Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Causes of Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea occurs when the lining of the small or large intestine is irritated. This leads to increased water being passed in the stools. The irritation also causes tummy pains as it contracts strongly and irregularly.
The most frequent cause is an infection with a virus or bacteria. The infection may come from infected food (food poisoning). Water is a common cause when travelling in some countries. Often the infection is spread between people by physical contact. You should therefore always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food and after using the toilet.
Other, usually short- term causes include emotional upset or anxiety, drinking too much alcohol, coffee or sweets or the side effect from some medicines.
There are many long- term conditions that cause chronic diarrhoea, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, and pancreatitis. These should be investigated by your doctor.
