What Is Diarrhea? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

腹泻is a common ailment that most everyone experiences from time to time. It is characterized by the passing of loose, watery stool accompanied byabdominal painand cramping.

腹泻typically clears up on its own within a few days, but severe or chronic diarrhea that lasts for weeks can be a sign of a serious health problem that needs medical attention.

The main and most recognizablesymptom of diarrheais the passing of loose, watery stool that occurs three or more times a day. Diarrhea may also lead to the following symptoms:

• Pain or cramping in the abdomen
• 一个n urgent need to go to the bathroom
• Nausea
• 一个loss of control of bowel movements

If diarrhea is caused by an infection, people may also experience:

• Bloody stools
• Vomiting
• 发烧和发冷
• 头脑昏暗和头晕

腹泻may also cause dehydration and malabsorption, each of which has its own symptoms.

脱水的迹象包括:口渴、小便少往往比没有rmal, dark-colored urine, dry mouth, feeling tired, sunken eyes or cheeks, light-headedness or fainting, and a decreased skin turgor (when the skin is pinched and released, it does not flatten back to normal right away).

Symptoms of malabsorption include腹胀，，，，gas，，，，changes in appetite, weight loss, and loose, greasy, foul-smelling bowel movements, notes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (1）

Learn More About Symptoms of Diarrhea

腹泻can be caused by a number of factors. The most common causes of diarrhea are:

Infection引起腹泻的三种感染是：

• Viral infections, includingnorovirusand rotavirus
• Bacterial infections, which can enter the body through contaminated food or water. Common bacteria that cause diarrhea includeCampylobacter，，，，大肠杆菌（（E. coli），，，，Salmonella，，，，andShigella。
• Parasitic infections, in which parasites enter the body through food or water and settle into the digestive tract. Common parasites that cause bacteria includeCryptosporidium，，，，Entamoeba histolytica，，，，and贾迪亚·兰布利亚（Giardia Lamblia）。

Traveler's DiarrheaThis type of diarrhea is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites while traveling abroad, usually in a developing country.Traveler's diarrheais usually acute, but certain parasites cause diarrhea to last longer.

药物的副作用Many medications may cause diarrhea. If you believe your medication is the cause of your diarrhea, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she may alter the dose or switch you to another medication.

Food Allergies and Intolerance有时腹泻是由对某些食物的过敏引起的，例如乳制品，大豆，eggs，，，，or seafood. In these cases, diarrhea is often chronic.

Lactose intolerance是一种常见的疾病，可以在吃食物或含有牛奶或牛奶产品的液体后引起腹泻和其他胃肠道症状。Celiac disease，，，，which is caused by an allergy to麸质，，，，can also lead to chronic diarrhea.

Digestive Disorders腹泻可能是更严重的健康问题的迹象，例如消化系统疾病。这些可以包括肠易激综合症（（IBS) or an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease orulcerative colitis。

腹泻may also be a sign of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. (1)

许多人体验腹泻,不继续to receive an official diagnosis as it often clears up on its own. Individuals who experience persistent or chronic diarrhea should seek medical attention so a doctor can diagnose the cause.

Tests for diarrhea include ablood test，，，，a stool test,colonoscopy，，，，and flexible sigmoidoscopy, per the Mayo Clinic. (2）

腹泻can either be acute, or short-term; or chronic, meaning it lasts longer. Normally, acute diarrhea will clear up on its own in a few days.

Chronic, or severe, diarrhea lasts for more than two to four weeks and can indicate a serious health problem. For people with a compromised immune system, chronic diarrhea can be a life-threatening illness, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (3）

How to Prevent Diarrhea

While diarrhea may be a sign of an underlying health condition and may be unavoidable, there are steps you can take to avoid some of the causes.

One of the most important things you can do toprevent diarrheais to wash your hands frequently. Be sure towash your handsafter using the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, before and after caring for someone who is ill, after touching garbage, and after touching an animal, animal feed, and animal waste.

