Are you always on the lookout for an “episode?” Perhaps you’ve grown tired of always looking out for restrooms when going out and choosing a table close to them. While diarrhea is rarely a cause for concern unless it happens to the elderly or children, it’s often worth investigating what’s causing it if it doesn’t go away on its own.
Our experts at Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County explain what causes diarrhea and what symptoms should prompt an immediate visit to our offices.
A mild viral infection or food poisoning is usually behind diarrhea symptoms, in which case your body should be able to clear out the problem on its own. Diarrhea is considered chronic when it happens for at least 3 weeks, but you don’t have to wait that long to see the doctor if you have concerning symptoms.
Common causes of diarrhea include:
While some causes can be more serious than others, even being exposed to unfamiliar bacteria while traveling can send you to the emergency room if you are losing too much fluid and risk dehydration.
Diarrhea followed by a high fever, blood in your stool, and dehydration should prompt a visit to the medical office.
With acute diarrhea, the most dangerous complications involve fluid loss and electrolyte imbalances. Electrolytes balance the amount of water in your tissues and enable cell communication via electrical impulses. These electrical impulses are found all over the body.
When electrolyte imbalances are mild, you may find yourself dizzy or fatigued, but when the imbalance is severe, you may experience an irregular heartbeat, seizures, or even risk falling into a coma.
With chronic diarrhea that isn’t severe enough to cause dehydration and loss of electrolytes, over time, you may develop deficiencies as the food passes through the intestines too fast for your body to be able to absorb enough minerals, vitamins, and calories.
Most of the time, diarrhea doesn’t cause any issues, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Our experts can quickly resolve electrolyte imbalances and other issues caused by diarrhea to ensure you aren’t at risk of developing any complications.
If you or a loved one experiences it, get peace of mind by scheduling an appointment in one of our locations in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Foothill Ranch, California.
