Causes of acute diarrhea | Diarrhea

Causes of acute diarrhea

gastrointestinal infections: The most common cause of acute diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis). Bacteria (e.g. salmonella, E. coli) as well as viruses (e.g. rotaviruses, noroviruses) can cause such infections.

The transmission is usually faecal-oral, i.e. through consumption of contaminated food. An infection with the cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholera) can lead to particularly severe, life-threatening diarrhea. However, cholera hardly ever occurs in industrialized countries.

Poisonings: Food poisoning is another cause of acute diarrhea. The cause is often a toxin (poison), which is formed by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus in the course of spoiling food (e.g. products with yoghurt or mayonnaise without appropriate cooling). In addition, certain plants or fungi (including the tuber leaf fungus) can cause diarrhoea in humans.

The contamination of food with heavy metals (e.g. arsenic) can also cause diarrhoea. Poisoning with chemicals, especially mistakenly by children, can lead not only to vomiting but also to diarrhoea and other symptoms. Medication: Taking certain medications can also cause diarrhea.

These include laxatives, iron preparations and certain cancer drugs (cytostatics). But diarrhoea can also occur when taking antibiotics. Here, the normal intestinal flora is destroyed by the antibiotic in such a way that the proliferation of the bacterium Clostridium difficile leads to a so-called pseudomembranous colitis.

allergies: If certain foods are not tolerated, this often manifests itself as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance due to a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose) and coeliac disease (gluten intolerance: gluten is a sticky protein that occurs in many cereal products) can be the cause of diarrhoea.

• Gastrointestinal infections: The most common cause of acute diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis).

  Bacteria (e.g. salmonella, E. coli) as well as viruses (e.g. rotaviruses, noroviruses) can cause such infections. The transmission is usually faecal-oral, i.e. through consumption of contaminated food.

  An infection with the cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholera) can lead to particularly severe, life-threatening diarrhea. However, cholera hardly ever occurs in industrialized countries.

• Poisonings: Food poisoning is another cause of acute diarrhea. The cause is often a toxin (poison) formed by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus in the course of spoiling food (e.g. products with yoghurt or mayonnaise without proper cooling).

  In addition, certain plants or fungi (including the tuber leaf fungus) can cause diarrhoea in humans. Also the load of food with heavy metals (e.g.B. Arsenic) can cause diarrhea.

  Poisoning with chemicals, especially mistakenly by children, can cause not only vomiting but also diarrhoea and other symptoms.

• Medication: Taking certain medications can also be a cause of diarrhea. These include laxatives, iron preparations and certain cancer drugs (cytostatics). But diarrhoea can also occur when taking antibiotics.

  Here, the normal intestinal flora is destroyed by the antibiotic in such a way that the proliferation of the bacterium Clostridium difficile leads to a so-called pseudomembranous colitis.

• Allergies: If certain foods are not tolerated, this often manifests itself as stomach ache and diarrhoea. Especially lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance due to a lack of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose) and coeliac disease (gluten intolerance: gluten is an adhesive protein that occurs in many cereal products) can be the cause of diarrhoea.

5. psychological causes: If no other cause for the diarrhea can be found, a psychogenic origin must also be considered. Especially stress or fear can lead to digestive disorders with diarrhoea.

Here, diarrhoea often ends abruptly on vacation or at weekends, i.e. when the stress-triggering factor is eliminated. Psychological factors also seem to have an influence in the so-called irritable bowel syndrome. Further interesting information about the effects of stress on the intestine can be found here: Diarrhoea due to stress 6.

Diarrhoea during pregnancy: Especially at the beginning of a pregnancy some women suffer from digestive disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea), which usually disappear on their own. All of the above can also be considered as causes of diarrhoea in pregnant women. However, the risk of excessive fluid loss is increased in pregnant women as well as in children, which is why a doctor should be consulted at an early stage. and diarrhoea during pregnancy