Diarrhea - Treatment, Causes, Symptoms

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Diarrhea

Suddenly onset, sharp and cramping abdominal pains, frequent bowel movements, fever and general weakness of the body first of all suggest that “something was wrong” the day before …

Indeed, a sharp deterioration in well-being can be triggered by a poor-quality, poorly washed or stale product that has entered the stomach. But diarrhea is extremely insidious and not at all as harmless as it is commonly believed. The duration and severity of the disease primarily depend on the cause of the diarrhea.

Diarrhea causes

Food poisoning ranks first in the list of causes of diarrhea that cause this unpleasant condition. Almost any food that is not visually suspicious can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites, which "detonate" once they enter the human stomach. Usually, with food poisoning, the symptoms of diarrhea are mild and short-term, but in some cases, without appropriate treatment, the disease can lead to dehydration, kidney failure, and even death.

A digestive disorder called diarrhea is an acute protective reaction of the body at any age to various irritating agents that have entered the human gastrointestinal tract. These agents include allergic, viral or toxic substances.

The exact cause of diarrhea can be determined solely from laboratory results, but in most cases this is not required. The disease goes away on its own without medical intervention. The only prerequisite for the treatment of diarrhea and self-healing is strict adherence to food and drink regimen. Abundant fluid intake is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of dehydration.

Diarrhea symptoms

Self-identification of diarrhea symptoms is usually straightforward. These are sharp pains in the abdomen - in the stomach and intestines. Frequent (more than three times a day), loose stools, in some cases accompanied by vomiting. Another indirect symptom of diarrhea is the occurrence of febrile events of varying severity (high fever, chills and convulsions). All the described symptoms of diarrhea are accompanied by a general weakening of the body and a sharp deterioration in well-being.

Diagnosing diarrhea

The main criteria for diagnosis and determination of the need to see a doctor are the duration of diarrhea and the nature of the discharge. Indomitable diarrhea that does not go away for more than three days should in any case make you anxious.

Bloody stools should also be a reason for urgent medical attention. The presence of blood indicates the beginning of the destruction of the large intestine by microbes. Without qualified treatment for diarrhea, such a condition can threaten with perforation of the intestinal walls, the transfer of infection to internal organs and toxic bacterial shock. In addition, there is a threat of sepsis due to bacteria entering the bloodstream.

The primary reason for visiting a doctor is the age of the patient with diarrhea. If we are talking about small children, treatment should begin as early as possible, therefore, a visit to a doctor should take place immediately!

The structural features of the gastrointestinal tract predispose to the development of diarrhea in children, most often against the background of rotavirus infection. The age of up to two years is a particularly dangerous period in terms of the occurrence of complicated diarrhea in children, since the course of the disease is unpredictable and very quickly an electrolyte imbalance and complete dehydration can occur.

The very first symptoms of diarrhea in children, or even a suspicion of the onset of its occurrence, should force parents to urgently seek help from a medical facility.

Relieve the child's condition before going to the doctor, possibly drinking plenty of fluids. Self-treatment of diarrhea in infants is completely unacceptable and threatens with the most serious consequences, including death.

Diarrhea treatment

The list of medications and a wide variety of natural remedies for the treatment of diarrhea, which pharmacists can offer in pharmacies today, numbers almost hundreds of positions. In addition to the high cost of modern pharmaceutical remedies for diarrhea (which, by the way, can upset the work of digestion no worse than any pathogenic bacteria), it is extremely difficult for an ordinary consumer to determine which drug to choose and whether it will have the desired effect.

Meanwhile, there are folk remedies for diarrhea, which were successfully used for treatment by our grandparents. These folk remedies for diarrhea include the use of:

- Strongly brewed tea or coffee without sugar;

- rice water;

- a decoction of pears with pieces;

- a slimy broth of oat or barley flakes.

There are many other time-tested remedies for diarrhea, the main thing is to remember about strict adherence to a gentle diet and the mandatory replenishment of lost fluid.

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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!