Diarrhea

What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is also called - dysentery, the runs and the trots.

Diarrhea is loose, watery *stools. A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. People with diarrhea may pass more than a quart of stool a day. *Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. *Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. *Chronic diarrhea may be a feature of a chronic disease.

Diarrhea can cause *dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and older people, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems.

People of all ages can get diarrhea and the average adult has a bout of acute diarrhea about four times a year. In the United States, each child will have had seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by age 5.

Glossary For This Page
*Stool
The solid wastes that pass through the rectum as bowel movements. Stools are undigested foods, bacteria, mucus, and dead cells. Also called feces.

*Acute
Pronounced - uh-KYOOT
Symptoms or signs that begin and worsen quickly; abrupt, sharp and brief.

*Prolong
To extend in time, continue, lengthen, to make something last longer.

*Chronic
Pronounced - KRAW-nik
A term that refers to disorders that last a long time, often years; A chronic condition is one lasting 3 months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.

*Dehydration
Excessive loss of water from the body or from an organ or body part, as from illness or fluid deprivation, that the body needs to carry on normal functions at an optimal level. Signs include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worse on standing), and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination.

References:
March 2007
NIH Publication No. 07-2749
digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea/