Health Disease

What is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a medical condition which is very common and may range from mild and temporary condition, to a condition that can be life-threatening. Usually, diarrhea is known by abnormally loose and watery stools. Diarrhea is usually caused due to parasites, bacteria and viruses. Diarrheal output can be reduced with the help of antidiarrheal medicines. In case of children, zinc supplement would be helpful.

Some people very frequently pass stools, however they are of normal consistency. This condition is not diarrhea. Similarly, babies who are breastfed usually pass loose and pasty stools which is very normal and therefore it is not diarrhea.

Diarrhea symptoms include cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, bloody stools, large volume of stools, fever, dehydration, etc.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea may be experienced due to a variety of conditions or circumstances. Mentioned below are some of the potential causes of diarrhea:

• a food allergy
• viral infection
• lactose intolerance or any other food intolerance
• adverse medical reaction
• bacterial infection
• gallbladder surgery
• parasitic infection
• stomach surgery
• an intestinal disease

Rotavirus is a very common cause of diarrhea during childhood. Besides, some of the very common causes of diarrhea are bacterial infections because of Salmonella or Escherichia coli.

An irritable bowel syndrome or any inflammatory bowel diseases is a result of chronic diarrhea that can be a more serious condition. In case you get frequent & severe diarrhea, this may be a result of intestinal disease or any functional bowel disorder.

Types of Diarrhea

There are three types of Diarrhea clinically:

1. Acute watery diarrhea: This type of diarrhea lasts for several hours that may also include cholera
2. Persistent diarrhea: This type of diarrhea lasts for 14 days or longer than that
3. Acute bloody diarrhea: This type of diarrhea is also known as dysentery.

Treatment

What should you do in case your diarrhea worsens?

In case you diarrhea worsens, you should seek immediate medical help. Your doctor may prescribe you medications depending on the frequency, severity and your overall dehydration status and health. In some severe diarrheal conditions, your doctor may also put you on intravenous therapy that would help in delivering liquid substances in to your vein directly.

What are the available diarrhea treatment options?

Diarrhea treatment very often needs replacing lost fluids. Simply put, you need to drink more and more water or consume sports drinks containing electrolyte replacement beverages. In certain serious cases, you may also get fluids via intravenous therapy. In case a bacterial infection is the main cause of your diarrhea, your doctor will prescribe you the antibiotics based on the below conditions:

• How severe your diarrhea and related conditions are
• Frequency of your diarrhea and related condition
• Your degree of dehydration status
• Your overall health and medical history
• your age
• any hopes or expectations for improving your condition
• your tolerate level for different procedures or medications

Are there any natural or homemade remedies for Diarrhea?

There any many homemade or natural remedies that have been suggested for diarrhea treatment, but, very few of them have been studied well. The most effective ways of homemade remedies for diarrhea are mentioned below:

• Pectin
• Probiotics
• Cooked green bananas
• Consumption of plenty of fluids
• BRAT diet that includes consumption of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Diarrhea prevention is necessary and can be followed if taken the below steps:

• You can prevent diarrhea while travelling by beginning a course of antibiotics post visiting your doctor. This will greatly help in reducing your risk of getting traveler’s diarrhea.
• It is best to avoid tap ice cubes, tap water and fresh produce that may have probably been washed by using tap water while you’re travelling.
• Drinking only bottled water while on vacation.
• Eating only cooked food while on vacation.

Diarrhea prevention is in your hands. So try your best whatever you can to prevent it.

When to see a doctor?

You must visit a doctor in case of the below conditions:

• Your diarrhea doesn’t stop within two days
• You get excessively dehydrated with certain other indications such as dry mouth or skin, excessive thirst, lightheadedness, dizziness, severe weakness or dark-coloured urine
• In case you get black or bloody stools
• In case you get fever of more than 102 F
• In case you get severe cramps in your stomach or abdominal pain