Diarrhea, Excessive Sweating, Frequent Bowel Movements And ...

These symptoms and signs could be due to an infection of your intestines called gastroenteritis. A virus generally causes gastroenteritis, which should go away without any treatment within 72 hours. New medications, supplements, or foods could also cause some bowel habit changes. If you've had similar symptoms at least once a week for the past 3 months, you might have a condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is different than IBS in that it is associated with severe inflammation of the intestines. People with IBD often have blood and/or mucus in their bowel movements as well. Check in with your doctor if you're having the symptoms for more than 72 hours, or if it's been happening for at least 3 months.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

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  Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a GI disorder with symptoms of constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. IBS treatment includes medications, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes.

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  Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

  Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) is a term referred used to describe a variety of gastrointestinal problems. The most common signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States is Norovirus. Other causes of gastroenteritis include Rotavirus, Astrovirus, Adenovirus, and Sapovirus. There are bacterial causes of gastroenteritis such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter Aeromonas, E. coli, Clostridium, Vibrio, Campylobacter, and Yersinia spp. Parasites that cause gastroenteritis include Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Entamoeba. Treatment for gastroenteritis is generally home remedies such as keeping hydrated to prevent dehydration. At times, hospitalization may be necessary if dehydration occurs.

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  Drug Interactions

  Drug interactions occur frequently. Get facts about the types of drug interactions, what substances or other things that may interact with drugs such as OTC drug and prescription drugs, vitamins, food(s) (grapefruit), and laboratory tests. Find out how to protect yourself from potential drug interactions.

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  Lactose Intolerance

  Lactose intolerance is a common problem where a person's digestive system cannot digest lactose. Signs and symptoms include diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, abdominal distention (swelling), and nausea. There are several tests to diagnose lactose intolerance. Treatment is generally made with dietary changes, supplements, and adaptation to small amounts of milk.

At MedicineNet, we believe it is important to take charge of your health through measures such as a living healthy lifestyle, practicing preventative medicine, following a nutrition plan, and getting regular exercise. Understanding your symptoms and signs and educating yourself about health conditions are also a part of living your healthiest life. The links above will provide you with more detailed information on these medical conditions to help you inform yourself about the causes and available treatments for these conditions.