If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 percent alcohol, per the CDC. (4）

防止儿童腹泻的另一个重要方法是让他们接种轮状病毒，这主要导致婴儿和小孩的严重腹泻。该病毒还会导致呕吐，发烧和脱水。疾病预防控制中心建议婴儿在2个月大时接受第一剂轮状病毒疫苗。第二剂应在4个月大时服用，如果需要，则应在6个月大时使用。

The rotavirus vaccine will protect babies from severe diarrhea caused by rotavirus and most babies will not get rotavirus diarrhea at all, the CDC says. (5）

Finally, you can take steps to avoid traveler's diarrhea by watching what you eat and drink while traveling abroad, especially in developing countries, and talking to your doctor before you leave about taking antibiotics as a precaution, notes the CDC. (6）

了解有关如何预防腹泻的更多信息

Sometimes, diarrhea may signal a health problem and require medical attention.

But in most cases a bout of diarrhea will typically clear up in a few days and not lead to any further health problems. There are steps you can take at home to helptreat diarrheaso it will go away faster.

If you have diarrhea, the following may help you feel better.

Replace fluids.喝大量的水，果汁或运动饮料，并用透明的汤吃汤，以帮助补充失去的电解质。注意这些饮料中的糖量，因为过多的糖会恶化腹泻症状。

Eat a bland diet.一个bland dietwill be easy on your digestive system and can help ease diarrhea symptoms. A bland diet consists of foods that are soft, not spicy, and low infiber。您还应该避免在其中避免生食，油炸食品以及饮料中的酒精或咖啡因。

尝试非处方药（OTC）药物。在大多数腹泻的情况下，非处方药可以帮助缓解腹泻带来的不适。选项包括Loperamide，通常称为imodium，并且bismuth subsalicylate，，，，or Pepto-Bismol.

一个ntibiotics may be needed.If your diarrhea is being caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help you feel better. A round of antibiotics can help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. However, if your diarrhea is being caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help.

治疗潜在问题。腹泻may be a symptom of a more serious health condition, such as a food allergy or digestive disorder. Your doctor will work with you to figure out the underlying issue through testing and come up with an appropriate treatment plan. (2)

Learn More About Treatment for Diarrhea

当diarrhea strikes, it can cause the body to lose more fluid than it takes in, leading to dehydration. If severe, dehydration can cause your kidneys to shut down. That's why it's important to ensure that you're drinking adequate amounts of water when you have diarrhea. If you can't stomach water on its own, consider flavoring it with fruit juice, which can help if you're feeling nauseated, too.

了解有关脱水的更多信息以及如何避免腹泻

根据2014年4月发表的评论The New England Journal of Medicine，，，，approximately 179 million cases of acute diarrhea occur each year in the United States. (7）

一个paper published in 2017 in the journalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatologystates chronic diarrhea affects as many as 5 percent of the population at any given time. (8）

腹泻and other gastrointestinal symptoms can be a sign of a disorder of the digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

It can also be related to celiac disease, lactose intolerance, or other food allergy. If diarrhea becomes chronic, a doctor can help determine if one of these conditions is the cause, notes the Mayo Clinic. (9）

饮食和腹泻

Certain foods can worsen diarrhea症状，因此很高兴知道哪些食物可以安全食用以及避免哪种食物。

Sticking to plain, simple foods, such as oatmeal,bananas，普通的大米和苹果酱是一个不错的选择，尤其是在腹泻的前24小时。

胃部容易的其他平淡食品包括：吐司，煮土豆，纯饼干和椒盐脆饼。

Foods that will aggravate diarrhea and should be avoided include: fatty or fried foods; milk, butter, ice cream, and cheese; alcohol and sodas; foods containing artificial sweeteners; and foods that may be spoiled, according to MedlinePlus. (10）

Learn More About Diet and Diarrhea

腹泻and Your Period

Many women experience diarrhea and changes in their bowel habits duringtheir period。The exact reason why this happens is not fully understood, but doctors believe the root cause isprostaglandins，，，，the chemicals released during your period that allow the uterus — and thus the intestines — to contract.

