Description

Diarrhea — loose, watery and possibly more-frequent passage of feces — is a common problem. Sometimes, it is the only symptom of a disease. On other occasions, it may be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or weight loss.

Luckily, diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a couple of days. But, when diarrhea lasts for more than a few days, is usually a clue to another problem — such as medicine side effects, changes in diet, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or a more serious disorder, including the course of the infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with loose, watery stools, also known as diarrhea, may include:

  • Spasms in the stomach, or pain.
  • The abdominal distension.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • Fever.
  • Blood in the stool.
  • Mucus in the stool.
  • Urgent need to defecate.

When to see a doctor

If you're an adult, see your doctor if:

  • The diarrhea does not improve or is stopped after two days.
  • You are going to dehydrate you.
  • Has terrible abdominal or rectal pain.
  • You have blood or black stools.
  • You have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).

In children, especially young children, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Call your doctor if your child has diarrhea does not improve within 24 hours or if your child:

  • You will become dehydrated.
  • You have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
  • Has bloody or black stools.

Causes

A number of diseases and conditions that can cause diarrhea, including:

  • Virus. The viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus, also known as norovirus, enteric adenoviruses, astroviruses, cytomegalovirus, and viruses that cause hepatitis. Rotavirus is a common cause of sudden infant diarrhea. The virus that causes the virus of the disease 2019 (COVID-19) has also been linked to gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Bacteria and parasites. Exposure to certain bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, or parasites through contaminated food or water can cause diarrhea. When traveling in developing countries, diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites often called traveler's diarrhea. Clostridioides difficile, also known as C. diff, is another bacteria that cause diarrhea, and can occur after a course of antibiotics or during a stay in the hospital.
  • Drugs. Many medications, such as antibiotics can cause diarrhea. Antibiotics get rid of the infections by killing the bacteria that cause the disease, but also kill the good bacteria that are useful in the body. This disrupts the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines, causing diarrhea or an infection, such as C. diff. Other medications that can cause diarrhea are the anti-cancer drugs, and antacids with magnesium.
  • Lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. People who have trouble digesting the lactose tend to have diarrhea after consuming dairy products. Lactose intolerance may increase with age due to the levels of the enzyme that helps digest lactose to be less in older people.
  • The fructose. Fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey. Sometimes added as a sweetener for certain drinks. Fructose can cause diarrhea in people who have trouble digesting this.
  • The artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol, erythritol, and mannitol — non-absorbable sugar used as artificial sweeteners in chewing gum and other sugar-free products — can cause diarrhea in some people who are otherwise healthy.
  • Surgery. Partial bowel or gallbladder removal surgery can sometimes cause diarrhea.
  • Other digestive disorders. Chronic diarrhea has a number of other causes, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Risk factors

Some common risk factors for diarrhea include:

  • Exposure to viruses, bacteria or parasites. This is an important risk factor for sudden onset of diarrhea.
  • Of the diet. Certain foods or drinks, such as coffee, tea, dairy products or foods that contain artificial sweeteners can cause diarrhea in some people.
  • Drugs. Some medications, such as antibiotics, laxatives, magnesium supplements, antidepressants, Nsaids, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, can cause diarrhea.

Complications

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can be fatal if not treated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

If you have symptoms of severe dehydration, seek medical help.

The symptoms of dehydration in adults

These include:

  • Excessive thirst.
  • Dryness in the mouth or on the skin.
  • Little or no urine.
  • Weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Dark-colored urine.

The symptoms of dehydration in infants and young children

These include:

  • Don't have a wet diaper in three or more hours.
  • Dry mouth and tongue.
  • Fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
  • Crying without tears.
  • Drowsiness, apathy, or irritability.
  • Sunk into the womb, the eyes or the cheeks.

Prevention

The prevention of infectious diarrhea

Wash your hands to prevent the spread of infectious diarrhea. To ensure the adequate washing of hands:

  • Wash frequently. Wash your hands before and after preparing food. And wash your hands after handling raw meat, using the bathroom, changing diapers, sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
  • Lather with soap for at least 20 seconds. After you put the soap in your hands, rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. This is the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" two times.
  • Use hand sanitizer when washing is not possible. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you can't get to a sink. Apply the hand sanitizer as you would a hand lotion, making sure to cover the front and back of both hands. The use of a product that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Vaccination

You can help protect your baby against rotavirus, the most common cause of viral diarrhea in children, with one of the two approved vaccines. Ask your baby's doctor about to have your baby vaccinated.

The prevention of traveler's diarrhea

Diarrhea commonly affects people who travel to countries with poor sanitation and contaminated food. To reduce the risk:

  • Careful with what you eat. Eating hot, well-cooked foods. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables, unless you can peel yourself. Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, and dairy products.
  • Watch what you drink.Drink bottled water, soft drinks, beer or wine served in their original packaging. Do not drink tap water or use ice cubes. The use of bottled water, even for brushing teeth. Keep your mouth closed while you shower. Beverages made with boiled water, such as coffee and tea, are probably safe. Remember that alcohol and caffeine can aggravate diarrhea and make dehydration worse.
  • Ask your health care team about the antibiotics. If you're traveling to a developing country for a long time, ask a member of your health care team about the introduction of antibiotics before you go, especially if you have a weakened immune system.
  • Check for travel warnings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a travelers ' health website where the disease notices are published in several countries. If you are planning to travel outside of the united States, control of information and tips to reduce your risk.

