Diarrhea may be accompanied by cramping. The disorder has a wide range of causes. It may, for example, result from bacterial or viral infection; from dysentery, either amoebic or bacillary; from impaired absorption of nutrients; from eating coarse or highly seasoned foods or drinking large quantities of alcoholic beverages; from poisons such as arsenic or mercury bichloride; or from drugs administered to reduce high blood pressure.