Diarrhea is loose, watery stools occuring more than three times a day usually lasting for two days that may be cured on its own without medical intervention. However, it may extend for more than two days and this can be a sign of other problems. It may lead to dehydration or the loss of body fluids and electrolytes which is fatal.

Electrolytes, including potassium, calcium and magnesium, sodium, and bicarbonate, regulate body functions such as fluid balance, nerve conduction and muscle contraction, blood clotting, and PH balance.

Local health officials are still looking into the cause of diarrhea that gripped two municipalities in Palawan since Dec. 1 last year.

About 168 persons from the municipality of Bataraza were hospitalized while 22 died and about 91 persons have been hospitalized while three died in the municipality of Española since Dec. 10.

Dr. Ma. Teresa Castillo, regional epidemiologist of MIMAROPA, said that laboratory results of the stool samples of patients indicate the presence of amoeba. "But we are suspecting that this might also be cholera because (if severe dehydration is the cause) then, it cannot be caused by amoeba. This has to be investigated further."

Parasitism is prevalent in provinces, Castillo added. She said the parasite amoeba lingers in the body for a long time though it has already been treated once before.

The parasite scratches the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, causing bloody stools.

Cholera is also manifested by continuous watery stools that may also be accompanied by vomiting until the patient becomes dehydrated.

Health experts have been sent to Palawan to conduct further tests, the results of which, Dr. Valeriano Lopez, officer-in-charge of the health division of MIMAROPA, said, will take five to seven days.

Castillo said they are also looking at the possibility of water and vegetable contamination as the culprit. She said animal dung is regularly used as fertilizer for vegetables in some areas in Palawan.

She also said that intermittent rains last December might have resulted in the entry of contaminants in several deep wells.