Diarrhea

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Symptom Definition

• Diarrhea is the sudden increase in the frequency and looseness of BMs (bowel movements, stools).
• Mild diarrhea is the passage of a few loose or mushy BMs.
• Severe diarrhea is the passage of many watery BMs.

Causes

• Usually viral gastroenteritis (viral infection of the stomach and intestines)
• Also, sometimes caused by bacteria (eg. Salmonella or Shigella)

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

• The vomiting is worse than the diarrhea, see VOMITING.
• Blood present and no diarrhea, see STOOLS, BLOOD IN.