dicloxacillin, didanosine, diflunisal, diltiazem, dipyridamole, dirithromycin, docetaxel, dofetilide, dolasetron, donepezil, doripenem, doxorubicin, doxycycline, DTPA, duloxetine, efavirenz, emtricitabine, enalapril, endosulfan, enoxacin, entacapone, epirubicin, eplerenone, epoetin alfa, erlotinib, erythromycin, esomeprazole, estazolam, estradiol, ethacrynic acid, ethosuximide, etidronate, etodolac, etoposide, exemestane, exenatide, ezetimibe, famciclovir, famotidine, felbamate, fexofenadine, floxuridine, fluconazole, flucytosine, fludarabine, fluoride, fluorouracil, fluoxetine, flurazepam, flutamide, fluticasone, fluvastatin, fluvoxamine, fosamprenavir, foscarnet, fosinopril, frovatriptan, fulvestrant, gabapentin, galantamine, ganciclovir, gatifloxacin, gefitinib, gemcitabine, gemeprost, gemfibrozil, glatiramer, glycopyrrolate, granisetron, griseofulvin, guanethidine, guanfacine, hydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroxychloroquine, hydroxyurea, hyoscyamine, ibandronate, ibuprofen, idarubicin, imatinib, infliximab, interferon alfacon-1 , interferon beta-1b, irinotecan, iron supplements, isocarboxazid, isradipine, itraconazole, lamivudine, lamotrigine, lanreotide, lansoprazole, lanthanum, leflunomide, letrozole, leuprolide, levalbuterol, levetiracetam, levocarnitine, levodopa, levofloxacin, linezolid, liothyronine sodium, lisinopril, lithium, lomefloxacin, lopinavir, loracarbef, loratadine, lorazepam, loxapine, magnesium hydroxide, mebendazole, mechlorethamine, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, mefloquine, megesterol, meprobamate, mercaptopurine, meropenem, mesalazine, mesna, mesoridazine, metformin, methamphetamine, methenamine, methotrexate, methoxychlor, methsuximide, methyclothiazide, methylergonovine, methyprylon, metoclopramide, metolachlor, metolazone, metoprolol, metronidazole, miconazole, mifepristone, miglitol, minocycline, Misoprostol, misoprostol, mitotane, moclobemide, modafinil, moexipril, moricizine, moxifloxacin, mycophenolate, nabumetone, nafcillin, naltrexone, naphthalene, natalizumab, natamycin, nateglinide, nelfinavir, nevirapine, niclosamide, nizatidine, norfloxacin, nystatin, ofloxacin, omalizumab, omeprazole, ondansetron, oseltamivir, oxaliplatin, oxazepam, oxcarbazepine, oxtriphylline, oxybutynin, palivizumab, pancrelipase, pantoprazole, pegaspargase, peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, pemetrexed, pemoline, penbutolol, penicillin, pentamidine, pentostatin, pergolide, perindopril, perphenazine, phenazopyridine, phentermine, pilocarpine, pimecrolimus, pimozide, piroxicam, plicamycin, polythiazide, posaconazole, pramipexole, pramlintide, prazepam, praziquantel, prazosin, procainamide, procarbazine, promethazine, propafenone, propranolol, protriptyline, pseudoephedrine, pyridostigmine, quinapril, quinidine, quinupristin, rabeprazole, ramipril, ranitidine, rasagiline, repaglinide, reserpine, retapamulin, ribavirin, rifampin, rilmenidine, riluzole, risedronate, risperidone, ritonavir, rituximab, rivastigmine, rizatriptan, salsalate, saquinavir, sargramostim, selegiline, sevelamer, sildenafil, simethicone, simvastatin, sirolimus, sitagliptin, sodium oxybate, sodium picosulfate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, solanine, solifenacin, sorafenib, sotalol, sparfloxacin, spironolactone, stavudine, streptozocin, sulfadiazine, sulfasalazine, sulfisoxazole, sulfisoxazole, sulindac, sumatriptan, sunitinib, tacrine, tamsulosin, tegaserod, telbivudine, telithromycin, telmisartan, temozolomide, teniposide, tenofovir, terbinafine, teriparatide, theophylline, thiabendazole, thioguanine, thioridazine, thiothixene, thyroxine, ticlopidine, tiludronate, tipranavir, tocopherol, tolcapone, topiramate, topotecan, trandolapril, tranylcypromine, trastuzumab, trazodone, treprostinil, triamterene, triazolam, trifluoperazine, trihexyphenidyl, trimeprazine, trimethadione, trimethobenzamide, trimetrexate glucuronate, trimipramine, triprolidine, trovafloxacin, valacyclovir, valganciclovir, valproic Acid, valsartan, verapamil, vinblastine, voriconazole, vorinostat, Zanamivir, zidovudine, ziprasidone, zoledronic acid, zolmitriptan
