Diarrhea is passing body waste from the bowel more often and in more of a liquid state than usual.

Common Causes:

• "Stomach flu", which is a viral infection of the intestines
• Spoiled food, contaminated water, or infections from bacteria or parasites that affect the digestive tract
• Overuse of alcohol or laxatives
• Lactose intolerance or other food allergies
• Menstrual cramps
• Side effect of certain medications
• Stress or panic attack

Note: When traveling find out about water and food recommendations!

Urgent

With diarrhea, do you have the following signs of dehydration:

• Sunken, dry, or tearless eyes
• Dry mouth, tongue, and lips
• No urine or a low amount of urine that is dark yellow
• Lightheadedness
• Dry skin
• Dizziness, confusion, weakness
• Increase in breathing and heart rate
• Severe thirst (may come and go)

Is there blood in the diarrhea or is its color tar-like (black) or maroon?

Non Urgent

Do you have abdominal or rectal pain?

Do you have:

• Gas, bloating, cramps, or pain in the abdomen
• Changes in bowel habit (constipation, diarrhea, or both), crampy urge, but inability to move your bowels, or mucous in your stool?

Do  you have:

• Temperature of 101 F or higher
• Diarrhea that has lasted 48 hours or longer
• A chronic illness and have diarrhea more than 8 times a day?

Self-care: Follow your normal diet if there are no signs of dehydration. If there are signs of dehydration, stop solid foods and have 2 cups of clear fluids per hour, but avoid high sugar drinks. Avoid fatty and fried foods. Start eating normal meals within 12 hours. Try an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicine, such as Imodium A-D, but wait at least 12 hours before you take it.