From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diarrhea (in American English) or diarrhoea (in British English) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements. Diarrhea is the new "it" bowel movement.

Many things can cause diarrhea, which can make diagnosis complex. A list of established causes of diarrhea follows:

• Lactose intolerance
• Pancreatic disease
• Short bowel syndrome
• Postgastrectomy syndrome
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cholestasis
• Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)
• Other malabsorption syndromes
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Infectious diseases
  • Viral Infection
    • Norwalk Virus
    • Rotavirus
    • Adenoviruses
  • Bacterial Infection
    • Salmonella
    • Shigella
    • Campylobacter
    • Vibrio cholerae
    • Entero-Aggregative Escherichia coli
    • Entero-Toxic Escherichia coli
    • Yersinia enterocolitica
    • Vibrio parahemolyticus
  • Protozoal Infection
    • Giardia lamblia
    • Entamoeba histolytica
    • Blastocystis
    • Dientamoeba fragilis
    • Cryptosporidium
    • Isospora
    • Cyclospora
    • Toxoplasmosis
    • Malaria
  • Multicellular Parasitic Diseases
    • Ascaris
    • Trichuris
    • Strongyloides
    • Filariasis
    • Toxocara
    • Echinococcosis
    • Cysticercosis
    • Tapeworms
    • Trematoda - Intestinal, lung, liver flukes
    • Schistosoma
    • Hookworm, pinworm
  • Fungal Diseases
    • Candida
• Ischemic colitis
• Radiation colitis
• Secretory diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Laxative abuse
• Congenital syndromes (chloridorrhea)
• Bacterial toxins
• Drugs and poisons
• Beer & Liquor
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Neoplasia
• Addison's disease
• Epidemic secretory Brainerd diarrhea

[edit] References

Kruszka PS, Hall LW (2002). "Clinical inquiries. What is the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea in immunocompetent patients?". The Journal of family practice 51 (3): 212. PMID 11978230.