Diarrhea is one of the most common health problems. Diarrhea can range from mild and temporary to potentially life-threatening.
An estimated 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease occur worldwide each year. In addition, about 1.9 million children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrhea, mostly in developing countries. This makes it the second leading cause of death in this age group.1
Diarrhea is characterized by unusually loose or watery stools. Most cases of diarrhea are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Disorders of the digestive system can also cause chronic diarrhea.
If a person has frequent bowel movements, but they are of normal consistency, it is not diarrhea. Breastfed babies often pass sticky stools. This is normal.
This article looks at the causes and treatment of frequent diarrhea. It also covers symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and when to see a doctor.
Reasons
Many cases of diarrhea are caused by a gastrointestinal infection. The microbes responsible for this infection are:
- bacteria
- viruses
- parasitic organisms
The most common causes of acute diarrhea are Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Escherichia coli (USA).
Some cases of chronic diarrhea are called "functional" because although all the digestive organs appear normal, they are not functioning in an optimal mode. In the developed world, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common cause of functional diarrhea.
Irritable bowel syndrome causes a wide range of symptoms, including cramping, abdominal pain, and altered bowel function, which may include diarrhea, constipation, or both.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another cause of chronic diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Both factors can also cause blood in the stool.
Some other major causes of chronic diarrhea include:
- Microscopic colitis: This is a persistent type of diarrhea that usually occurs in older people. It develops due to inflammation and often occurs at night.
- Malabsorptive diarrhea: is due to impaired absorption of nutrients.
- Chronic infections: Past travel or antibiotic use may be clues to chronic diarrhea. The cause can also be various bacteria and parasites.
- Drug-induced diarrhea: Laxatives and other medications, including antibiotics, can cause diarrhea.
- Causes related to the endocrine system: Sometimes hormonal factors cause diarrhea. This is the case with Addison's disease and carcinoid tumors.
- Cancer-related causes: Neoplastic diarrhea is associated with many bowel cancers.
Treatment
Mild cases of acute diarrhea may resolve without treatment.
For persistent or chronic diarrhea, the doctor will try to eliminate the underlying causes, while temporarily stopping the current situation with medication.
Some possible treatments are presented and discussed below.
Rehydration
Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to dehydration. In all cases of diarrhea, rehydration is vital.
People can compensate for lost fluids simply by drinking more of them. However, in severe cases, a person may need intravenous fluids.
Oral rehydration solution or saline is water containing salt and glucose. The small intestine absorbs the solution to replace the water and electrolytes lost in the stool. In developing countries, a rehydration solution costs a few tens of cents.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that rehydron can safely and effectively treat more than 901 cases of TP3T diarrhea.
Zinc supplementation may also reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in children. Zinc benefits: everything you need to know
Medicines for diarrhea
There are also over-the-counter medications for diarrhea. These include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).
There is some concern that antidiarrheal medications may prolong bacterial infection by reducing the elimination of pathogens through the stool.
You should consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding the suitability of the medication.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can only treat diarrhea caused by bacterial infections. If the cause of the diarrhea is a drug, switching to a different drug may help.
Always consult your doctor before changing medications.
Daily nutrition
These nutritional tips can help stop diarrhea:
- sipping liquids such as electrolyte drinks, water or fruit juice without sugar
- after each bowel movement with loose stools, replacing lost fluids with at least 1 glass of fluids
- drink most of your fluids between meals rather than during meals
- consume foods and liquids high in potassium, such as diluted fruit juices, potatoes, and bananas.
- consuming foods and liquids high in sodium, such as broths, soups, sports drinks.