Watch what you drink. Drink bottled water, soft drinks, beer or wine served in their original packaging. Do not drink tap water or use ice cubes. The use of bottled water, even for brushing teeth. Keep your mouth closed while you shower.

Beverages made with boiled water, such as coffee and tea, are probably safe. Remember that alcohol and caffeine can aggravate diarrhea and make dehydration worse.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will probably ask you about your medical history, review the medications you take and carry out a physical examination. Your healthcare provider may order tests to determine the cause of your diarrhea. Possible tests include:

  • Blood tests. A complete blood count, measurement of electrolytes and renal function tests can help indicate the severity of diarrhea.
  • Of fecal matter. You may have a test to see if a bacterium or parasite is causing your diarrhea.
  • The breath test hydrogen. This kind of test can help determine if you have an intolerance to lactose. After drinking a liquid that contains high levels of lactose, his breathing measured by hydrogen at regular intervals. Breathing too much hydrogen indicates that you are not completely digestion and absorption of lactose.
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The use of a thin, lighted tube that is inserted into the rectum, to a professional doctor can see the inside of the colon. The device also has a tool that allows the doctor to take a small tissue sample, called a biopsy of the colon. Flexible sigmoidoscopy provides a view of the lower part of the colon, while colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the entire colon.
  • The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A medical professional uses a long, thin tube with a camera on the end to examine the stomach and the upper small intestine. You can remove a sample of tissue to be reviewed in a laboratory.

Treatment

The majority of cases of sudden onset of diarrhea by your own account within a couple of days without treatment. If you've tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for diarrhea without success, your health care professional may recommend medicines or other treatments.

Antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs

Antibiotics or antiparasitic medications can help treat diarrhea caused by certain bacteria or parasites. The majority of the bacterial causes of diarrhea do not require treatment in the majority of the people. If a virus is the cause of the diarrhea, antibiotics do not help.

Treatment to replace the fluids

Your healthcare provider will probably advise you to replace the fluids and salts that are lost when you have diarrhea. For most adults, which means to drink water with electrolytes, juice, or broth. If the consumption of liquids upsets your stomach or causes vomiting, the health professional can give you iv fluids.

The water is a good way to replace fluids, but does not contain the salts and electrolytes, and minerals such as sodium and potassium that your body needs to function. You can help maintain its levels of electrolytes through the consumption of fruit juices for potassium or eat soups of sodium. But certain fruit juices, such as apple juice, might worsen the diarrhea.

For children, ask your doctor about the use of an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte to prevent dehydration or to replace lost fluids.

Adjustment of the medications you are taking

If your healthcare provider determines that an antibiotic caused the diarrhea, you may be given a lower dose or a different medication.

The treatment of the underlying condition

If the diarrhea is caused by a more serious condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, your health care professional working to control the condition. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, who can help design a treatment plan for you.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Diarrhea usually clears up quickly without treatment. To help you deal with your symptoms until the diarrhea goes away, try to do the following:

  • Drink plenty of liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
  • Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your stool returns to what is typical for you. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken.
  • Not eating certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods, or highly seasoned foods for a few days.
  • Ask about anti-diarrheal medications.- Counter anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate, could help reduce the frequency of passing watery stool and control of severe symptoms. Certain medical conditions and bacterial infections and parasitic — can be aggravated by these drugs, because they prevent your body to get rid of what is causing the diarrhea. Some of these medications are not recommended for children. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking these medicines, or give to a child.
  • Take probiotics. These microorganisms can help to restore a healthy balance in the intestinal tract, increasing the level of good bacteria. However, it is not clear if they can help shorten an episode of diarrhea. Probiotics are available in capsules or in liquid form and are added to some foods, such as certain brands of yogurt. More research is needed to better understand the strains of bacteria that are most useful, and what doses are needed.

Ask about anti-diarrheal medications. - Counter anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate, could help reduce the frequency of passing watery stool and control of severe symptoms.

Certain medical conditions and bacterial infections and parasitic — can be aggravated by these drugs, because they prevent your body to get rid of what is causing the diarrhea. Some of these medications are not recommended for children. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking these medicines, or give to a child.

Preparing for your appointment

You could start by seeing a member of your care team in primary health care. If you have the duration of the diarrhea, which may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as fasting before certain tests. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including when they started and any that may seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses, recent changes in life or travel.
  • The medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking, including dosage. If you've recently taken an antibiotic, be aware of what type, how long, and when it stopped.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

For diarrhea, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely to cause diarrhea?
  • Could my diarrhea be caused by a medication I'm taking?
  • What tests do I need?
  • It is my diarrhea likely short-term or long-term?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best deal with the diarrhea?
  • There are restrictions that I should follow?
  • Can I take medicine such as loperamide to stop the diarrhea?
  • You should see a specialist?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • Do your symptoms occur all the time or only sometimes?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Does your diarrhea wakes you up at night?
  • Do you see blood in the stool, or black stool?
  • It has recently been around anyone that has diarrhea?
  • Have recently stayed in a hospital or nursing home?
  • You've taken antibiotics recently?

What you can do in the meantime

While you wait for your appointment, you can relieve the symptoms if you:

  • Drink more liquids. To help avoid dehydration, drink water, juice, and broth.
  • Do not eat foods that may aggravate the diarrhea. Stay away from fats, high in fiber, or very spicy.
Symptoms and treatment of Diarrhea