Stomach Pain and Diarrhea

Eating contaminated food, or following wrong food habits can causes disorders of the stomach. As mentioned above, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, etc. are symptoms related to gastrointestinal diseases or digestive system diseases. If you too experience this condition, there may be a possibility that you suffer from either of the following causes.

Causes of Abdominal Pain and Diarrhea

Gastroenteritis:
Gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, is caused due to an inflammation of the stomach due to parasites. There are two types of gastroenteritis, viral and bacterial, caused by virus and bacteria respectively. Eating contaminated food and water can cause gastroenteritis. It is more common in young adults and older people. Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration are the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Food Poisoning:
Food poisoning is also caused due to consumption of contaminated food. It mostly occurs when a person eats food that was cooked for a crowd or in very large amounts. Food poisoning in meats and fish is more common than other vegetarian types of food. Cholera is one such disease that is caused due to food poisoning. Campylobacter, shigella and salmonella are common food poisoning causing pathogens.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the lower intestine tract whose exact cause is unknown. Abdominal pain is the most prominent symptom of IBS. It is also characterized by irregular bowel movements. A person may either suffer from constipation or diarrhea. Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting are the other symptoms of IBS.

Premenstrual Syndrome:
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is abdominal pain, discomfort and mood swings experienced by a woman 5-10 days prior to menstruation. The exact cause of premenstrual syndrome is still not known. The symptoms include swelling in legs, feet, abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

Ulcerative Colitis:
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the rectum and the large intestine. Unfortunately, even the cause of this disease is unknown. It is more common in teens and older people. Stomach pain and diarrhea are the prominent symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Apart from the above mentioned ones, the other causes are indigestion, heartburn, stomach ulcers, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, food allergies, giardiasis, lactose intolerance, kidney stones, colon cancer, cystic fibrosis, etc. All these diseases can be treated by medications as well as certain natural remedies.

Treatment
You should immediately consult the doctor if these symptoms persist for more than 1 day. The doctor will ask the patient to undertake blood and urine tests. Prevention of dehydration is the first step to be followed in the treatment of any of these diseases, as diarrhea causes dehydration. Therefore, the doctor will advice the person to have electrolytic fluids and water. In case of severe diarrhea and dehydration, hospitalization and IV fluids may be required. The further treatment completely depends on the cause of the disease.

These symptoms can be prevented in most of the cases by following simple precautions. The diet plays an important role in avoiding gastric problems. You should have a balanced diet full of fiber and avoid fatty, greasy foods that cause gas and bloating. Similarly, drinking plenty of water and eating regularly are equally important in the prevention of these diseases. Note that this information is meant for reference purposes and should not be substituted for proper medical advice.