diaree

Diaree, also known as diarrhea, is the passage of stools that are loose or watery and occur more frequently than usual. In adults, it is typically defined as three or more loose stools in a 24-hour period. Diarrhea can be acute, lasting a few days, or chronic, persisting for weeks or longer. It is a symptom rather than a disease and has multiple possible causes.

Common causes include infections—viral (such as norovirus or rotavirus), bacterial (certain strains of E. coli), and parasitic; medication side effects (notably antibiotics); food intolerances or malabsorption; inflammatory bowel disease; and conditions affecting the gut, such as celiac disease or pancreatic insufficiency. Travel, contaminated food or water, and poor sanitation increase risk.

Symptoms may include urgent or frequent bowel movements, cramping, bloating, nausea, and fever. Dehydration is a key concern, especially in young children and older adults, with signs such as dry mouth, reduced urination, dizziness, and skin changes.

Diagnosis relies on history and examination; stool tests or blood tests are used when diarrhea is persistent, severe, accompanied by dehydration, fever, or blood in the stool.

Treatment focuses on maintaining hydration with oral rehydration solutions or IV fluids in severe cases. Dietary management, continued feeding for children, and zinc supplementation can help. Antibiotics are reserved for specific bacterial infections; antidiarrheal medicines are used selectively.

Prevention centers on good hand hygiene, safe food and water, vaccines (such as rotavirus), and cautious antibiotic use to prevent resistance.

Prognosis is usually favorable with self-limited diarrhea resolving within a few days, though dehydration can be serious in vulnerable populations.