Diarrhea hurts inside due to intense bowel muscle contractions (cramps), inflammation of the gut lining from infections (like stomach flu/food poisoning) or conditions (like IBS/IBD), gas buildup, and sometimes irritation or infection in the lower gut, causing cramping, burning, or sharp pains as the digestive system works overtime.
Common causes of stomach pain with diarrhea
The causes of stomach pain with diarrhea can range from viral and bacterial infections to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction to eating the protein gluten.
You should worry about diarrhea in pregnancy and contact your doctor immediately if you have severe symptoms like blood/pus in stools, fever (≥100.4°F/38°C), severe abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, or signs of dehydration (dizziness, dark urine, decreased urination). Also, seek urgent care if diarrhea lasts more than a couple of days, worsens, or if you suspect it's a sign of labor (contractions, pelvic pressure) or food poisoning.
For kids' diarrhea, the main goal is preventing dehydration with frequent small sips of oral rehydration solutions (ORS), breast milk, or formula, avoiding sugary drinks and plain water; continue a normal diet if tolerated, offer bland foods, and never give anti-diarrheal medicines without a doctor's advice, as they can be harmful. See a doctor for signs of severe dehydration or if the child is very young.
Diarrhea flushes out harmful invaders like viruses, bacteria, and parasites, along with toxins, from your digestive system, acting as a defense mechanism to clear infections like food poisoning or gastroenteritis, though it also causes significant loss of water and essential electrolytes. It's your body's way of rapidly expelling pathogens, often triggered by an inflamed gut lining.
Knowing what to say when you're sick with diarrhea can be tricky. Neither you nor your boss want to discuss the details of your bowel movements. A good way to phrase this is: “I have a GI bug, and I won't be able to come to work.” If the diarrhea is related to a known food poisoning, you can bring this up, too.
To stop diarrhea fast, focus on rehydration with electrolyte drinks, eating bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast (BRAT diet), using over-the-counter (OTC) meds like Imodium or Pepto-Bismol (if no fever/blood), avoiding triggers (spicy, fatty, caffeine), resting, and consider probiotics or herbal teas (chamomile) for relief, but see a doctor for severe symptoms or if it persists.
Don't give kids with diarrhea sports drinks, soda, or full-strength (undiluted) juice. They have too much sugar and can make some symptoms worse. Also, don't give water alone. In some cases, kids with severe diarrhea may need to get IV fluids (given into a vein) at the hospital treat dehydration.
Many cases of acute diarrhoea are related to a bowel infection. This is usually caused by contaminated food or water. It is possible to avoid an illness by being very careful about food and fluid intake. This might be advice to follow when traveling.
Infections, certain medications, digestive conditions, and food intolerances could all potentially cause sudden diarrhea with no other symptoms. If this happens often, a person should speak with a doctor.
Five key warning signs during pregnancy needing immediate medical attention include vaginal bleeding, severe headaches with vision changes, decreased baby movement, severe abdominal pain/cramping, and signs of preterm labor like regular contractions or fluid leakage, as these can signal serious issues like miscarriage, preeclampsia, placental problems, or infection. Always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care for these symptoms.
Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:
Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
Stomach pain that comes in waves with diarrhea might be due to an infection in your gut or to diverticular disease, where parts of your colon become inflamed.
Early signs of appendicitis often begin with pain near the belly button that shifts to the lower right abdomen, accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a mild fever, but symptoms vary, so immediate medical attention for severe abdominal pain is crucial.
Try an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication — Drugs such as IMODIUM® products work quickly to help restore your gut's natural rhythm. If you have gas, cramps, or bloating with your diarrhea, IMODIUM® Multi-Symptom Anti-Diarrheal Relief Caplets provide relief of these additional symptoms, as well as diarrhea.
Typically, chronic diarrhea can occur at night and is a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Nighttime diarrhea can be disruptive because it interferes with your sleep. This can be particularly troublesome with chronic diarrhea.
If you are experiencing diarrhea, the diet suggested below may help solidify your stools. You may have heard of the BRAT diet which stands for Bananas, Rice, Apples, and Toast. The BRAT diet was often recommended for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but is no longer because of how restrictive it is.
If a virus or bacteria is the cause of your diarrhea, you may also have a fever, chills, and bloody stools. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means that your body does not have enough fluid to work properly.
It's important to note that if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, your body needs to get rid of the bacteria first by letting diarrhea run its course. If they're taken too soon, anti-diarrheal medication can make symptoms worse and keep you from clearing the infection.
The best side depends on your symptoms: try sleeping on your right side for diarrhea relief or the left side with knees up for gas pain. Try elevating the head of your bed to help with acid reflux, and consult a doctor immediately if your discomfort is persistent or wakes you up at night.
Eat the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, (white) rice, applesauce and toast. These foods help firm up your stool. Avoid foods that can cause gas, such as beans, brussels sprouts and carbonated drinks. You should also avoid dairy because diarrhea can make you temporarily lactose intolerant.
You are contagious for as long as diarrhea continues. Infections are usually spread from hand to mouth; hand washing, care with diapering, and staying out of work or school are a few ways to prevent infecting family and other contacts.
Symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, blood in the stools, and chronic diarrhea may indicate a condition called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in which parts of the intestinal tract become inflamed. IBD is quite common: It affects about 1.6 million Americans, including 80,000 children and young adults.
Stay off school or work until you've not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days. If you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.