Women who often experience bouts of diarrhea during their period can prepare for what is about to come beforehand by having easy access to over-the-counter medication like Imodium (loperamide) and staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. (11）

了解有关腹泻和您的时期的更多信息

Traveler's Diarrhea

根据疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）的说法，根据旅行的目的地和季节，有30％至70％的旅行者将受到旅行者腹泻的影响。

However, there are a number of steps people can take to avoid traveler's diarrhea. These include:

Check the CDC’s website for travel warnings.The travelers’ health website maintained by the CDC will alert you to disease warnings and health risks for various countries.

Watch what you eat and drink.In certain countries, the CDC will advise taking steps to avoid ingesting parasites that can make you sick, such as avoiding raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them yourself, avoiding raw or undercooked meat or seafood, and sticking to hot, well-cooked foods. In certain countries, tap water is not safe to drink. In such places you should only drink bottled water and avoid tap water and ice cubes.

与您的医生谈谈抗生素。在您前往目的地之前，请与您的医疗保健提供者预约，以讨论旅途中可能的健康风险。如果您要长时间去发展中国家，请向您的医生询问抗生素。（6）

Learn More About Travelers Diarrhea

While respiratory symptoms likecoughandshortness of breathare the most common signs of thecoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)，，，，digestive symptoms, including diarrhea, also occur in some patients.

一个study published in March 2020 inThe American Journal of Gastroenterology发现腹泻通常是严重疾病较差的个体的症状。（（12）Of the 206 patients included in the study, 48 people only had digestive symptoms, while 69 had both digestive and respiratory symptoms. Between both groups, 67 people had diarrhea, 19 percent of which experienced diarrhea as their first symptom.

一个nother March 2020 study published in the same journal looked at about 200 patients with more severe illness in Wuhan, China. (13）Researchers found around 50 percent of those patients experienced at least one digestive symptom with 18 percent reporting diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Favorite Organizations for Information on Diarrhea

国家糖尿病与消化和肾脏疾病研究所

Brought to you by an institute within the federal National Institutes of Health outside Washington, DC, this website offers information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. You can also learn about chronic diarrhea or find out how to participate in clinical trials.

美国胃肠病学院（ACG）

The ACG is a professional organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment ofdigestive disorders。You can learn all about acute and chronic diarrhea on this website and find a gastroenterologist in your area.

国家癌症研究所

Cancer and some of the treatments for it can cause diarrhea. The National Cancer Institute website offers tips on how to manage it. You can also download audio on the topic.

疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）

一个ccording to the CDC, 30 to 70 percent of travelers experience diarrhea every year, depending on where they go. Find out how to prevent and treat the condition.

Favorite Support Groups for People Dealing With Diarrhea

IBS Network

While diarrhea usually lasts a day or two, chronic diarrhea can indicate a gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome. The IBS Network can link you to groups in your community so you can meet others for support and tips on dealing with the condition.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group

This patient-led education organization provides information on gastrointestinal disorders like IBS diarrhea and IBD. The forum has discussions on the gut microbiome and the tried-and-tested remedies of diarrhea sufferers.

Favorite Websites With Information on Remedies for Diarrhea

FamilyDoctor.org

This website, by the American Academy of Family Physicians, offers information on over-the-counter remedies for diarrhea. It mentions potential side effects of common OTC medication and information on potential side effects with other medications.

The Oregon Clinic

When you’re dealing with diarrhea, it’s good to eat foods that can help solidify stools. The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, and toast) can help with that. This page on the Oregon Clinic’s website provides a sample BRAT diet plan and information on what to do if diarrhea doesn’t go away in 24 hours.