- eating foods high in soluble fiber, such as bananas, oatmeal, and rice, as they help thicken stools
- limit foods that can aggravate diarrhea, such as fried, high-milk and sugary foods
How to restore fluids and what is important you will find: 6 tips to keep your body hydrated
Foods and drinks that can make diarrhea worse include:
- chewing gum, mints, sweet cherries and plums
- caffeinated beverages and medications
- fructose in large amounts from fruit juices, grapes, honey, dates, nuts, figs, soft drinks and plums
- lactose in dairy products
- magnesium
- anything with artificial sweeteners
Probiotics
There is mixed evidence regarding the role of probiotics in diarrhea. Probiotics can help prevent diarrhea while traveling, and in children they can shorten the duration of a diarrheal illness by up to 1 day.2
People should seek professional advice as there are many strains of probiotics available. Scientists have most studied probiotics based on Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii because of the association with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Probiotics have their importance for the body:
Gut health and the benefits of natural probiotics
High-quality and specialist-recommended probiotics can be found in the category: Probiotics
Symptoms of diarrhea
We consider diarrhea when we have watery stools, but diarrhea can be accompanied by other symptoms:
- stomach pain
- abdominal cramps
- flatulence
- weight loss
- fever
- body aches
- chills
Diarrhea is also a symptom of other diseases, some of which can be serious. Other possible symptoms include:
- blood or pus in the stool
- persistent vomiting
- dehydration
If any of these symptoms accompany the diarrhea, or if the diarrhea is chronic, it may indicate a more serious illness.
Complications
Two potentially serious complications of diarrhea are dehydration (in cases of severe and frequent diarrhea) and malabsorption (in cases of chronic diarrhea).
Diarrhea can also indicate a number of underlying chronic conditions. Diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further problems.
Investigations and diagnosis
When diagnosing the cause of diarrhea, the doctor will ask about the symptoms and:
- what current medications you are taking
- medical history
- family medical history
- travel story
- any other health problems you have
It will also ask:
- when did the diarrhea start
- how often you have a bowel movement
- is there blood in the stool;
- are there also symptoms of vomiting
- whether the stool is watery or contains mucus or pus;
- how much stool is there
Doctors will also look for signs of dehydration. Severe dehydration can be fatal if the person does not receive rehydration therapy right away.
Testing
Most cases of diarrhea go away without treatment, and a doctor can often diagnose an underlying problem without extensive testing.
However, more severe cases may require a stool test, especially if symptoms persist for more than a week.
A doctor may also recommend further tests if a person has:
- signs of fever or dehydration
- signs of blood or pus in the stool
- severe pain
- low blood pressure
- weakened immune system
- disorders after travel
- symptoms after taking antibiotics
- diarrhea lasting more than 1 week
If a person has chronic or persistent diarrhea, the doctor will order tests based on the suspected cause.
It can be:
- Complete blood test: Anemia may indicate malnutrition, bleeding ulcers, or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Liver function tests: This includes testing for albumin levels.
- Malabsorption tests: They will check the absorption of calcium, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. They will also assess your iron levels and thyroid function.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein: Elevated levels may indicate irritable bowel syndrome.
- Antibody tests: They may indicate celiac disease.
- Stool tests: Doctors can detect parasites, bacteria and some viruses in stool cultures. Stool tests can also reveal microscopic blood, white blood cells, and other clues to the diagnosis.
Prevention of diarrhea
You can help prevent diarrhea by:
- drinking only clean water
- have good sewage and filtration systems in the home
- have good hygiene practices, such as washing your hands regularly with soap, especially before preparing food and eating and after using the bathroom;
- also wash it down with water before eating
- educate yourself and others about the impact of spreading the infection
There is evidence to suggest that active education about hygiene, which includes the basic act of washing hands, can reduce the incidence of diarrhea by about a third.
However, in developing countries, preventing diarrhea is more difficult due to dirty water and poor sanitation.
It's important
Diarrhea is a common problem with many possible causes.
In most cases, the various measures listed above and medical treatment can help. However, a person should see their doctor if they are concerned about diarrhea symptoms and the diarrhea continues for more than a week.
It is important to rememberthat everyone's health is individual and there is no common recipe for everyone!
So, if you want to know if your body is currently lacking in electrolytes, health professionals recommend the Test "Your Day".
- In time, pay attention to the signals sent by your well-being
- Replenish the body with natural minerals, vitamins and nutrients necessary for health.
- Enjoy energy and good mood everyday!