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	Addison's disease, Diabetes insipidus, Diabetic neuropathy, Glucagonoma Syndrome, Graves' Disease, Hyperthyroidism, Somatostatinoma, Subacute thyroiditis
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	Abdominal abscess, Abdominal cancer, Achlorhydria, Acute appendicitis, Acute gastritis, Bile acid malabsorption syndrome, Bile acid sequestrant, Biliary atresia, Biliary tract cancer, Blind loop syndrome, Brainerd diarrhea, Caecitis, Carcinoid syndrome, Celiac disease, Cholestatic jaundice, Colitis, Colonic inertia, Colonic malakoplakia, Colonic villous adenomata, Colorectal cancer, Colorectal polyps, Crohn's disease, Diverticulitis, Enteritis, Enterocele, Enterocolitis, Food poisoning, Fructose malabsorption, Gastric dumping syndrome, Gastrinoma, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, Gastrointestinal amyloidosis, Gastrointestinal neoplasm, Glucose-galactose malabsorption, Gluten sensitivity, Inflammatory bowel disease, Ileitis, Intestinal Flu, Intestinal lymphangiectasis, Intestinal pseudoobstruction chronic idiopathic, Intususception of intestine, Irritable bowel syndrome, Ischemic colitis, Listeriosis, Malassimilation, Meckel diverticulitis, Proctitis, Protein losing enteropathy, Sclerosing Mesenteritis, Scombroid food poisoning, Sprue, Ulcerative colitis, Wheat intolerance, Whipple's disease, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Genetic	Abetalipoproteinaemia, Cornelia de Lange syndrome 2, Fabry's disease, Familial amyloid polyneuropathy, Familial polyposis, autosomal recessive, Familial visceral myopathy, Gilbert's syndrome, Hartnup disease, Neurofibromatosis, familial intestinal, Sanfilippo syndrome, Slone's Disease
Hematologic	Amyloidosis, Chronic myeloproliferative disorders, Megaloblastic anemia, Neutropenia, Porphyria
Iatrogenic	Graft versus host disease, Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, Postgastrectomy syndrome Radiation sickness, Short bowel syndrome
Infectious Disease	Adenovirus, Adenophorea Infections, Adenoviridae Infections, AIDS, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris, Astrovirus, Bacillary dysentery, Bacillus cereus, Bacterial overgrowth of small intestine, Bacterial toxins, Balantidiasis, Amebiasis, Anguillulosis, Anthrax, Ascariasis, Beef tapeworm, Blastocystis hominis, Borrelia anserina, Botulism food poisoning, Campylobacter jejuni, Candida, Capillaria, Cestoda, Ciguatera poisoning, Clostridium Difficile, Clostridium perfringens food poisoning, Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium welchii, Coccidia, Cryptosporidiosis, Cyclosporiasis, Cysticercosis, Cytomegalovirus, Dientamoeba fragilis, Diphyllobothrium infection, Dipylidium caninum infection, Ebola, Echinococcosis, Entamoeba histolytica, Entero-Aggregative Escherichia coli, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Infection, Entero-Toxic Escherichia coli, Fasciolopsiasis, Filariasis, Flavivirus, Fusarium venenatum, Giardia lamblia, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Helminthiasis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, Hepatitis X, Hookworm infection, Human ehrlichiosis, Isosporiasis, Katayama fever, Lassa fever, Legionnaires' disease, Leptospirosis, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Malaria, Marburg virus, Marine toxins, Measles, Metagonimiasis, Microsporidiasis, Mycobacterium avium Complex, Norwalk gastroenteritis, Opisthorchis infection, Paragonimus Infection, Pelvic abscess, Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, Pseudomembranous colitis, Psittacosis, Q fever, Rhabditida Infections, Rotavirus, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonellosis, Sapporo-like virus, Roundworm, Sarcocystis, Sarcosporidiosis, Schistosomiasis, Secernentea Infections, Shigellosis, Staphylococcal food poisoning, Streptobacillus, Streptococcal Infections, Streptococcus suis, Strongyloides, Tapeworms, Trematoda, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinosis, Trichuriasis, Tularemia, Typhoid fever, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus food poisoning, Vibrio parahemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Whipworm Infection
