Diarrhea is an increase in the number of bowel movements or fluid content of bowel movements.
Diarrhea has many causes, some of which may be due to infections. If your child has diarrhea, your doctor will ask you a number of questions and decide if tests are necessary. If you or your child must have tests for diarrhea, be sure to carefully follow all instructions given to you by the laboratory. If you do not, the tests might not be accurate or may need to be repeated. This could delay any treatment that your doctor might prescribe.