Diarrhea

Abstract

Diarrhea is defined as an increase in defecation frequency (more than 3 times per day), stool volume(more than 200 g per day), and stool liquidity (water content more than 85%). A high fiber diet can increase the amount of daily fecal excretion, thus fecal volume is an insufficient representation of diarrhea. Frequent defecation is also observed in fecal incontinence, secondary to ano-rectal neuromuscular diseases or pelvic diseases. Although loose stool can be observed in such conditions, but the underlying mechanism disregards intestinal water, electrolyte absorption and motility dysfunction, therefore cannot be defined as diarrhea.