diare

Diare, commonly called diarrhea, is defined as the passage of loose or watery stools more frequently than normal. It is usually a symptom rather than a disease and can affect people of all ages. It is categorized by duration: acute diarrhea lasting up to two weeks, persistent diarrhea lasting 14 to 28 days, and chronic diarrhea lasting longer than four weeks.

Causes include infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic), exposure to contaminated food or water, antibiotics altering the gut flora, and underlying conditions such as lactose intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, or malabsorption syndromes. Travel can cause traveler's diarrhea, and dehydration risk is higher in young children and older adults.

Common symptoms are frequent loose stools, abdominal cramps, urgency, nausea, and sometimes fever or blood in the stool. Dehydration can develop quickly, with thirst, dry mouth, reduced urination, dizziness, and, in infants or the elderly, rapid changes in consciousness or skin turgor.

Diagnosis relies on history and physical examination. Stool tests may be used if diarrhea is prolonged, severe, or accompanied by blood or fever. In cases of severe dehydration or systemic illness, urgent medical assessment is required. Additional tests may be done to identify infectious agents or assess for inflammatory or malabsorptive conditions.

Treatment focuses on restoring fluids and electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions or appropriate fluids are recommended, and normal nutrition should be maintained when possible. In children, zinc supplementation can help. Antidiarrheal medicines are used selectively, and antibiotics are considered only for specific bacterial infections or under medical guidance for traveler's diarrhea.

Prevention emphasizes safe drinking water and food handling, good hand hygiene, and vaccination against rotavirus where available. Most cases improve within a few days; persistent or recurrent diarrhea warrants medical evaluation to identify underlying causes.