There are many causes of diarrhea. In many cases it’s tough to determine what the cause is without a stool test performed by a doctor.

Temporary Upset Stomach
If your bouts with diarrhea are temporary and short-lived, they are probably caused by the ingestion of a food or substance that your body does not tolerate well. You may experience a short bout of diarrhea after eating greasy, spicy or sugary foods. You may also experience this if you have developed an intolerance to soy, wheat, dairy or another food type. This is different from an allergy and has to do strictly with your body’s ability or inability to properly digest that particular food. Temporary diarrhea can also be associated with anxiety or agitation.

Severe Short Cases of Diarrhea
Severe, intense cases of diarrhea are often caused by food poisoning. To prevent this, make sure hot food is served hot and cold foods served cold, and all food is refrigerated within a half hour of preparation in order to keep it safe for consumption.

Longer Term Cases
If you have diarrhea for longer than three days, you need to see a doctor to determine the cause. You most likely have caught a virus or have ingested bacteria or parasites. This is where anti-diarrhea medications can cause more harm than good; the medication may stop you up, but it also traps the parasites or bacteria inside you, causing the problem to get worse, not better. You will probably be prescribed an antibiotic to clear up the problem.

Chronic Cases
If you have chronic diarrhea that comes and goes, you may have a medical condition such as Celiac’s disease, Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrone. You also may have issues with your gall bladder not producing adequate amounts of enzymes needed for proper digestion of fats. The chronic diarrhea can be indication of an intolerance such as lactose intolerance. Keep a log of what you eat and when you have problems, and see your doctor after you’ve kept this log for about a month. Your doctor will help you determine what you need to change and if you need medication.