Watery Stool Causes

In case of a normal bowel movement, the stool will be firm and soft with a brownish color. It is said that normal stool will be of the consistency of peanut butter and can be passed without any strain. There are many different stool conditions that are considered as abnormal. This can happen with changes in the stool color and consistency. Watery stool is one such condition, which can be caused by a number of reasons. The condition can be defined as a fluid stool without any solid matter.

Watery Stool and Diarrhea

Normally, the water content in stools is said to be around 70% of the stool weight. A rise in its water content results in watery stools, which is an abnormal bowel movement. While diarrhea is a condition characterized by yellow watery stool, all cases cannot be considered as diarrhea. In other words, watery stool is considered as diarrhea, only if there are more than three bowel movements (watery) per day. Some people may have watery bowel movements that do not come under diarrhea, as the frequency of bowel movements in a day is less than three. However, it has been observed that most of the cases are diarrhea, which in turn is caused by a number of conditions. There are many different watery stool causes.

Causes of Watery Stool

It can be caused by conditions that can range from mild to severe. In some people, this condition can be due to use of some medications or foods. In some other cases, parasitic infections can cause watery stool. Even some medical conditions are found to cause it.

• One of the most common causes is infection caused by microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and other parasites. Infections caused by giardia, cryptosporidium and entamoeba, are the most among them.
• Those with food allergies and food intolerances are also found to be prone to watery stool, whenever, they are exposed to allergens. It is usually found in people with lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance and other such conditions. This happens due to the inability of the intestine to process allergenic foods.
• In some cases, medical conditions of the intestine are found to be the causal agent for such loose stools. This include inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In such cases, the affected people may either experience diarrhea frequently or watery stool that is not diarrhea.
• One of the medical conditions that may result in loose stool is malabsorption syndrome, which is characterized by the inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients as well as water. Those with this condition may experience watery stools, along with a greasy stool that floats.
• Now we know that some of the medical conditions of the bowel can cause such loose stool, but, even those affecting other organs may be a reason for this condition. They include those organs that have a vital role in functions of the bowels like digestion and absorption. Liver diseases and gallstones are examples of this.
• It has also been noted that mental conditions like with stress, depression and anxiety, may cause watery stool, along with other symptoms. Even intake of certain medication and foods like, spicy and fatty ones are sometimes linked with this conditions.
• Watery stool in infants can be caused by a number of reasons. The common among them are infections, food intolerance and allergy. Make sure to prevent dehydration due to this condition in babies by increasing their fluid consumption. Another important point is to get the condition treated at the earliest.
• Yellow and green watery stools can be seen in those who are on liquid diet for the last few days. Likewise black watery stool can also be an indication of some health problem. The most common causes for this condition are peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.

So, if you are experiencing watery stools frequently, then, consult a doctor to rule out the possibilities of the above said conditions. Even the color of watery diarrhea must be noted, so that the exact problem can be diagnosed properly. Apart from watery stool, the affected person may develop other symptoms, as per the underlying cause. Even though, the primary aim of treatment is to arrest further loss of water, the main thing is to treat the underlying cause.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.