Most kids battle diarrhea from time to time, but the good news
is that it's often caused by infections that don't last long and
usually are more disruptive than dangerous. Still, it's
important to know what to do to relieve and even prevent
diarrhea. Causes of Diarrhea Diarrhea — frequent runny or watery
bowel movements (poop) — is usually brought on by
gastrointestinal (GI) infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or
parasites. The specific germs that cause diarrhea can vary among
geographic regions depending on their level of sanitation,
economic development, and hygiene. For example, developing
countries with poor sanitation or where human waste is used as
fertilizer often have outbreaks of diarrhea when intestinal
bacteria or parasites contaminate crops or drinking water. In
developed countries, including the United States, diarrhea
outbreaks are more often linked to contaminated water supplies,
person-to-person contact in places such as child-care centers,
or "food poisoning" (when people get sick from im