Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools or a frequent have to have a defecation. It typically lasts a few days and typically vanishes with no treatment. Diarrhea can be intense or chronic.
Acute diarrhea happens when the condition lasts for one to two days. You may experience diarrhea as a result of a viral or bacterial infection. Other times, it could be due to food poisoning.
There’s even a condition known as traveler’s diarrhea, which takes place when you have diarrhea after being exposed to bacteria or parasites while on vacation in an establishing nation. Severe diarrhea is relatively typical.
Chronic diarrhea refers to diarrhea that lasts for a minimum of four weeks. It’s usually the result of a digestive tract disease or disorder, such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.
What Causes Diarrhea?
You may experience diarrhea as a result of a number of conditions or situations. Possible causes of diarrhea include:
- a food intolerance, such as lactose intolerance
- a food allergic reaction
- a negative response to a medication
- a viral infection
- a bacterial infection
- a digestive disease
- a parasitic infection
- gallbladder or stomach surgery.
Diarrhea is also a typical side effect of diarrhea.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Rotavirus is a common cause of youth diarrhea. Bacterial infections due to Salmonella or Escherichia coli, among others, are likewise common.
Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more serious condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Frequent and severe diarrhea might be a sign of digestive tract disease or a functional bowel disorder.
What are the Symptoms of Diarrhea?
There are various symptoms of diarrhea. You may experience just one of these or any mix of all them. The symptoms depend on the cause. It’s common to feel several of the following:
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- cramping
- bloating
- dehydration
- a fever
- bloody stools
- a frequent urge to evacuate your bowels
- a big volume of stools.
Speak to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.
Dehydration and Diarrhea
Diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids rapidly and put you at risk for dehydration. If you do not receive treatment for diarrhea, it can have extremely serious effects. The symptoms of dehydration include:
- fatigue
- dry mucous membranes
- increased heart rate
- a headache
- lightheadedness
- increased thirst
- reduced urination
- dry mouth.
Contact your doctor as quickly as possible if you think your diarrhea is triggering you to become dehydrated.
Diarrhea in Babies and Young Children
Diarrhea is a serious condition in really youths. It can cause severe dehydration in an infant in simply one day.
Call your child’s doctor or seek emergency situation care if you see symptoms of dehydration, such as:
- decreased urination
- dry mouth
- a headache
- tiredness
- an absence of tears when weeping
- dry skin
- sunken eyes
- sunken fontanel
- drowsiness
- irritation.
Look for instant treatment if any of the following use to your child:
- They’ve had diarrhea for 24 hours or more.
- They have a fever of 102 ° F or higher.
- They have stools which contain blood.
- They have stools which contain pus.
- They have stools that are black and tarry.
- These are all symptoms that indicate an emergency situation.
How is the Cause of Diarrhea Diagnosed?
Your doctor will finish a physical exam and consider your case history when figuring out the cause of your diarrhea. They might likewise request laboratory tests to examine urine and blood samples.
Extra tests your doctor might purchase to identify the cause of diarrhea and other associated conditions can include:
- fasting tests to determine whether a food intolerance or allergy is the cause
- imaging tests to check for inflammation and structural problems of the intestine
- a stool culture to look for bacteria, parasites, or signs of disease
- a colonoscopy to examine the whole colon for signs of digestive tract disease
- a sigmoidoscopy to inspect the anus and lower colon for signs of intestinal tract disease.
A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is particularly handy for figuring out if you have an intestinal disease if you have severe or chronic diarrhea.
What are the Treatment Options for Diarrhea?
The treatment for diarrhea generally requires replacing lost fluids. This just implies you need to drink more water or electrolyte replacement beverages, such as sports drinks. In more serious cases, you might get fluids through intravenous therapy. If a bacterial infection is the cause of your diarrhea, your doctor might recommend antibiotics.
Your doctor will choose your treatment based on:
- the seriousness of the diarrhea and associated condition
- the frequency of the diarrhea and related condition
- the degree of your dehydration status
- your health
- your medical history
- your age
- your capability to tolerate various procedures or medications
- expectations for enhancement of your condition.
How Can I Prevent Diarrhea?
Although diarrhea can happen for numerous reasons, there are actions that you can require to avoid it:
- You can prevent establishing diarrhea from food poisoning by washing the cooking and cooking areas more often.
- Serve food right away after preparing it.
- Refrigerate leftovers without delay.
- Always thaw frozen food in a fridge.
Preventing Traveler’s Diarrhea
You can help prevent traveler’s diarrhea by taking the following actions when traveling to an establishing country:
- You might want to ask your doctor if you can start an antibiotic treatment before you leave. This will greatly reduce your risk of establishing tourist’s diarrhea.
- Avoid faucet water, ice cubes, and fresh produce that has probably been cleaned with faucet water while you’re on vacation.
- Drink bottled water just while on holiday.
- Eat cooked food only while on holiday.
Preventing the Spread of Viral or Bacterial Infections
If you have diarrhea that’s due to a viral or bacterial infection, you can avoid spreading out the infection to others by cleaning your hands more frequently. When you wash your hands, use soap and wash for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when washing your hands isn’t possible.