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	Myleofibrosis
Neurologic	Common migraine
Nutritional / Metabolic	Aspartylglycosaminuria, Arakawa's syndrome II, Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase deficiency, Classic galactosemia, Fabry's disease, Folate deficiency, Folic acid toxicity, Food allergies, Food intolerances, Galactosemia, Inborn amino acid metabolism disorder, Lactose Intolerance, Malonic aciduria, Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency, Mucopolysaccharidosis, Pellagra, Sphingolipidosis, Sucrose intolerance, Vitamin C toxicity, Vitamin D
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Endometriosis, Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Oncologic	Ewing's sarcoma, Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor, Kaposi's sarcoma, Mesothelioma, adult malignant – peritoneal, Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Neuroendocrine tumors, Pancreatic adenoma, Small bowel lymphoma, Thymus cancer, Thyroid Carcinoma, Vipoma
Opthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity	Boron overuse, Carbon monoxide toxicity, Carnitine overuse, Colchicine toxicity, Digoxin, Ergotism, Heavy metal ingestion, Lycorine, Mazindol, Tetrodotoxin
Psychiatric	Anxiety-tension syndrome
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal / Electrolyte	Acute kidney failure, Hyperchloremia
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	Angioedema, Amyloidosis, Anaphylaxis, Athabaskan severe combined immunodeficiency, Autoimmune adrenalitis, Autoimmune enteropathy, Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome, Autonomic neuropathy, Chronic granulomatous disease, Complement 5 deficiency, Kawasaki disease, Omenn syndrome, Satoyoshi syndrome
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	Alcohol intoxication, Alcohol withdrawal, Anopsology, Capsaicin, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, Idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction, Idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis, POEMS syndrome, Smoking stools syndrome, Waldmann disease, Water hemlock (Cicuta sp.), Waterhouse-Friederichsen syndrome, Water-skier colon, Weil's syndrome

Causes in Alphabetical Order

2C-B 2-Ethylhexanol 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency 5-HT3 antagonist 5-MeO-AMT 5-Methoxy-diisopropyltryptamine Abacavir Abdominal abscess Abdominal cancer Abetalipoproteinemia Abrin Acacia nilotica Acacia senegal Acamprosate Acarbose Acebutolol Achlorhydria Aciclovir Acitretin Aconitine Acquired angioedema Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Acrodermatitis enteropathica Acrodynia Acute appendicitis Acute gastritis Acute kidney failure Acute pancreatitis Acute tin poisoning Acute zinc toxicity Addison's disease Adefovir Adenophorea Infections Adenoviridae Infections Adjustable gastric band Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital type 3 Adrenal tumor Aeromonas hydrophila Agastache rugosa Alatrofloxacin Injection Alchornea castaneifolia Alcohol intoxication Alcohol withdrawal Aldesleukin Alendronate Aliskiren Allergic disorders Allopurinol Alosetron Alpha-amanitin Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor Alprazolam Altretamine Amanita phalloides Ambenonium Amebiasis Amifostine Amikacin Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide Aminocaproic acid Aminophylline Amlexanox Amlodipine and Benazepril Ammonium lauryl sulfate