Introduction:
Diarrhea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. Diarrhea is having more than 4 stools per day that are watery. This case is due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites. This digestive disorder can also cause chronic diarrhea, which is life-threatening. Chronic diarrhea makes people dehydrated due to its high range of motion and frequency. If a person frequently passes stools but they are of normal consistency, this is not diarrhea. Similarly, breastfed babies often pass loose, sticky stools. This is normal. If a person has had loose stools for more than 6 months, it will be named as chronic diarrhea.
Causes:
Other significant causes of persistent diarrhea include:
Microscopic colitis: is a type of chronic diarrhea that typically affects older people. It is caused by inflammation and usually happens at night.
Maldigested diarrhea are caused by poor nutrient absorption and digestive function, respectively. One example is celiac illness.
Chronic infections: A travel history or antibiotic use can be indicators of chronic diarrhea. Bacteria and parasites can also be to blame.
Medicines: Laxatives and other drugs, including antibiotics, can cause diarrhea.
Endocrine: Hormonal factors can sometimes cause diarrhea. Addison’s disease and carcinoid tumors are examples of this.
Cancer: Neoplastic diarrhea has been linked to a number of gut malignancies.
Symptoms:
Diarrhea is defined as watery stools, although it can also be associated with other symptoms.
- Stomach pain
- Abdominal cramps
- Bloating
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Body aches
- Chills
Treatment:
Mild episodes of severe diarrhea may resolve on their own.
A doctor will treat any underlying causes of persistent or chronic diarrhea in addition to the symptoms of diarrhea.
Rehydrate: Rehydration is crucial because of the loss of a lot of fluids. Oral rehydration solution or salts (ORS) refers to water that contains salt and glucose. The small intestine absorbs the solution to replace the water and electrolytes lost in the stool. In developing countries, ORS costs just a few cents.
Antidiarrheal medication:
Health care professionals advise antidiarrheal medication to reduce the loose stool.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can only treat diarrhea due to bacterial infections. If the cause is a certain medication, switching to another drug might help.
Diet:
The following dietary suggestions may assist with diarrhea:
- Consuming high potassium foods and liquids, such as diluted fruit juices, potatoes without the skin, and bananas consuming high sodium foods and liquids, such as broths, soups, sports drinks, and salted crackers; sipping on clear liquids, such as electrolyte drinks, water, or fruit juice without added sugar after each loose stool, replacing lost fluids with at least 1 cup of liquid; doing most of the drinking between, not during, meals;
- Consuming foods high in soluble fiber, such as bananas, muesli, and rice, as these help thicken the stool; and avoiding items that may aggravate diarrhea, such as creamy, fried, high-fat dairy, and sugary foods.
Prevention
The following items can aid in the prevention of diarrhea:
- Consuming only pure and healthy water
- Having adequate sanitary systems, such as wastewater and sewage disposal,
- Having appropriate hygiene practices, such as washing hands with soap on a frequent basis, especially before preparing meals and eating, and after using the restroom,
- Educate oneself on infection spread
Conclusion:
Diarrhea is fairly frequent, affecting the majority of people a few times per year. Your stool will be loose and runny if you have diarrhea. In most cases, the cause is unknown, and the condition resolves on its own after a few days. Bacteria can induce diarrhea. Dehydration is a potentially fatal side effect of diarrhea. Diarrhea can be severe if it persists for 6 months. This is normal to have loose stools as babies used to, but if you have them for more than a week, This will be considered diarrhea. A health care professional is recommended if over-the-counter medication doesn’t work well.
