Diarrhea – Diarrhea

Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea (diarrhea) – more than three episodes of liquid stools in a single day. Diarrhea greatly depletes the body, deducing therefrom the fluid and electrolytes. Diarrhea can be:

• Acute diarrhea – appearing suddenly and lasting a short time;
• Chronic diarrhea – It continues a long period of time;
• Repeated diarrhea – episodes of diarrhea occur periodically.

When the body loses too much fluid, it can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is particularly dangerous for babies, small children and the elderly.

Diarrhea – causes

Among the causes of diarrhea can be :

• Food intolerance, eg, Lactose Intolerance;
• Drugs , including:
  • Antibiotics;
  • Magnesium-containing antacids;
  • Medications for high blood pressure;
  • Quinones;
  • Chemotherapy drugs;
  • Laxatives;
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome, in which episodes of diarrhea often alternate with periods of constipation;
• Damage to the bowel after radiation treatment for cancer;
• Malabsorption syndromes, such as:
  • Celiac disease;
  • Tropical sprue;
  • Short bowel syndrome;
  • Whipple's disease;
  • Intestinal lymphangiectasia;
• Pancreatic diseases and / or gallbladder;
• Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease;
• Chronic diseases, such as:
  • Liver disease;
  • Diabetes;
  • Hyperthyroidism;
  • Addison's disease;
  • Pellagra;
  • Scleroderma;
  • Amiloidoz;
  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);
  • Colon cancer;
• Intestinal surgery;
• Infection, including food poisoning, such as:
  • Bacterial : Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli
  • Viral : rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and viral hepatitis;
  • Parasitic : Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium, Solitaire, askaridы , worms
  • Fungal : Candida – yeast.

Risk factors for diarrhea

Factors, that may increase the risk of diarrhea include:

• Travel to developing countries, where the water and food may be contaminated with the infection, diarrheal;
• Greatly weakened immune system, eg, by AIDS or after organ transplantation;
• Taking certain medications.

Symptoms of diarrhea

Diarrhea symptoms may include:

• Frequent, loose stools;
• Abdominal pain, spasms;
• Strong and frequent urge to defecation;
• Blood and / or mucus in stool;
• Fever;
• Dehydration;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• Muscle aches;
• Weight loss;
• Malnutrition.

Diarrhea – when to see a doctor?

Consult your doctor, if there is:

• Diarrhea, that lasts longer, than three days;
• Inability to eat and drink – Medical assistance will help avoid dehydration;
• Fever.

Consult your doctor, If your child has:

• Diarrhea, which lasts longer than one day;
• The pus in the stool;
• Signs of dehydration child – dry diapers for three hours, dry mouth, crying without tears, skin after pinching does not accept the initial form;
• Drowsiness and irritability;
• Fever.

Diarrhea – when you need to seek immediate medical attention?

We must immediately call an ambulance if you or your child has:

• Severe pain and abdominal cramps;
• Bloody or black stools.

Diagnosis of diarrhea

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. He may insert a gloved finger into the rectum, to examine it. This is called a digital rectal examination.

To determine the cause of diarrhea, the doctor will ask some questions, such as:

• Does anyone else in your family have someone diarrhea?
• What kind of food did you eat recently?
• Do you drink untreated water?
• Your children attend Institution?
• Have you traveled anywhere recently?
• Do you use a laxative ?
• What medications do you take?
• Do you have other symptoms in addition to diarrhea, such as fever, rash or joint pain?
• How long have you had sex?
• Have you had surgery in the chest and abdomen?

Tests to determine the causes of diarrhea may include:

• Analysis of fluids, the body tissues and waste. For this purpose, applied:
  • Laboratory analysis of stool;
  • Blood tests;
  • Biopsy;
• Maybe, You will need to make inspection of the rectum and colon. For this purpose, applied:
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy;
  • Colonoscopy;
• Maybe, You will need to take pictures of the colon, using one of the following methods::
  • Radiopaque barium study;
  • Barium enema;
• Maybe, You need to be excluded from the diet certain foods.

Treatment of diarrhea

Treatment of the underlying disease should help get rid of diarrhea. Some recommendations for the treatment of diarrhea include:

Consumption of liquid diarrhea

Plain water will not replace the salt and electrolytes, lost due to diarrhea. Adults and children rekomedduetsya receiving oral rehydration solutions. Avoid consumption of fruit juices and soda water. With diarrhea in young children need to keep their breast or bottle feeding.

Products, that can be eaten for diarrhea

Doctors differ in their approach to treating diarrhea. For Example, your doctor may recommend:

• Drink only clear liquids with severe diarrhea;
• Avoid certain foods: very spicy food, fatty foods, foods high in fiber, dairy products in large quantities, caffeinated drinks;
• There are certain foods: uglevodosoderzhaschie products, such as pasta and rice, yogurt, fruits and vegetables, lean meat.

Ask the doctor, what kind of food you can eat if you have diarrhea. After diarrhea pass, You can start again there are regular food.

The treatment of pain with diarrhea using heat

Use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your stomach, to relieve cramps and pain.

Drugs bearable

Your doctor may recommend taking the medicine, such as:

• Funds from indigestion;
• Antibiotics – may be needed, If diarrhea is a bacterial infection;
• Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus Casei, Enterococcus faecium и Saccharomyces boulardii – in some cases can be helpful;
• Preparations zinc – It may be recommended in some cases diarrhea.

Babies should not be given the drug, unless specifically recommended by a physician.

Gospitalizaciâ with pride

Diarrhea can cause severe dehydration. Maybe, in this case you will need hospitalization, to compensate for the loss of fluid through a drip.

Prevention of diarrhea

To reduce the risk of diarrhea:

• Observe hand washing;
• Observe the rules for safe food preparation and food storage;
• If you have diarrhea, You can not prepare food for other people;
• If you are traveling:
  • Drink water, sold in bottles;
  • Use bottled water, when brushing your teeth;
  • Avoid drinks, containing ice;
  • Do not buy food from street vendors;
  • Do not eat raw vegetables or fruits. All products must be cleaned and / or cooked;
  • Check, the meat is fully cooked (good fry or boil);
  • Consume only pasteurized dairy products;
  • If you eat seafood, make sure, they were hot working.

Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in children under five years. There is a vaccine to prevent rotavirus infection. The first dose is given at age two months. Check, that your child has been vaccinated.