Watery diarrhea can be caused by viral gastroenteritis infections, bacterial or parasite infections, or lactose intolerance, but also due to health conditions such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, for example.
This type of diarrhea is characterized by the feces being liquid like water, occurring at least three times a day, and may appear as explosive diarrhea, or be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, fever or change in color, such as yellow, brown or black, for example. Know what each color of stool means.
It is important to consult a gastroenterologist whenever watery diarrhea appears, to identify the cause, recommend the most appropriate treatment and thus avoid complications such as dehydration.
Main causes
The main causes of watery diarrhea are:
1. Gastroenteritis viral
Viral gastroenteritis can cause watery diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting, which can last up to 7 days if not treated properly.
This type of infection can be caused by viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus or adenovirus, for example, transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food and water.
What to do: you should keep your body hydrated, drinking plenty of water or homemade serum, resting and eating small meals with lighter foods such as toast, banana or rice. See what the diet for diarrhea should be like.
However, if diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, or in the case of children or the elderly, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to begin the most appropriate treatment.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
2. Bacterial infections
Watery diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial infections, and be accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever or blood in the stool. See other causes of blood in the stool.
The main bacteria that can cause watery diarrhea are Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli or Shigella sptransmitted by ingestion of contaminated food or water.
What to do: It is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat lightly. Furthermore, it is recommended to go to the doctor to have a diagnosis made, the type of bacteria identified and treatment with antibiotics indicated.
3. Parasitic infections
Some parasites, such as Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides or Entamoeba histolytica, can also cause watery diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool, fever or tiredness.
In the case of Giardia lamblia, yellow watery diarrhea may also occur, and may appear acute and intense or may be mild and persistent. See other symptoms of giardiasis.
What to do: You should consult a gastroenterologist or general practitioner to carry out the treatment, which generally involves the use of antiparasitic medications, such as metronidazole, secnidazole, albendazole or mebendazole, for example, which varies depending on the type of parasite.
4. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance can cause watery diarrhea and abdominal pain that may begin a few hours after ingesting dairy products and be accompanied by excess gas or nausea. Know how to identify all the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Lactose intolerance occurs due to the deficiency or absence of the lactase enzyme, and the intensity of symptoms can vary according to each person’s degree of intolerance.
What to do: you should avoid consuming dairy products, such as cow’s or goat’s milk, cheese, yogurt or whey protein, for example, in addition to consulting a gastroenterologist who can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and recommend the use of medicines with lactase. See the main remedies for lactose intolerance.
Furthermore, it is important that during a diarrhea attack, the person keeps the body hydrated, taking small sips of water or homemade serum regularly.
5. Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by inflammation of the intestinal villi that can cause periods of watery diarrhea alternating with constipation.
In addition, other symptoms are abdominal pain, excessive gas production and bloating in the belly.
Although the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not completely known, it is known that symptoms worsen during periods of stress and anxiety.
What to do: Treatment must be guided by a gastroenterologist and involves changes in diet and/or the use of probiotics and antidepressants, which calm both pain and other symptoms.
In addition, activities that can reduce stress should be carried out and, thus, prevent the worsening or progression of symptoms. Check out the main treatments for irritable bowel syndrome.
6. Celiac disease
Yellow, light brown or gray watery diarrhea can be caused by celiac disease, and can also appear as oily or frothy diarrhea with a bad smell.
Celiac disease is a severe gluten intolerance that causes intestinal irritation and malabsorption when a person consumes foods with wheat, rye or barley, which leads to increased stool speed in the intestine and increased fat in the stool.
Typically, people with celiac disease show improvement in symptoms when they remove gluten-containing foods from their diet.
What to do: It is important to consult a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis of the disease and start a gluten-free diet. In some cases, the doctor may also recommend the use of immunosuppressive medications. Find out how celiac disease is treated.
7. Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the lining of the intestines that can be caused by genetic factors or a malfunction of the immune system, for example.
This disease can cause symptoms such as watery diarrhea, which may be yellow due to poor absorption of nutrients, as well as abdominal pain or stools with blood or mucus. Know how to identify the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
What to do: The treatment recommended by the gastroenterologist must be carried out, which generally involves the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or biological therapy, in addition to changing eating habits. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove the damaged parts of your intestine.
8. Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the intestinal mucosa that can cause bleeding or ulcers in the intestine, and watery diarrhea with bright blood or brown or black, and a bad smell.
Furthermore, diarrhea can be chronic and be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, mucus in the stool, fever, excess intestinal gas or anemia, for example.
What to do: Treatment must be guided by a gastroenterologist and varies according to the severity of the symptoms, and the use of immunosuppressive medications or biological therapy, for example, or even surgery may be indicated.
When to go to the doctor
A gastroenterologist should be consulted in cases of watery diarrhea with the following characteristics:
- Does not improve in 1 or 2 days or worsens symptoms;
- Presence of blood, mucus or pus;
- Yellow, green, dark brown or black color;
- Fever;
- Severe abdominal pain;
- Weight loss.
Furthermore, you should go to the hospital immediately if symptoms of dehydration such as headache, tiredness, dry mouth, little urine, mental confusion or palpitations appear, so that treatment can be carried out as quickly as possible as it is a medical emergency. Know how to identify the symptoms of dehydration.
