Digestive · Symptom
Diarrhea
Also called: loose stools, the runs
Acute diarrhea is usually viral or food-related and resolves in 2–3 days with hydration. Bacterial causes (Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, C. diff after antibiotics) and parasitic causes (Giardia) need stool testing. Chronic diarrhea (>4 weeks) raises IBS, IBD, celiac, microscopic colitis, and bile acid diarrhea. Clindle evaluates diarrhea over video, orders stool studies when indicated, treats with loperamide for non-infectious diarrhea, antibiotics when culture-confirmed, and refers to GI for chronic or bloody cases.