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Diarrhea is a symptom, not a disease. It is defined
as passing frequent loose stools. The acute form lasts only a day or two
and usually isn't serious, but it can be linked with some other
problems. It affects people of all ages, and some types are infectious.
The average person may get acute diarrhea 3 to 5 times a year, and
long-term effects are rare. Children under 5 years of age experience
about 1 to 3 episodes of diarrhea every year.
Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than 2 weeks, or shows up as repeated
episodes of diarrhea lasting less than 2 weeks each. An inflammatory
bowel condition such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease may be to
blame.
Children and infants with diarrhea should be seen by a doctor.
Causes of Diarrhea
People get diarrhea when the feces move too quickly through the bowels
so that the intestines don't have enough time to pull water from the
waste to "firm it up."
People get diarrhea for many reasons, including:
not digesting food completely - for example, some people can't digest
lactose, the sugar found in milk, while others may not be able to digest
or absorb fat or carbohydrates
certain intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease
bacterial and viral infections such as salmonella or rotavirus, the most
common cause of transient diarrhea in children
intestinal parasites, especially when travelling
certain medications, such as blood pressure medications and those
containing magnesium
radiation or chemotherapy
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In functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, the muscles
that normally move waste along the intestine can spasm, causing
diarrhea.
If you think that a medication you're taking is causing the problem,
don't stop taking it before talking to your doctor.
Diarrhea isn't always due to things that are eaten or swallowed -
emotional stress or turmoil can also bring it on.
Symptoms and Complications of Diarrhea
Your stool will be loose and watery. You may suffer from abdominal
cramping, nausea, or bloating. You may even have a fever, along with
chills. If you've had diarrhea for a few days, you may feel lightheaded
or weak. This comes from rapidly losing the minerals, sugar, and water
that your body needs. Normally, diarrhea won't cause you to lose control
of your bowels - if this happens, you should consult your doctor.
You may also notice that you're urinating less. This is because your
body is losing water through bowel movements instead of urine. If the
diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours or you have a fever of 38.5ºC or
higher, or have severe abdominal pain or vomiting that prevents fluid
replacement by mouth, see a doctor immediately. Acute diarrhea
accompanied by fever and stools with blood can be signs of a potentially
dangerous infection or parasite.
Always consult a doctor for a child with diarrhea who hasn't urinated
for 6 hours - the child could be dangerously dehydrated.
Diagnosing Diarrhea
Your doctor will first need to find out what's causing your diarrhea by
asking questions about your eating habits and medication you've been
taking (including non-prescription medication). Blood and stool samples
may be taken to check for infection if deemed necessary. It may take
several days to get the results of stool samples, but it is important
for your doctor to know what is causing the diarrhea to determine the
appropriate treatment.
With chronic diarrhea, a colonoscopy may need to be done to be sure it
isn't due to more serious problems. This involves inserting a flexible
tube with a tiny camera in the tip (an endoscope) by way of the anus to
examine the inside of the colon (the last part of the intestines).
Treating and Preventing Diarrhea
The goal of treatment is to ease the symptoms and get the bowel
movements back to normal. Preventing dehydration, which can happen due
to the extra loss of water during episodes of diarrhea, is also
important - especially in children and seniors.
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People don't always need to take medication for diarrhea. For adults,
it's a good idea to just wait 48 to 72 hours if possible to see if it
stops on its own. By allowing it to "run its course," your body can
naturally get rid of the diarrhea and whatever caused it. If the
diarrhea continues, however, you should talk to your doctor.
If the suspected cause is a parasite or bacteria, your doctor may
prescribe an antibiotic to get rid of it. Otherwise, a doctor or
pharmacist may recommend medications such as attapulgite*, bismuth
subsalicylate, or loperamide to provide relief from diarrhea. If
symptoms continue more than 48 hours from onset of the diarrhea, consult
a doctor.
Dehydration caused by losing water through frequent bowel movements can
cause serious complications. In particular, it can make any medications
you take go through your body much more quickly than they should, so
they may not work properly. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Dehydration can also cause kidney damage and electrolyte imbalances.
Signs of dehydration include a dry mouth, increased thirst, decreased
urination, and feeling weak or lightheaded. Signs may also include
nausea, muscle cramps, and a higher body temperature. At the first sign
of diarrhea, drink plenty of "clear" fluids, at least two cups an hour.
Oral rehydration solutions designed to best match the body's intestinal
fluid are best, especially for children and seniors. Be sure to consult
a health professional before treating children or if diarrhea is
accompanied by vomiting. Once rehydration has been successful,
age-appropriate foods should be re-introduced.
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Standard recommendations no longer include "resting the bowel" after a
diarrhea episode. Take it easy physically until the diarrhea is gone -
you'll need your strength to get well faster. You may want to eat foods
that are known to "bind" stool and slow movement through the large
intestine, such as bananas, rice, and toast - the so-called "BRAT diet."
Find out what caused your diarrhea - you may be able to prevent it in
the future. Because infectious agents cause so many cases, take the same
precautions with diarrhea as with the flu:
Don't touch the hands of someone with diarrhea. If you must touch them,
wash your hands immediately afterwards.
If you have diarrhea, wash your hands before making meals and after
using the washroom, and dry your hands with a disposable paper towel -
not the towel everyone else uses.
Many of the infectious agents that cause diarrhea hide out in food.
Avoid eating undercooked meat or raw seafood, and watch out for foods
that are past their freshness date or have been left in the open. |