Diarrhea usually resolves in a couple of days, but it can sometimes continue for weeks. Persistent diarrhea can be a sign of an allergy or a chronic condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) ...

Osmotic diarrhea is when undigested material reduces how much water and electrolytes the bowels can absorb. It can occur when a person’s body has difficulty digesting certain foods, such as lactose.

Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who serves as vice chair of Ambulatory Services at Lower Manhattan Hospital and professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical ...