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Diarrhea
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Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools three or more times a day with or without discomfort. It happens when the water in the intestine is not being absorbed back into the body for some reason. Sometimes diarrhea can be caused by an overflow of intestinal liquids around stool that is lodged in the intestine (impaction). Other causes can include infections; surgery; anxiety; side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy to the abdomen, or medicines; supplemental feedings containing large amounts of vitamins, minerals, sugar, and electrolytes; and tumor growth. Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy may last for up to three weeks after treatment ends.
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Diarrhea is not a disease; rather, it is a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Rarely, diarrhea is the result of a fatal illness, such as cancer. Even diarrhea caused by mild illnesses may result in death if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.
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Diarrhea can have many causes, including medications. Diarrhea is a common side effect of medications. For example: Laxatives can produce diarrhea by drawing water into the gut, increasing the muscular contraction of the intestine, lubricating the lining of the gut, or a combination of these effects; Antibiotics can produce diarrhea by destroying the normal bacteria of the gut. These normal, good gut bacteria are called probiotics. Once these "friendly" bacteria are destroyed, a bad organism called Clostridium difficile may then enter the digestive tract. It can cause a severe, watery form of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis; Other drugs may be directly toxic to the digestive tract.
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Diarrhea occurs because more fluid passes through the large intestine (colon)than that organ can absorb. As a rule, the colon can absorb several times more fluid than is required on a daily basis. However, when this reserve capacity is overwhelmed, diarrhea occurs. Diarrhea is caused by infections or illnesses that either lead to excess production of fluids or prevent absorption offluids. Also, certain substances in the colon, such as fats and bile acids,can interfere with water absorption and cause diarrhea. In addition, rapid passage of material through the colon can ... do the same.
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Diarrhea and vomiting cause the loss of fluids which need to be replaced. In some cases diarrhea is the secondary symptom of another problem, but in most instances is cause by food poisoning; bacteria in food or water; food allergies; or a virus. Also, excess alcohol consumption; laxatives; caffeine are known to cause diarrhea. Some medicines can trigger diarrhea, such as antibiotics (tetracycline, clyndamycin, penicillin). If you find, blood or mucus in the stool is a sign of infection or parasites.
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Diarrhea is caused by a disruption of the normal process of digestion. Normal digestion involves food traveling from the stomach to the small intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed. By the time it gets to the colon, only waste material remains. The colon absorbs most of the water from the waste and passes the stool along via muscle contractions (peristalsis) to the rectum at the end of the digestive tract. Diarrhea occurs when too much fluid remains in the intestines as stool travels through the digestive tract. When this occurs, the stool that is eventually passed through the anusis loose and watery.
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Diarrhea