Many things can cause diarrhea like infections, medications — even your eating habits. By better understanding your triggers, you can learn to manage your diarrhea and spend more time doing the things you love.

Viral and Bacterial Infections
Common viral infections that cause diarrhea include rotavirus (especially in children), norovirus (a.k.a. Norwalk virus), and others.

Bacterial infections that cause diarrhea are typically from contaminated food or water and include salmonella and E. coli. The most common cause of Traveler's Diarrhea is a bacterial infection.

Medications
Many medications, particularly antibiotics, may have diarrhea as a side effect. Antibiotics fight off both bad and good bacteria in your body, so sometimes the balance in your gastrointestinal tract can get thrown off. Some blood pressure medications and the magnesium found in some antacids can also trigger diarrhea. Always remember when taking prescription medications to talk to your doctor about any adverse side effects.

Food Intolerance
Some common causes of diarrhea are lactose and gluten intolerance. Lactose intolerance occurs in people who lack the enzymes to break down lactose, which is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products.

Gluten is a protein found in many types of grain, including wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Some people's immune systems attack gluten as if it were a germ. This results in inflammation of the intestine and leads to abdominal bloating, pain, diarrhea, and gas. This condition is known as celiac disease or celiac sprue.

Artificial Sweeteners
Sorbitol and mannitol, artificial sweeteners often found in chewing gum and sugar-free products, can actually cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy people.

Excessive Caffeine or Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol are both things that stimulate your intestines. When too much is consumed, waste may move too quickly through your colon and small intestine causing diarrhea.

Premenstrual Syndrome
Sometimes premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can trigger diarrhea. It is thought symptoms of PMS are caused by changes in female hormone levels.