text: <unk>  is a common symptom of many conditions and has an estimated prevalence of 5%. Although<unk>  has multiple definitions, a current working definition is the production of loose stools for longer than 4 weeks. Frequent defecation with normal consistency is termed psuedodiarrhea. There are 3 basic categories of<unk> : watery, fatty (malabsorption), and inflammatory (with blood and pus). The fundamental pathophysiology of all diarrhea is altered intestinal water and electrolyte transport caused by several factors majorly dependent on the socioeconomic status of the population. If left untreated, patients with<unk>  may progress to develop symptoms of altered sensorium due to electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and malnutrition. Common complications of<unk>  include confusion, perforated bowels, sepsis, and death. Prognosis is generally good when the underlying cause is identified and treated early. The laboratory findings in<unk>  include complete blood count to evaluate for anemia and abnormal white blood cell count, electrolytes, thyroid function tests, serology testing for celiac disease, and stool analysis for fecal leukocytes, fecal lactoferrin, and fecal occult blood. Treatment is targeted at treating the underlying cause of the diarrhea.
option_0: Chronic diarrhea
option_1: Bloody or tarry stools
option_2: Chronic colestites
option_3: Constipation in children
option_4: Food intolerance
option_5: Acute diarrhea
option_6: Vulvar pruritus
option_7: Fecal incontinence