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If you have diarrhea, you have loose, watery stools and you need to go to the bathroom far more often than normal.

Doctors say you have diarrhea if you have watery stools and you need to go to the bathroom more than three times in a day.¹

You may also have other symptoms like vomiting or stomach cramps.²

This information looks at diarrhea that's caused by an infection with a virus or bacteria.^{3 4} You pick up viruses or bacteria from contaminated food or water.

You can also catch diarrhea from another person who has it. This happens when you touch something that is contaminated with traces of their stool (for example, the person's hand) and then put your hand in your mouth (for example, when you eat).

If you have diarrhea that's caused by a virus, it usually gets better on its own in a few days. But diarrhea can also be caused by another problem with your bowels, such as irritable bowel syndrome.^{2 5} If your diarrhea lasts longer than a few days, or if you're too ill to eat or drink, it's important to see a doctor.^{2 5}

You have a higher risk of catching diarrhea if you:⁶

• Have been traveling in a developing country (see Travelers' diarrhea)
• Look after young children
• Eat unsafe foods, such as raw meat, eggs or shellfish, and unpasteurized milk or fruit juices
• Eat food that has been cooked in a kitchen that isn't clean
• Drink untreated water from a lake or stream
• Swim in lakes or streams
• Have contact with infected animals (such as farm animals or pets)
• Have contact with an infected person
• Work as a caregiver
• Work in a job where you handle food.

Viruses are one cause of diarrhea.^{3 4} Diarrhea caused by a virus often breaks out in families, schools or communities.² Antibiotics don't work against viruses.

Some bacteria also cause diarrhea. We've looked at the common types.^{2 3 4}

You catch Campylobacter by eating undercooked meat (especially poultry), by handling raw meat or poultry, or by drinking unpasteurized milk or untreated water. You can also catch it from pets that have diarrhea. It can occasionally be passed from person to person.⁷

You can catch Salmonella from contaminated food or from another person who has it.⁸

Diarrhea caused by Shigella is also called bacillary dysentery. You can catch Shigella from drinking contaminated water or from eating food that has been washed in contaminated water (like salad or fruit). You can also catch it from another person. Shigella is one cause of travelers' diarrhea.⁹

These bacteria live naturally in the intestines of people and animals. They're usually harmless. However, some types of E. coli can make you ill. You can catch E. coli from contaminated food, from other people who have E. coli, or through contact with infected animals.^{10 10}

E. coli is the most common cause of travelers' diarrhea.¹¹