Amnesic shellfish poisoning Amoxycillin Amphotericin B Ampicillin Amprenavir Amyloidosis Anagrelide Anakinra Anastrozole Ancylostoma duodenale Angel's trumpet (D. suaveolans) Angioedema Anguillulosis Anisindione Anopsology Anthrax Antonine Plague Anxiety-tension syndrome Apomorphine Appendicitis Applesauce Aprepitant Arakawa's syndrome II Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase deficiency Arsenic poisoning Ascariasis Aspartylglycosaminuria Astrovirus Atazanavir Atenolol Athabaskan severe combined immunodeficiency Atorvastatin Atovaquone Auranofin Autoimmune adrenalitis Autoimmune enteropathy Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome Autonomic neuropathy Ayahuasca Azithromycin Aztreonam Injection Baber's syndrome Bacillary dysentery Bacillus cereus Bacterial overgrowth of small intestine Bacterial toxins Balantidiasis Barium nitrate Barium Sulfate Beatrice (psychedelic) Beef tapeworm Bepridil Bethanechol Bevacizumab Injection Bezafibrate Bicalutamide Biguanide Bile acid malabsorption syndrome Bile acid sequestrant Biliary atresia Biliary tract cancer Bisacodyl Bisoprolol Blastocystis hominis Blind loop syndrome Boron overuse Borrelia anserina Bortezomib Botulism Brainerd diarrhea Brennemann's syndrome Bromelain Brompheniramine Brown-Symmers disease Bumetanide Buspirone Busulfan Caecitis Campylobacter jejuni Candesartan Candida Capecitabine Capillaria Capsaicin Carbamazepine Carbon monoxide toxicity Carboplatin Carcinoid syndrome Carmustine Carnitine overuse Carteolol Carvedilol Casanthranol Cascara sagrada Castor bean (Ricinus communis) Cefaclor Cefadroxil Cefamandole Nafate Injection Cefazolin Cefdinir Cefepime Injection Cefoperazone Sodium Injection Cefotaxime Sodium Injection Cefotetan Disodium Injection Cefoxitin Sodium Injection Cefpodoxime Ceftazidime Injection Ceftizoxime Sodium Injection Ceftriaxone Sodium Injection Cefuroxime Celiac disease Cephalexin Cephalosporins Cephalothoracic progressive lipodystrophy Cephradine Injection

Cerivastatin Cestoda Cetuximab Injection Cevimeline Chenodeoxycholic acid Chloral Hydrate Chlorambucil Chlordane Chlordiazepoxide Chlorodyne Chloroquine Chlorothiazide Chlorpheniramine Chlorthalidone Cholecystitis Cholestatic jaundice Cholestyramine Chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic granulomatous disease Chronic myeloproliferative disorders Ciclosporin Cidofovir Injection Ciguatera poisoning Cilostazol Cimetidine Cinacalcet Cinchonism Ciprofloxacin Cisapride Citalopram Cladribine Clamoxyquine Clarithromycin Classic galactosemia Clindamycin Clofarabine Clofibrate Clomipramine Clonazepam Clopidogrel Clorazepate Clostridium Difficile Clostridium perfringens food poisoning Clostridium sordellii Clostridium welchii Coccidia Colchicine toxicity Colestyramine Colistimethate Injection Colitis Colonic inertia Colonic malakoplakia Colonic villous adenomata Colorectal cancer Colorectal polyps Common migraine Common variable immunodeficiency Complement 5 deficiency Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1B Congenital short bowel]] Congenital sucrose-isomaltose malabsorption Congenital toxoplasmosis Cornelia de Lange syndrome 2 Cree leukoencephalopathy Crohn's disease Cronkhite-Canada disease Cryptosporidiosis Cyclophosphamide Cyclosporiasis Cyproheptadine Cysticercosis Cytarabine Cytomegalovirus Dactinomycin Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) Dantrolene Daptomycin Darbepoetin Alfa Injection Darifenacin Darunavir Darvocet withdrawal Dasatinib Daunorubicin Deal-Barratt-Dillon syndrome Deferasirox Delavirdine Deracoxib Desoxyn Destroying angel Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine Dextromethorphan Diabetes insipidus Diabetic neuropathy Diacerein Diazepam Diazinon Dibasic aminoaciduria 2 Diclofenac and Misoprostol Dicloxacillin Didanosine Dientamoeba fragilis Diffuse systemic sclerosis Diflunisal Digoxin Dilaudid withdrawal Diltiazem Diphyllobothrium infection