Louise Chang, MD Diarrhea is inconvenient, unpleasant, and
happens to nearly everyone. Of all reported illnesses in the
U.S., diarrhea is the second most common. The average adult has
diarrhea four times a year. American children typically have
seven to 15 cases of diarrhea by the time they reach age five.
Everyday things such as food, medication, or stress can cause
diarrhea. However, diarrhea sometimes may signal an underlying
medical condition. If diarrhea keeps you running for the toilet,
read on to learn about some common triggers and how you can
cope. Bacteria are part of everyday life, and normally bacteria
and humans live together peacefully. However, some bacteria can
wreak havoc on your digestive well-being. These tiny bugs find
fertile breeding ground in raw meats, eggs, shellfish, and
unpasteurized milk. Cases of food contamination causing diarrhea
are rare in the U.S., says Alexander Rapisarda, MD, a specialist
in gastroenterology and hepatology at Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital in East