Potential Causes of Diarrhea
- Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Microscopic colitis and various other subtypes of colitis
- Celiac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food allergies and sensitivities
- Food intolerances such as lactose or fructose intolerance
- Malabsorption of fat, from diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatitis, or pancreatic tumors
- Cancer of the large intestine (colon cancer), or small intestine (adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, or sarcomas)
- Partial blockage of the intestine from hard stool or tumors that allow only liquid stool to pass through
- Endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and Addison’s disease
- Bile salt diarrhea
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Infection with viruses, bacteria, or parasites
- Chronic alcohol ingestion or abuse
- Surgical resections of major portions of the stomach, small bowel, large bowel, or pancreas
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
- HIV and AIDS
- Medications
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Laxative abuse
- Competitive (especially long distance) running
- Stress
