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 Causes

Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea Symptoms

Diarrhea in Children

Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea: Distinguishing Between Common and Serious Causes

Diarrhea Treatment

Diarrhea Prevention

Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea Epidemiology

Latest Diarrhea News and Research

Higher mortality risk in IBS patients using antidepressants

Research indicates that antidepressant use in IBS is linked to a 35% higher risk of all-cause mortality, highlighting safety issues with long-term treatment.

13 Apr 2026

EV-RNAs show promise for IBD diagnosis and treatment

A research team led by Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, has published a comprehensive review in ExRNA that sorts out the diverse roles of extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs (EV-RNAs) in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

10 Apr 2026

IBS diagnosis gaps persist across racial and gender groups in the U.S.

A national survey study led by UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found significant disparities in how irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is diagnosed across sex and racial groups in the U.S., with men and Black patients considerably less likely than women and white patients to receive a formal diagnosis.

9 Apr 2026

Breastfeeding patterns in India differ between slum and non-slum neighborhoods

A new study from the University of Toronto shows that where a mother lives in an Indian city – in a slum or a non‑slum neighborhood – is linked to how she breastfeeds her baby.

8 Apr 2026

Researchers discover new virulence regulator of diarrheal pathogen

Pathogenic bacteria often delay the activation of their virulence program until they are inside the host. Researchers have identified a new mechanism that controls this process.

2 Apr 2026

Fiber supplement stabilizes blood sugar in gestational diabetes

Dietary fiber supplementation shows potential in managing blood sugar levels and preventing preterm births in pregnancies at risk for gestational diabetes.

1 Apr 2026

Inside the high-stakes corporate fight over feeding preterm babies

In 2013, a scientist at Abbott Laboratories saw study results with potentially big implications for the company's profits and the lives of some of the world's most fragile people: preterm infants.

30 Mar 2026

Combination therapy shows promise for leptomeningeal metastasis in breast cancer

Patients with leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) have historically had few treatment options. Now, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found a combination of targeted therapies, tucatinib and trastuzumab, plus the chemotherapy drug, capecitabine, may improve symptoms and extend survival in some breast cancer patients with LM.

18 Mar 2026

New risk models improve food safety guidelines for pregnant individuals

Listeria is the third-leading cause of death among bacterial foodborne pathogens in the U.S. and pregnant individuals bear a disproportionate share of that burden.

17 Mar 2026

Childhood stress may lead to digestive issues later in life

Early life stress may lead to digestive issues later in life, driven by changes in the gut and sympathetic nervous systems, according to a new study published in the journal Gastroenterology.

16 Mar 2026

Doctors warn of a deadly complication from measles outbreaks

The first sign came when Deepanwita Dasgupta was 5 and started stumbling more while playing at her home in Bangalore in southern India.

13 Mar 2026

Swapping red meat for plant-based meat rapidly lowers a key heart risk metabolite, trial finds

A randomized crossover trial found that replacing red meat patties with processed plant-based meat alternatives for six days significantly lowered circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite linked to cardiovascular risk. The plant-based phase also produced modest reductions in cholesterol markers but slightly increased weight and NT-proBNP, possibly due to higher sodium intake.

12 Mar 2026

Engineered lettuce may turn injectable GLP-1 therapies into oral pills

Few drugs have entered mainstream awareness as quickly or as dramatically as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1 receptor agonists. Initially approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, they have since also transformed the therapeutic landscape of obesity and weight management.

6 Mar 2026

Tufts researchers identify new vulnerabilities to combat persistent C. diff infections

Affecting roughly half a million Americans each year, bacterial infections caused by Clostridioides difficile—commonly known as C. diff—are a serious and persistent problem for patients and hospitals alike.

5 Mar 2026

Why measles remains one of the most contagious viral diseases worldwide

This review synthesizes current evidence on measles virus biology, immune responses, complications, treatments, and prevention strategies. It highlights how measles can suppress immune memory, increasing susceptibility to other infections, and underscores vaccination as the most effective control measure.

4 Mar 2026

Experts identify safest and most effective diets for IBS management

This review in Nutrients evaluates the scientific evidence, clinical effectiveness, and safety of major dietary strategies for irritable bowel syndrome, including traditional advice, low-FODMAP, gluten-free, Mediterranean, and starch- and sucrose-reduced diets. It concludes that while the low-FODMAP diet has the strongest short-term evidence, no single approach fits all patients, and dietitian-led personalization is essential.

2 Mar 2026

Routine terminal ileum intubation and biopsy: A standard practice for colonoscopy completion

Terminal ileum intubation is considered the completion step of colonoscopy and is usually performed to assess the ileum.

27 Feb 2026

Distinct gut toxicity patterns emerge with targeted cancer treatments

A new paper was published in Volume 13 of Oncoscience on February 6, 2026, titled "Gastrointestinal toxicity of targeted cancer therapies in the United States: Clinicopathologic patterns, FDA safety frameworks, and implications for national patient protection."

20 Feb 2026

How GLP-1 drugs affect the body beyond weight loss and glucose control

This review evaluates the safety profile of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and related incretin therapies used for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It highlights common gastrointestinal effects, rare but debated risks, and areas where further long-term safety data are still needed.

18 Feb 2026

Ozempic users continue treatment when weight loss works despite side effects

A study on Ozempic for weight loss reveals user satisfaction is driven by efficacy, despite common gastrointestinal side effects impacting treatment adherence.

13 Feb 2026