Here is a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about watery diarrhea, its signs, why it happens to some people, how it can be treated and prevented by natural and medicinal methods, in addition to its potential complications, and when you should consult a doctor in case of infection.

What is watery diarrhea?

Watery diarrhea occurs when liquid stools come out instead of solid. This type of diarrhea usually occurs as a result of a disease or exposure to food poisoning or a virus, and sometimes it may occur as a result of an underlying health problem.

Watery diarrhea may cause a significant loss of water from the body, which may lead to dehydration. In the event that it is a side effect of a chronic health condition, the doctor aims to treat this problem to get rid of this diarrhea.

Symptoms of watery diarrhea

Loose bowel movement, which results in watery diarrhea, may cause troublesome signs and symptoms in addition to watery diarrhea, including the following:

• Stomach cramps and pain.
• Tired.
• fever.
• Nausea.
• vomiting.
• Vertigo.
• Feeling of general weakness.

It should be noted that diarrhea that lasts for two weeks or less is known as acute diarrhea, while diarrhea that lasts for more than 4 weeks is known as chronic diarrhea.

Causes of watery diarrhea

The most common causes that may lead to diarrhea include:

1- Gastrointestinal infections

These infections are among the most common causes of diarrhea for some people and can occur as a result of any of the following:

• Viruses: It can be infected by inhaling droplets from the sneezing or coughing of another sick person, and it can also be infected by touching surfaces on which the virus is present, then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
• bacteria: The bacteria that cause peptic ulcers can be present in unwashed or spoiled food or in contaminated water.
• Parasites: Parasites that may lead to gastrointestinal infections are infected by the wrong swallowing of some animal or human waste, as well as by eating contaminated food and drinks.

2- Difficulty digesting sugars and sweeteners

Some people have difficulty swallowing and digesting some types of sugars and sweeteners, which may cause watery diarrhea, as fructose and lactose are among the most common causes of digestive disorders. Also, some types of artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol and mannitol, can cause diarrhea in some people.

3- Take some medications

Some people can develop watery diarrhea as a side effect of certain medications involved. Medications that can cause this to happen include:

4- Infection with digestive disorders

Watery diarrhea, especially chronic, is considered an accompanying symptom of some disorders that affect the digestive system, and these disorders include the following:

5- Undergoing surgery

In some cases, stomach or gallbladder surgery may cause diarrhea after the operation, and it can be acute or chronic. You must tell your doctor immediately if you are going to have surgery and this happens.

Indication of the colors of watery diarrhea

Sometimes diarrhea may appear in unusual colors. The stool is usually brown in color, and the appearance of these colors usually indicates the presence of a problem that requires treatment. Some of the colors that may appear and their indication include the following:

• yellow: Possibly a liver or gallbladder problem, and light yellow could be a sign of infection with the parasite Giardia lamblia.
• the green: This color may appear as a result of eating green foods or as a result of the rapid movement of stool through the colon.
• transparent: It may occur as a result of the presence of inflammation in the intestine, which results in the secretion of mucus in the intestine, and this may cause the appearance of transparent diarrhea.
• the black: The appearance of black diarrhea may indicate the possibility of bleeding somewhere in the upper part of the digestive system, and sometimes it can occur as a result of taking iron supplements or eating foods that contain blue and black colors.

Complications of watery diarrhea

In many cases, watery diarrhea may not cause serious health problems and complications, but if complications do occur, they can be serious. Some potential complications that you should pay attention to include:

Drought

Diarrhea can cause rapid loss of body fluids and dehydration. If dehydration is not treated, this can be a health hazard, especially for children and the elderly. Some symptoms of dehydration to watch out for include decreased urine output and dry mouth.

Intestinal malabsorption

Having persistent or severe diarrhea can cause malabsorption. This occurs when the intestines are unable to absorb all the nutrients that the body needs to function efficiently. Some symptoms of intestinal malabsorption include:

• changes in lust
• feeling bloated
• the presence of gases
• Collywobbles.
• Lose weight.

When should you visit the doctor?

In many cases, watery diarrhea disappears with home remedies, but a doctor should be visited if the diarrhea continues for more than 48 hours, or if the color of the stool changes, especially if it is bloody, and if the symptoms do not improve or increase in severity. In this case, the doctor requests a stool analysis and sends it to the laboratory to confirm or deny the presence of certain bacteria, parasites, or viruses that may be the cause of this diarrhea.

Treatment of watery diarrhea

Treatment methods for this problem include:

Treating watery diarrhea at home

In many cases, watery diarrhea can be easily treated at home and goes away within a few days. Some home remedies to try include:

• Get rest, to provide the energy needed for the body to fight any infection present.
• Drink plenty of water and clear drinks.
• Eat easy to digest foods such as bananas, boiled rice and toast.
• Eat small meals during the day, instead of large meals, as the body has difficulty digesting large meals when suffering from watery diarrhea.
• Avoid the following foods and drinks:
  • Dairy products.
  • Fried and fatty foods.
  • spicy foods.
  • Alcohols.
  • caffeine.
  • Foods containing fructose, lactose, or artificial sweeteners.

Medical treatments

In the event that home remedies do not work, the patient may need to resort to medical treatments, and this depends on what caused the diarrhea to occur in the first place, and some possible medical options for treating watery diarrhea may include the following:

• Antibiotics.
• Antidiarrheals.
• Adjusting the doses of medicines used in case the diarrhea is caused by the use of another medicine.
• Fluid therapy, and it is resorted to in the event of dehydration in the event that the diarrhea is severe.
• Treatment of digestive disorders, which may include the following:
  • Make dietary changes.
  • Making life changes.
  • Take medications.
  • undergo surgery.