What are the Most Common Causes of Diarrhea and Gas?

Diarrhea and gas can be caused by a wide range of conditions. Some of them may be short-term causes, such as stomach viruses or food poisoning, but others, such as chronic irritable bowel syndrome, may last for a long time. Sometimes, however, these digestive symptoms are the result of a substance a person consumes. For example, a person may consume medication that causes diarrhea and gas, or he may experience these symptoms after drinking an excessive amount of alcoholic beverages. An individual may even experience these symptoms when he’s eaten a type of food that proves irritating to his digestive system.

Often, the cause of diarrhea and gas is a short-term illness that is passed from person to person. For example, an individual may catch a stomach virus from another person and experience digestive problems as a result. In some cases, however, these symptoms result from consuming food that is contaminated by a bacterium, parasite, or virus. Likewise, an individual may be sickened after he fails to wash his hands properly after using the bathroom and accidentally consumes fecal matter. Additionally, some people experience gas and diarrhea after drinking contaminated water.

Sometimes, a person experiences gas and diarrhea because he has a chronic condition that affects his digestive system. For example, a person may experience these symptoms when he has irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. If an individual has digestive symptoms that last for more than two weeks or seems to reoccur, he may want to see a medical professional to rule out a chronic condition.

Medication may also cause gas and diarrhea, and many people have this reaction to some types of antibiotics. Some people may also have these symptoms after drinking a significant amount of alcohol. For example, a person may drink several alcoholic beverages at night and have gas and diarrhea when he wakes up in the morning.

In some cases, these symptoms are caused by food or drink to which an individual is sensitive or has problems digesting. For example, a person may be lactose intolerant, which means his body cannot effectively digest a type of sugar that is in dairy products. In such a case, consuming milk and other types of dairy products may result in nausea, diarrhea, and gas.