The short answer to your question is ... there isn’t a short answer.
Diarrhea that lasts for as long as yours has could be caused by stress. But there are many other things that can cause it as well. Diarrhea is sometimes seen in people with a condition called Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). People with this condition have mild abdominal pain and often diarrhea, sometimes alternating with constipation. Stress, especially performance pressure like taking tests, does seem to play a role in this condition. Learning relaxation techniques or learning ways to reduce the amount stress in your life can help. People with IBS usually need to have diets that contain lots of fiber, not less, and need to drink plenty of water.
There are several other conditions that can cause diarrhea though. Infection with bacteria or parasites can cause diarrhea for several weeks. Some of these agents can be passed in food, but we agree that typical food poisoning usually doesn’t last four weeks. Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis can also cause chronic diarrhea. These are two forms of a group of bowel diseases known as INFLAMMATORY Bowel Disease. These disorders are quite different from IRRITABLE Bowel Syndrome. They require much more intensive treatment, but can sometimes look the same as other less serious illnesses. They usually need to be diagnosed using special diagnostic equipment that looks directly at the lining of the bowel wall.
After four weeks of diarrhea, you need to see your physician. Your doctor can obtain a full history, examine you carefully, and recommend any tests she or he thinks will help make the diagnosis. Good luck. You sound like a very busy person and diarrhea shouldn’t be getting in the way.
You're not alone. Take a look at a few of the questions related to this topic that other teens have asked us.
I'm having a lot of stomach pain. Could it be stress?
My stomach hurts in the morning and the pain fades in the afternoon. I've also been having diarrhea. What could it be?
Posted 9-5-02
