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What are the main causes and statistics of diarrhea?
Should I be worried about my diarrhea? Thanks for asking. Diarrhoea is a common ailment that affects many of us from time to time. While it's often the subject of off-colour jokes, in reality it's the number two cause of death in children under five years old after pneumonia. It accounts for over 500,000 child deaths each year according to the World Health Organisation.
The majority of these cases are recorded in the developing world due to a lack of safe drinking water. That isn't so likely to be a problem in the Western world, but still, if your diarrhea lasts longer than a few days, or you notice certain unusual symptoms, then it might actually be a sign of a more serious health problem, so you'll want to get it checked out.
What exactly is diarrhea?
The World Health Organization definition of diarrhea is when a person has three or more loose or liquid stools per day. But that definition can vary depending on how many stools they usually have. Diarrhea is often accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or cramps, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, nausea, bloating and a loss of control over bowel movements.
So where does diarrhea come from?
There are various different possible causes, but most of the time it's due to an infection of the intestinal tract known as gastroenteritis. This can be caused by bacteria like Campylobacter or E. coli present in contaminated food, as well as parasites in contaminated water. Viruses can also cause diarrhea, such as Novovirus, which is also known as the winter vomiting bug.
Other causes can include anxiety, food allergies, medication or a long-term condition like irritable bowel syndrome. Of course, the cause of diarrhea determines how seriously you should take it. Some symptoms are more of a cause for concern than others. You should look out for bloody stools, dizziness, a fever, severe abdominal pain and vomiting.
If you experience any of those symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.
How can I identify the cause of my diarrhea?
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