Having three or more loose, watery stools in one day means you have diarrhea. In most cases, diarrhea isn’t a serious medical concern. However, it can lead to dehydration or serve as a symptom of an underlying digestive disorder. Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists in North Wantagh, and South Wantagh, New York, provides comprehensive care for diarrhea, treating symptoms and causes. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
Diarrhea is when you have loose, watery bowel movements three or more times in one day. Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists classifies diarrhea based on the length of your symptoms:
Loose, watery stools that last no more than two days is acute diarrhea. This type resolves on its own without treatment.
If your diarrhea lasts longer than two days, you have prolonged diarrhea. The providers at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists consider prolonged diarrhea a concerning symptom that benefits from an evaluation.
Chronic diarrhea is ongoing loose, watery stools that last four or more weeks. Chronic diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying health condition.
Any type of diarrhea may cause dehydration, which can lead to other symptoms like weakness, dizziness, or fatigue.
You can develop diarrhea from any number of causes. Acute and prolonged diarrhea may result from:
Chronic diarrhea tends to have different causes than acute or prolonged diarrhea, such as:
You may also develop chronic diarrhea following abdominal surgery or from long-term antibiotic use.
Most cases of diarrhea aren’t serious, and you can manage your symptoms at home. However, you should schedule an appointment at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists if you have severe abdominal pain, a fever, blood in your stool, or signs of dehydration.
When you come in with concerns about diarrhea, the gastroenterologists perform a complete workup to find the cause of your symptoms. This might include bloodwork, stool testing, colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, or capsule endoscopy.
If they suspect food allergies or intolerances, they run blood or breath tests to check for those conditions.
Treatment for your diarrhea depends on the cause.
In most cases, the experts at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists treat diarrhea with replacement fluids to prevent dehydration. This can be in the form of drinks, or the gastroenterologists may recommend intravenous (IV) fluids.
You may also benefit from antibiotics or an antidiarrheal. For an underlying disease, Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists customizes care to manage the condition.
Diarrhea is common, but you can get expert care from Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists when it’s severe or prolonged. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.