Diarrhea

Diarrhea is loose, watery stools. A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. People with diarrhea may pass more than a quart of stool a day.

What is Diarrhea?

The term diarrhea (also spelled diarrhoea) refers to passage of loose, watery stools. The usual frequency of passing loose stools or watery stools in cases of diarrhea is at least three or more times a day.

Diarrhea Epidemiology

Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea in Children

Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea Treatment

Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea: Distinguishing Between Common and Serious Causes

Diarrhea Prevention

Diarrhea Causes

Diarrhea Symptoms

Latest Diarrhea News and Research

Genetic bottlenecks limit the rise of pandemic cholera strains

A new study by the Genomics and Microbial Evolution Group at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) together with the Department of Host-Microbe Interactions at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, USA, sheds light on one of the great enigmas of microbiology: why only certain strains of common bacteria become pandemic pathogens.

30 Jun 2025

Kennedy’s vaccine advisers sow doubts as scientists protest US pivot on shots

As fired and retired scientists rallied outside in the Atlanta heat, an advisory panel that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handpicked to replace experts he'd fired earlier met inside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters to plan a more skeptical vaccine future.

27 Jun 2025

New technology brings antibiotic resistance surveillance to the field

Antibiotics are one of the greatest triumphs in the history of medical science - but these lifesaving tools have a dark side.

26 Jun 2025

New insights into programmed cell death could offer relief for inflammatory bowel disease

New basic science insights into programmed cell death could offer relief for inflammatory bowel disease.

26 Jun 2025

Once-monthly obesity injection shows double-digit weight loss in major clinical trial

Researchers found that once-monthly maridebart cafraglutide led to substantial weight loss and improved glycemic control in adults with obesity, with or without diabetes, in a phase 2 randomized trial. The drug demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and supports further study in phase 3 trials.

24 Jun 2025

Cagrilintide and semaglutide together drive record weight loss in global trial

A 68-week phase 3 trial found that coadministered cagrilintide and semaglutide led to significant and clinically meaningful weight loss in adults with obesity but no diabetes. The combination outperformed either drug alone and improved multiple cardiometabolic health markers.

23 Jun 2025

Amycretin delivers unprecedented weight loss in early trial for obesity treatment

Once-weekly amycretin, a novel peptide activating GLP-1, amylin, and calcitonin receptors, produced rapid, substantial, and sustained weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity during a phase 1b/2a trial. The treatment was generally well tolerated, with mostly mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, supporting further investigation in larger, longer studies.

23 Jun 2025

Scientists warn of rising threat as poultry disease shows signs of jumping to humans

Avian Intestinal Spirochaetosis (AIS) is a chronic, underreported poultry disease caused by Brachyspira spp., with rising concern over its zoonotic risk to humans. This review highlights key challenges in diagnosis, antibiotic resistance, transmission, and the urgent need for improved surveillance and new prevention strategies.

23 Jun 2025

Gut microbiome resists major changes from a nut-rich diet

The systematic review highlights that while nuts influence gut microbiota, the effects are modest and vary by nut type, warranting further investigation.

18 Jun 2025

Chromium-rich fiber supplement keeps you fuller and reduces insulin spikes

A single dose of a chromium-enriched glucomannan-fructo-oligosaccharide fiber complex significantly reduced postprandial insulin and increased fullness in healthy adults, without affecting blood glucose. These findings highlight the potential of this functional fiber blend to support appetite control and metabolic health.

10 Jun 2025

Study reveals 15 hidden genetic risk factors for celiac disease

This comprehensive GWAS reveals 15 new genetic variants linked to celiac disease, offering insights for earlier detection and tailored treatment strategies.

9 Jun 2025

AI-designed drug shows early promise for lung fibrosis patients in clinical trial

Researchers report that rentosertib, an AI-discovered TNIK inhibitor, showed promising safety and potential to improve lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a 12-week phase 2a clinical trial. The highest dose group demonstrated a trend toward increased forced vital capacity, especially among patients not receiving standard antifibrotic therapy, supporting further clinical investigation.

4 Jun 2025

Two patients faced chemo. The one who survived demanded a test to see if it was safe.

JoEllen Zembruski-Ruple, while in the care of New York City's renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, swallowed the first three chemotherapy pills to treat her squamous cell carcinoma on Jan. 29, her family members said. They didn't realize the drug could kill her.

4 Jun 2025

Does lithium offer hope for long COVID brain fog and fatigue? New trial gives mixed results

A randomized clinical trial found that low-dose lithium aspartate did not improve cognitive dysfunction or fatigue in long COVID patients. Higher doses showed possible benefits in a small exploratory substudy, but larger trials are needed.

4 Jun 2025

ADHD linked to higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome, global study reveals

A global meta-analysis found that people with ADHD are significantly more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), while the overall risk for other intestinal disorders is not increased. The findings highlight the importance of gut-brain interactions in ADHD and call for further research on microbiome-based therapies.

3 Jun 2025

Promoting more respectful and inclusive care in reproductive health cinics

Millions of young women around the world face stigma and bias when seeking reproductive health services, often limiting their access to contraception and quality care.

3 Jun 2025

Understanding cow’s milk allergy in breastfed infants

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) affects up to 2.2% of infants, with a complex interplay of immunological mechanisms, allergen transfer via breast milk, and variable responses to maternal elimination diets. Current evidence challenges the routine use of maternal dietary restrictions, highlighting the need for precise diagnosis and further research.

27 May 2025

Most Americans back MMR vaccine as measles surges and misconceptions rise

A national survey shows that most Americans still support MMR vaccination for children, but public understanding of measles complications and vaccine facts is declining. Despite a sharp rise in measles cases, misconceptions about vaccine risks and autism persist.

20 May 2025

Measles cases surge in the United States amid falling vaccination rates

The United States is in the midst of the second-highest year of measles cases since 2000, when the disease was declared eliminated in this country, meaning that cases within the United States originated outside the country.

16 May 2025

AI model offers early warning for acute malnutrition in Kenya

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the USC School of Advanced Computing and the Keck School of Medicine, working alongside experts from the Microsoft AI for Good Lab, Amref Health Africa, and Kenya's Ministry of Health, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict acute child malnutrition in Kenya up to six months in advance.

14 May 2025