Osmotic diarrhea occurs when too many solutes stay in your intestine and water can’t be absorbed properly.
This excess water causes your bowel movements to be loose or more liquid than solid.
Osmotic diarrhea occurs when eating substances that can’t be absorbed.
Secretory diarrhea occurs when your body secretes electrolytes into the intestine.
It can be caused a number of factors, including:
bacterial infection such as salmonella and E. coli
parasites such as cryptosporidium and Giardia
viral infection such as norovirus and viral hepatitis
drugs such as misoprostol
digestive disorders such as celiac disease and ulcerative colitis
genetic disorders such as congenital chloride diarrhea
The primary symptom of osmotic diarrhea is loose and watery bowel movements.
Other symptoms:
stomach pain
bloating
nausea
Osmotic diarrhea can also have severe symptoms:
blood in stool
fever
dehydration
Osmotic diarrhea is a result of eating foods that, instead of being absorbed, draw water into the intestine.
Ingredients that often cause osmotic diarrhea include:
lactose, found in dairy products
artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharine
some carbohydrates found in fruit juices
certain antibiotics
blood pressure medications
laxatives that contain sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium phosphate
chemotherapy
high-dose radiation therapy
gallbladder removal
Osmotic diarrhea treatment:
Generally responds to simple home treatments including diet adjustment and over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol).
Avoiding the following foods:
lactose-rich foods such as dairy products
sugar
artificial sweeteners
alcohol
caffeinated products like coffee
carbonated drinks
legumes such as beans, lentils
vegetables high in dietary fiber like
broccoli and Brussels sprouts
nuts and seeds
whole wheat or corn products such as bran muffins and popcorn
Encourage the consumption of:
bread products made from refined white flour, such as plain white bread and pasta
white rice
cooked vegetables such as carrots and beets
bananas
applesauce
baked or broiled chicken without skin
boiled potatoes without skin
Osmotic diarrhea is caused by eating certain kinds of food and usually lasts only a few days, typically resolving once one stops consuming the offending food.
Chronic nocturnal diarrhea is likely the sign of a more serious condition.
Several gastrointestinal conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome and other functional bowel diseases, do not generally cause nocturnal diarrhea.
It is common for secretory diarrhea to cause nocturnal diarrhea.
Secretory diarrhea occurs when the intestine cannot properly absorb or secrete electrolytes and fluid.
Secretory diarrhea can arise from an underlying health condition or from an external factor like alcoholism, surgery, or medication use.
Health conditions that can cause chronic nocturnal diarrhea:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease can be caused by several different conditions, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
It occurs when you experience chronic inflammation within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ulcerative colitis occurs in your large intestine. Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere from your mouth to anus. Both are autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation in the GI tract.
There may be blood or mucus in the bowel movements in addition to other diarrhea content.
Other symptoms of these conditions include pain during bowel movements, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, and chronic abdominal pain.
This chronic condition can be severe at times and in remission with therapy for others.
Microscopic colitis can cause nocturnal diarrhea even if fasting.
The condition inflames the large intestine at a microscopic level.
Diabetes mellitus may be the cause of nocturnal diarrhea.