RT Book, Section A1 Maisel, Jonathan A. A2 Cydulka, Rita K. A2 Fitch, Michael T. A2 Joing, Scott A. A2 Wang, Vincent J. A2 Cline, David M. A2 Ma, O. John SR Print(0) ID 1143140488 T1 Disorders Presenting Primarily with Diarrhea T2 Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine Manual, 8e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071837026 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1143140488 RD 2024/03/29 AB Diarrhea is defined as three or more watery stools per day. There are four basic mechanisms: increased intestinal secretion (e.g., cholera), decreased intestinal absorption (e.g., enterotoxins, inflammation, or ischemia), increased osmotic load (e.g., laxatives, lactose intolerance), and abnormal intestinal motility (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome). Most cases are infectious in etiology.