Causes

If you're having bowel movements more often than usual, chances are you've made some change in your lifestyle. You may, for example, be eating more whole grains, which increases fiber intake.

More-frequent bowel movements could also be related to a mild, self-limiting illness that will take care of itself. If there are no other signs or symptoms, you're probably in good health.

Diseases and other conditions that may cause frequent bowel movements and other signs and symptoms include:

• Salmonella infection (or other infections that may occur from bacteria)
• Rotavirus (or infections caused by other viruses)
• Giardia infection (giardiasis) (or other infections causes by parasites)
• Celiac disease
• Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (or other medication side effects)
• Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)