What Does It Mean When You Have Watery Diarrhea?
Watery diarrhea indicates your intestines are producing loose, liquid stools with high water content. This occurs when your digestive system cannot properly absorb water, often due to infections, food poisoning, or inflammatory conditions. Viral gastroenteritis causes about 70% of acute diarrhea cases, while bacterial infections like E. coli or Salmonella account for another 15-20%. Other triggers include certain medications, lactose intolerance, or chronic conditions like IBS. Most cases resolve within 2-3 days, but persistent watery diarrhea lasting over a week requires medical evaluation to rule out serious underlying conditions.
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