Dipylidium caninum infection Dipyridamole Dirithromycin Dissociative disorder Distigmine Distomatosis Diverticulitis Docetaxel Dofetilide Dolasetron Donepezil Doripenem Doxorubicin Doxycycline Injection Dracunculiasis DTPA Duloxetine Ebola Echinococcosis Efavirenz Egg Hypersensitivity Emtricitabine Enalapril End stage liver failure Endometriosis Endosulfan Enoxacin Entacapone Entamoeba histolytica Enteritis Entero-Aggregative Escherichia coli Enterocele Enterocolitis Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Infection Entero-Toxic Escherichia coli Envenomization by the Martinique lancehead viper Epirubicin Injection Eplerenone Epoetin Alfa Injection Ergotamine Ergotism Erlotinib Erythromycin Escherichia coli Esomeprazole Estazolam Estradiol Topical Ethacrynic Acid Ethanol Ethosuximide Ethylmalonic encephalopathy Etidronate Etodolac Etoposide Everolimus Ewing's sarcoma Exemestane Exenatide Exenatide Injection Ezetimibe Fabry's disease Famciclovir Familial amyloid polyneuropathy Familial polyposis, autosomal recessive Familial visceral myopathy Famotidine Fanconi-ichthyosis-dysmorphism Fasciolopsiasis Favism Felbamate Fexofenadine Filariasis Flavivirus

Floxuridine Fluconazole Flucytosine Fludarabine Phosphate Fluke infections Fluoride Fluorouracil Fluoxetine Flurazepam Flutamide Fluticasone Nasal Spray Fluvastatin Fluvoxamine Folate deficiency Folic acid toxicity Food allergies Food intolerances Food poisoning Fosamprenavir Foscarnet Sodium Injection Fosinopril Frovatriptan Fructose malabsorption Fulvestrant Injection Functional disorders Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor Fusarium venenatum Gabapentin Galactosemia Galantamine Ganciclovir Gangrene Garlic Gastric dumping syndrome Gastrinoma Gastritis Gastroenteritis Gastrointestinal amyloidosis Gastrointestinal neoplasm Gatifloxacin Gefitinib Gemcitabine Hydrochloride Gemeprost Gemfibrozil Gentamicin Giardia lamblia Gilbert's syndrome Ginseng overuse Glatiramer Injection Glénard syndrome Glucagonoma Syndrome Glucosamine Glucose-galactose malabsorption Glutathione Synthetase Deficiency Gluten sensitivity Glycopyrrolate Gnathostoma Infection Graft versus host disease Granisetron Graves' Disease Griseofulvin Guanethidine Guanfacine Habba Syndrome Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome Hartnup disease Heavy metal ingestion Helminthiasis Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, familial, 4 Hepatitis Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis D Hepatitis E Hepatitis X Heroin dependence Heroin withdrawal Heterophyiasis Hookworm infection Human ehrlichiosis Hydralazine Hydrochlorothiazide Hydrocodone withdrawal Hydroxychloroquine Hydroxyurea Hymenolepis infection Hyoscyamine Hyperchloremia Hyper-IgD syndrome Hyperthyroidism Ibandronate Injection Ibuprofen Idarubicin Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome Idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction Idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis Iduronate-2-sulfatase deficiency Ileitis Imatinib Imipenem Inborn amino acid metabolism disorder Indomethacin Inflammatory bowel disease Infliximab Injection Insect sting allergies Interferon alpha Interferon Beta-1b Injection Intestinal Flu Intestinal lymphangiectasis Intestinal pseudoobstruction chronic idiopathic Intrinsic factor, congenital deficiency Irinotecan Iron supplements Irritable bowel syndrome Ischemic colitis Isocarboxazid Isomalt Isosporiasis Isradipine Itraconazole Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) Juvenile polyposis of infancy Kanamycin Kaposi's sarcoma Katayama fever Kawasaki disease Ketorolac Laburnum Lactose Intolerance Lamivudine Lamotrigine Lanreotide Lansoprazole Lanthanum Lapatinib ditosylate Lassa fever Laxative abuse Lead poisoning Leflunomide Legionella pneumophila Legionnaires' disease Leiner disease Leptospirosis Letrozole Leuprolide Levalbuterol Oral Inhalation Levetiracetam Levocarnitine Injection Levodopa and Carbidopa Levofloxacin Injection Levy-Yeboa Syndrome Lincomycin Linezolid Liothyronine sodium Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia Lisinopril Listeriosis Lithium Lomefloxacin Lopinavir Loracarbef Loratadine Lorazepam Loxapine Oral Lycorine Lymphangiectasis Lymphocytic colitis Lymphogranuloma venereum Magnesium Hydroxide Malabsorption syndrome Malaria Malassimilation Malonic aciduria Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency Marburg virus Marine toxins Mazindol Measles Mebendazole

