Viral Infections
By far, the most common cause of acute
diarrhea is an infection with a virus. This is known as viral gastroenteritis or, more commonly, "the
stomach flu."
Other viral diarrhea causes include infections with one of the following:
Bacterial Infections
Several types of bacteria can cause acute diarrhea. These include:
- Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) -- A common contaminant of processed meats and custard-filled pastries.
- Clostridium perfringens -- A common contaminant in foods that have been warmed on steam tables.
- Bacillus cereus -- A common contaminant of rice and bean sprouts.
- Salmonella species -- A contaminant of eggs and poultry. Typhoid fever is an infection caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium.
- Shigella -- This bacterium is common in daycare settings and in rural villages in developing countries.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) -- Undercooked or raw hamburger has been implicated in many of the documented outbreaks of E. coli; however, outbreaks have also involved:
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Unpasteurized fruit juices
- Dry-cured salami
- Lettuce
- Game meat
- Cheese curds.
- Campylobacter jejuni -- A contaminant of poultry. It is also found in household pets.
- Vibrio parahaemolyticus -- An infection with this bacterium often results from eating raw seafood, especially oysters.
- Vibrio cholerae -- An infection with this bacterium (commonly referred to as cholera) is common in developing countries and results from drinking contaminated water.
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