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Contact your health care provider if you have prolonged diarrhea or a fever that lasts more than 24 hours. Also, see your health care provider promptly if vomiting prevents you from drinking liquids to replace lost fluids.
What causes diarrhea?
The most common cause of diarrhea is a virus that infects the bowel. The infection usually lasts for two days and is sometimes called "intestinal flu." Diarrhea also may be caused by: * Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning) * Infections by other organisms * Eating foods that upset the digestive system * Allergies to certain foods * Medications * Radiation therapy
Diarrhea also may follow constipation, especially for people who have irritable bowel syndrome.
How is diarrhea …show more content…
In most cases, diarrhea is just uncomfortable. However, it can become dangerous when the dangers are long-term and severe enough. In severe cases hospitalization may be required. Get to your doctor if you have a high fever (102° F or more) with diarrhea or if your stool is dark and tarry, severe abdominal or rectal pain, dehydration or if your symptoms last longer than 3 days.
What tests might the doctor do?
If you're experiencing severe symptoms, then your doctor will probably perform tests to determine the cause of your diarrhea. This will help them to decide your course of treatment. Some of the tests include the following:
Physical examination and medical history. The doctor needs to be aware of eating habits and medications.
Stool culture. This analysis will determine what harmful bacteria and other organisms or present in your stool, as well as any other signs of infection.
Blood tests will help to determine which diseases are not
What causes diarrhea?
The most common cause of diarrhea is a virus that infects the bowel. The infection usually lasts for two days and is sometimes called "intestinal flu." Diarrhea also may be caused by: * Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning) * Infections by other organisms * Eating foods that upset the digestive system * Allergies to certain foods * Medications * Radiation therapy
Diarrhea also may follow constipation, especially for people who have irritable bowel syndrome.
How is diarrhea …show more content…
In most cases, diarrhea is just uncomfortable. However, it can become dangerous when the dangers are long-term and severe enough. In severe cases hospitalization may be required. Get to your doctor if you have a high fever (102° F or more) with diarrhea or if your stool is dark and tarry, severe abdominal or rectal pain, dehydration or if your symptoms last longer than 3 days.
What tests might the doctor do?
If you're experiencing severe symptoms, then your doctor will probably perform tests to determine the cause of your diarrhea. This will help them to decide your course of treatment. Some of the tests include the following:
Physical examination and medical history. The doctor needs to be aware of eating habits and medications.
Stool culture. This analysis will determine what harmful bacteria and other organisms or present in your stool, as well as any other signs of infection.
Blood tests will help to determine which diseases are not