Mechlorethamine Meckel diverticulitis Meclofenamate Mefenamic acid Mefloquine Megaloblastic anemia Megesterol Melarsoprol Meprobamate Mercaptopurine Mercury poisoning Meropenem Mesalazine Mesna Mesoridazine Oral Mesothelioma, adult malignant – peritoneal Metabolic disorders Metagonimiasis Metal fume fever Metformin Methenamine Methotrexate toxicity Methoxychlor Methsuximide Oral Methyclothiazide Methylergonovine Methyprylon Metoclopramide Oral Metolachlor Metolazone Metoprolol Metronidazole Miconazole Injection Mifepristone Miglitol Mineral oil Minocycline Misoprostol Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy syndrome Mitotane Mixed connective tissue disease Moclobemide Modafinil Moexipril Moricizine Morphine withdrawal Moxifloxacin Mucopolysaccharidosis Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 Muscarine Mycobacterium avium Complex Mycophenolate Myleofibrosis Myocarditis Nabumetone Nafcillin Nalidixic acid Naltrexone Naphthalene Natalizumab injection Natamycin Nateglinide oral Necrotizing fasciitis Nelfinavir Neostigmine Netilmicin Neuroendocrine tumors Neurofibromatosis Neutropenia Nevirapine Niclosamide Nicotine poisoning Nizatidine Norfloxacin Norwalk gastroenteritis Norwalk Virus Nystatin Obal syndrome Ofloxacin oral Ogilvie's syndrome Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome Oleander Omalizumab injection Omenn syndrome Omeprazole Ondansetron Opioid withdrawal Opisthorchis infection Organophosphates Orlistat Oseltamivir Oxaliplatin Oxazepam Oxcarbazepine Oxtriphylline Oxybutynin Oxyphenisatine Palivizumab injection Pancreatic adenoma Pancrelipase Pantoprazole Paragonimus Infection Paraquat Parathion Pegaspargase Peginterferon alfa-2a Peginterferon alfa-2b Pellagra Pelvic abscess Pemetrexed injection Pemoline Penbutolol Penicillin allergy Penicillium marneffei Pentamidine Pentostatin Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy Pergolide Perindopril Periodic hyperlysinemia Pernicious anemia Perphenazine oral Persin Phenolphthalein Phentermine Phentolamine Phycomycosis Phytohaemagglutinin Pilocarpine Pimecrolimus topical Pimozide Piroxicam Plicamycin Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis POEMS syndrome Phytolacca Americana Pollen allergy Porphyria Portal vein thrombosis Posaconazole Postgastrectomy syndrome Solanum tuberosum Powell-Buist-Stenzel syndrome Pramipexole Pramlintide injection Prazepam Praziquantel Prazosin and polythiazide Procainamide Procarbazine Proctitis Promethazine Propafenone Propranolol Oral Protein losing enteropathy Protriptyline Pseudoephedrine and triprolidine Pseudomembranous colitis Psittacosis Ptomaine food poisoning Pyridostigmine Q fever Quinapril Quinidine Oral Quinupristin/dalfopristin Rabeprazole Radiation sickness Raltitrexed Rambaud-Galian syndrome Ramipril Ranitidine Rasagiline Rectal cancer Refsum disease, infantile form Repaglinide Reserpine Retapamulin Rhabditida Infections

