Diarrhea means passing loose, watery stools three or more times in one day. It's a common digestive issue often caused by infections, food intolerances, medications, or stress. Most cases resolve on their own within a couple of days, but if symptoms persist beyond 48 hours or become severe, you should seek medical care.
You may experience:
Diarrhea can be triggered by:
At GastroDoxs in Houston, our gastroenterology experts are ready to provide patient-centered care for diarrhea and all digestive concerns. Schedule your visit now to receive a thorough evaluation, personalized treatment plan, and fast relief. Book your appointment today and take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
We've successfully treated more than 10K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
The most commonly used code is R19.7, which denotes unspecified diarrhea for testing, billing, and documentation purposes.
It can be. Hormonal shifts in early pregnancy often speed up digestion, leading to loose or frequent stools in some women.
Yes. Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea may occur with COVID-19, especially when accompanied by fever, cough, or loss of taste and smell-consider testing.
Often they do. Antibiotics can disrupt your natural gut flora balance, leading to loose stools or antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Definitely. Stress speeds up gut motility and fluid secretion in the intestines, which can result in more frequent, watery bowel movements.
Yes. Anxiety triggers the gut-brain axis, increasing intestinal contractions and sometimes causing cramping, urgency, or diarrhea.
Sometimes. When you first introduce probiotics, your gut may need time to adjust to the new bacteria, resulting in temporary loose stools.
When burps smell like sulfur and diarrhea occurs, it may indicate a bacterial infection, food poisoning, or intolerance to certain foods.
Focus on fluid replacement (water, broth, electrolyte drinks), eat bland foods (BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), rest, and consider over-the-counter remedies like loperamide as directed.
Reach out if diarrhea persists beyond 48 hours, if you show signs of dehydration (dizziness, dark urine), or if you notice blood in your stool or severe abdominal pain.
