Conditions
Get the Facts
Healthy Resources
Feed Your Tummy
Love Your Tummy
Gi BodyGuard is a free, easy to use app that allows you to track information about your health, symptoms, medications, food and exercise.
Digital Library
News, Info & CDHF Certified
Who We Are
Get Involved
Support Our Foundation
Diarrhea
People suffering from diarrhea experience frequent, loose, watery stools. This disorder can affect people of all ages but is particularly worrisome in the young and old because of the threat of dehydration which may result in the body being unable to function properly. Acute diarrhea is caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, food intolerance, reactions to medicine and generally lasts a short time. Chronic diarrhea is usually related to other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease may last for the duration of the illness.
Each year, 4.5 billion people contract diarrhea worldwide. 86% of acute gastrointestinal illnesses in Canadian cities involve diarrhea. In Canada, over-the-counter retail sales for diarrhea remedies doubled between 2003 and 2008 to equal $50 million in 2008.
Acute diarrhea is caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, food intolerance, reactions to medicine and generally lasts a short time. Chronic diarrhea is usually related to other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease may last for the duration of the illness.
Enhancing lifelong health
The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation believes our ability to help establish, enrich and protect a healthy gut microbiota is the key to lifelong health