Ribavirin Ricin Rifampin Rilmenidine Riluzole Risedronate Risperidone Ritonavir Rituximab injection Rivastigmine Rizatriptan Roflumilast Rosary pea (Abrus precatorious) Rotavirus Roundworm Sakamoto disease Salmonella enteritidis Salmonellosis Salsalate Sanfilippo syndrome Sapporo-like virus Saquinavir Sarcocystis Sarcosporidiosis Sargramostim injection Satoyoshi syndrome Schistosomiasis Sclerosing Mesenteritis Scombroid food poisoning Secernentea Infections Selegiline Serotonin syndrome Sevelamer Shigellosis Short bowel syndrome Sildenafil Simethicone Simvastatin Sirolimus Sitagliptin Slone's Disease Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome Small bowel lymphoma Smoking stools syndrome Sodium oxybate Sodium picosulfate Sodium polystyrene sulfonate Solanine Solifenacin Somatostatinoma Sorafenib Sorbitol Sotalol Sparfloxacin Spencer disease Sphingolipidosis Spira syndrome Spironolactone Spirurida Infections Spleen Cancer Sprue Stachybotrys chartarum Staphylococcal food poisoning Stavudine Streptobacillus Streptococcal Infections Streptococcus suis Streptozocin Strongyloides Subacute thyroiditis Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency Sucrose intolerance Sulfadiazine Sulfasalazine Sulfisoxazole Sulindac Sumatriptan Sunitinib Superior mesenteric artery occlusion Tacrine Tamsulosin Tapeworms TASB (psychedelics) Tegafur Tegaserod Telbivudine Telithromycin Telmisartan Temozolomide Teniposide Tenofovir Terbinafine Teriparatide (rDNA origin) Injection Tetrodotoxin Thallium Theophylline Thiabendazole Thioguanine Thioridazine Thiothixene Oral Thyroid Carcinoma Thyroid Medication Ticlopidine Tiludronate Tipranavir Tocopherol Tolcapone Topiramate Topotecan Toxocara Toxoplasmosis Tranexamic acid Tranylcypromine Trastuzumab Traveler's diarrhea Trazodone Trematoda Treprostinil Triamterene Triazolam Trichinella spiralis Trichinosis Trichuriasis Trifluoperazine Oral Trihexyphenidyl Trimeprazine Trimethadione Trimethobenzamide Trimetrexate Glucuronate Trimipramine Trovafloxacin Tularemia Turcot syndrome Typhoid fever Ulcerative colitis Urofollitropin Ursodeoxycholic acid Valacyclovir Valganciclovir Valinemia Valproic Acid Valsartan Vanadium Vasculitis hypersensitivity Verapamil and Trandolapril Vibrio cholerae Vibrio mimicus food poisoning Vibrio parahemolyticus Vibrio vulnificus Vinblastine Vinorelbine Tartrate Vipoma Visceral leishmaniasis Vitamin C toxicity Vitamin D Voriconazole Vorinostat Waldmann disease Water hemlock (Cicuta sp.) Waterhouse-Friederichsen syndrome Water-skier colon Weil's syndrome West Nile fever Wheat intolerance Whipple's disease Whipworm Infection Yersinia enterocolitica Zanamivir Inhalation Zidovudine Injection Zinc deficiency Ziprasidone Zoledronic Acid Injection Zollinger-Ellison syndrome Zolmitriptan Oral Zolpidem

Other Important Causes

• Ischemic bowel disease. This usually affects older people and can be due to blocked arteries.
• Bowel cancer: some (but not all) bowel cancers may have associated diarrhea. Cancer of the large intestine is most common.
• Hormone-secreting tumors: some hormones (e.g. serotonin) can cause diarrhea if excreted in excess (usually from a tumor).
• Bile salt diarrhea: excess bile salt entering the colon rather than being absorbed at the end of the small intestine can cause diarrhea, typically shortly after eating. Bile salt diarrhea is a possible side-effect of gallbladder removal. It is usually treated with cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant.
• Alcohol: Chronic diarrhea can be caused by chronic ethanol ingestion. Consumption of alcohol affects the body's capability to absorb water - this is often a symptom that accompanies a hangover after a heavy drinking session. The alcohol itself is absorbed in the intestines and as the intestinal cells absorb it, the toxicity causes these cells to lose their ability to absorb water. This leads to an outpouring of fluid from the intestinal lining, which is in turn poorly absorbed. The diarrhea usually lasts for several hours until the alcohol is detoxified and removed from the digestive system. Symptoms range from person to person and are influenced by both the amount consumed as well as physiological differences. Alcohol-induced diarrhea is often accompanied by "the follow through" where a feeling that the patient is going to break wind (flatulence) instead becomes an uncontrolled episode of diarrhea.