What may increase your risk for problems from diarrhea?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Age older than 60
• Developed diarrhea:
  • After drinking untreated water or unpasteurized dairy products
  • During or after traveling, especially to underdeveloped areas of the world
  • During or after a ship cruise
  • After swimming in contaminated water
• Exposure to farm animals
• Group living situations, such as nursing homes, dormitories, military boot camps, child care centers, or older-adult assisted-living centers
• Previous gallbladder surgery
• Previous abdominal surgery
• Previous bariatric surgery for obesity
• Previous radiation therapy

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Engaging in oral or anal sex
• Handling food or working in a day care center or hospital

Medicines

• Antibiotics, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin, or cephalosporins (Keflex or Duricef)
• Digoxin
• Lithium
• Medicines to support an organ transplant
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy
• Theophylline

Diseases

• Cancer
• Coronary artery disease or heart failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Digestive problems, such as lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa
• Endocrine disorders, such as Addison's disease or thyroid disease
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• Kidney disease
• Malabsorption syndromes, such as celiac disease