National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Diarrhea is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Diarrhea
Also called: Dysentery, The runs, The trots
Diarrhea means that you have loose, watery stools more than three times in one day. You may also have cramps, bloating, nausea and an urgent need to have a bowel movement.
Causes of diarrhea include bacteria, viruses or parasites, certain medicines, food intolerances and diseases that affect the stomach, small intestine or colon. In many cases, no cause can be found.
Although usually not harmful, diarrhea can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem. You should talk to your doctor if you have a strong pain in your abdomen or rectum, a fever, blood in your stools, severe diarrhea for more than three days or symptoms of dehydration. If your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call the doctor for advice. Diarrhea can be dangerous in children.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Start Here
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What I Need to Know about Diarrhea
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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What I Need to Know about Diarrhea
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Reference Shelf
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Overviews
- Diarrhea(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Diarrhea(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Diarrhea (Acute)(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Latest News
- FDA Warns Against Use of Diarrhea Drug from El Salvador(09/19/2012, HealthDay)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Diarrhea(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Lower Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Colonoscopy(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- O&P (Ova and Parasite) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Stool Culture(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Treatment
- Antidiarrheal Medicines: OTC Relief for Diarrhea(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Prevention/Screening
- Water Disinfection for Travelers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Alternative Therapy
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Bilberry(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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Chamomile(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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Oral Probiotics(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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Bilberry
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Disease Management
- Diarrhea(American Cancer Society)
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Specific Conditions
- Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Brainerd Diarrhea(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Chronic Diarrhea(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Runner's Diarrhea: How Can I Prevent It?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Travelers' Diarrhea(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Related Issues
- Chronic Diarrhea: A Concern After Gallbladder Removal?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Diarrhea and Swimming(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Diarrhea: Cancer-Related Causes and How to Cope(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Fecal Incontinence(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Viral Gastroenteritis(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Health Check Tools
- Diarrhea(DSHI Systems)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diarrhea(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Dysentery(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Diarrhea
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
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Directories
- Find a Gastroenterologist(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Organizations
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Children
- Are Your Bowels Moving?(Nemours Foundation)
- Diarrhea(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Diarrhea(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Stool Tests(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Straight Poop on Kids and Diarrhea(Food and Drug Administration)
- Toddler's Diarrhea(North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - PDF
- Vomiting and Diarrhea(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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Teenagers
- Gastrointestinal Infections and Diarrhea(Nemours Foundation)
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Seniors
- Eldercare at Home: Diarrhea(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
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Patient Handouts
- Diarrhea
- Also available in Spanish
- Diarrhea in children - diet
- Also available in Spanish
- Diet - clear liquid
- Also available in Spanish
- Traveler's diarrhea diet
- Also available in Spanish
- When you or your child has diarrhea
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Diarrhea - Multiple Languages
