Diarrhea at night

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Posted by Master, Doctor Mai Vien Phuong - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Diarrhea at night can cause anxiety and discomfort. Diarrhea is when you have loose, watery stools. Nocturnal diarrhea occurs at night and often disrupts sleep. There are many causes of nighttime urination.
You may have only mild diarrhea that will clear up in a day or two. Or you may have chronic nocturnal diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea lasts for four weeks or more and can be a sign of a serious health condition. You should see your doctor in case of severe or chronic diarrhea.

1. Symptoms

Symptoms of nocturnal diarrhea occur at night and include:
Loose, loose, or thin stools Abdominal pain Feeling about to have a bowel movement Nausea Bloating Fever Experiencing mild diarrhea associated with having some or all all of these symptoms and can control the condition in a day or two. You may wake up with these symptoms or have trouble sleeping with mild diarrhea, but this will usually pass in time.
Severe diarrhea can include these as well as other symptoms, such as blood in your stools and severe pain.
Chronic diarrhea is when you have diarrhea several times a day for a month or so. Often, chronic diarrhea can occur at night and be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
Nocturnal diarrhea can be uncomfortable because it disrupts your sleep. This can cause problems especially with chronic diarrhea.

2. Cause

Mild to severe diarrhea can be caused by:
Infections, including those caused by viruses or bacteria Medicines Food Allergies You may find yourself with nighttime diarrhea due to one of these causes, but It is unlikely that you will experience this condition for a long time.
Chronic nocturnal diarrhea could be a sign of a more serious condition. This condition may even help your doctor make a diagnosis. Some gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and other functional diseases of the intestine, do not usually cause nocturnal diarrhea.
Usually for exudative diarrhea causing nocturnal diarrhea. Secretory diarrhea occurs when your intestines can't properly absorb or secrete electrolytes and fluids. You may have exudative diarrhea due to an underlying health condition or external factors such as alcoholism, surgery, or medication use.
Here are some health conditions that can cause chronic nocturnal diarrhea:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease can be caused by a number of different conditions, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease . It happens when you have chronic inflammation in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ulcerative colitis occurs in your large intestine. Crohn's disease can occur anywhere from your mouth to your anus. Both are autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation of the digestive tract.
You may see blood or mucus when urinating along with other signs of diarrhea. Other symptoms of these conditions include pain during bowel movements, fatigue, weight loss, anemia, and chronic abdominal pain. This chronic condition can sometimes be severe and go into remission with treatment for others.
The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease is not known, but you may be more likely to get it if you have a family history of it, smoke cigarettes, or take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Microscopic colitis
Microscopic colitis can cause nocturnal diarrhea even when you are fasting. Your colon inflammation is on a microscopic level. You are more likely to get this condition as you age. You may experience this if you take certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for a long time. It can also develop for a reason of its own.
Diabetes
Diabetes can be a cause of nocturnal diarrhea. You may be more prone to nocturnal diarrhea if your blood glucose levels are poorly controlled and if you are insulin dependent. You may be more likely to have nocturnal diarrhea if you have diabetes with autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. You may have frequent or only occasional nocturnal diarrhea.

3. Nocturnal diarrhea treatment

Your nocturnal diarrhea may occur on its own or it may be a sign of an underlying chronic illness. Treatments vary based on the cause of nocturnal diarrhea. You should see your doctor before treating persistent diarrhea to receive a specific diagnosis and management plan. Your doctor may prescribe or recommend certain medications to treat chronic diarrhea, including anti-diarrheal therapy or antibiotics.
Here are some ways to treat mild diarrhea:
Stay hydrated by drinking nutritiously diluted liquids such as juices, sports drinks and broths. Eat bland, low-fiber foods and stay away from fatty foods. Try an over-the-counter diarrhea medication. Reduce caffeine intake. Avoid drinking alcohol. Prevention Tip:
Mild diarrhea is normal and can happen once or twice a year.
You can prevent nocturnal diarrhea in a chronic health condition by controlling the underlying cause.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Avoid triggers that can cause severe flare-ups. You can't cure the condition, but you want to avoid diarrhea and other unwanted symptoms. You should not smoke and make sure you get enough sleep. Your doctor may also recommend some supplements, in addition to tailoring prescription therapy to treat your IBD.
Microscopic colitis
Change your diet to a low-fiber, low-fat and dairy-free diet. Consider using gluten-free foods. Avoid medications that aggravate the condition.
Diabetes
Control your diabetes effectively with your doctor's support to avoid nocturnal diarrhea. Your doctor may recommend different treatments and prevention methods to ease nocturnal diarrhea.
Complications and emergency symptoms
Nocturnal diarrhea can be a sign of a serious condition that requires medical treatment. See a doctor if:
You suspect dehydration. You need to maintain a certain amount of water and salt in your body, and prolonged or severe diarrhea can cause complications. You should see your doctor if you are dehydrated. Vulnerable populations include young children, the elderly, and people with other medical conditions.
You have a persistent fever or a high fever.
You have blood or mucus in your stool.
Your diarrhea lasts for weeks.
You recognize symptoms of a different, more serious condition.
Conclusion
Nocturnal diarrhea is a condition that can wake you up from a good night's sleep. This can turn into mild diarrhea that will clear up in a day or two. Or you may have frequent nocturnal diarrhea. This could be a sign of something more serious and should be consulted by a doctor.

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Reference
El-Awady M. (n.d.). Clinical evaluation of chronic diarrhea. smh.mans.edu.eg/files/pdf/gastro/chronic_diarrhea.pdf Juckett G, et al. (2011). Evaluation of chronic diarrhea. aafp.org/afp/2011/1115/p1119.html
Lamont JT. (2017). Patient education: Chronic diarrhea in adults (Beyond the Basics). uptodate.com/contents/chronic-diarrhea-in-adults-beyond-the-basics Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Diarrhea. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352241 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353315 Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Microscopic colitis. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microscopic-colitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351478