Diarrhea: causes and treatment

Diarrhea is a condition that causes the evacuation of loose stools and frequent liquid, which occurs when the body does not absorb liquids properly or, conversely, the digestive system produces additional fluid. In addition to this, the patient may have weakness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration, among other symptoms. In many cases, it is a mild condition that disappears after a few days with an adequate diet; however, in others, it can be prolonged over time and be a symptom of other underlying pathologies, so diagnosis and treatment will be essential. Doctor. At FastlyHealwe show in detail the possible causes and treatment of diarrhea.

Causes of diarrhea

In addition to an increase in the number of bowel movements and a reduction in their consistency, diarrhea may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, dehydration, chills, fever, and stools with blood. The symptoms will also depend on the original factor of the condition, and the causes of diarrhea can be many. Here are the most frequent ones:

• Viral gastroenteritis: inflammation of the stomach and intestines due to a virus, the most common being norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and enteric adenovirus. It causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
• After consuming food or water contaminated by bacteria and parasites, infectious diseases such as E.coli, salmonella, Campylobacter, etc., after drinking food or water contaminated by bacteria and parasites can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, and weakness.
• Intolerance or allergy to certain foods, such as gluten or lactose intolerance.
• Digestive system conditions or diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, problems digesting food, etc.
• They were taking certain medications such as antibiotics or those administered in cancer treatments, as they can have diarrhea as a side effect.
• I was having anxiety or going through tense and stressful situations.
• Specific digestive interventions such as gastrectomy or gastric resection seek to achieve weight loss.

When to see your doctor for diarrhea

Even though, in many cases, diarrhea does not pose a greater danger to the health of the patient, due to the multiple causes to which it may be due, it is necessary to be attentive to the manifestation of other symptoms and consult with the doctor urgently in the following cases:

• Diarrhea does not stop or gets worse after two days.
• There are signs of dehydration: dry mouth, dizziness or dizziness, decreased urination, or sunken eyes.
• Stomach pains occur that do not go away after defecation.
• Stools are black or bloody.
• A high fever accompanies diarrhea.
• You have recently traveled to a foreign country, followed by diarrhea. Treatment for diarrhea

The treatment of diarrhea will depend on the causative factor and its severity in each case. In general, in cases of mild diarrhea, it will be enough to replace the fluids, salts, and minerals that have been lost to avoid a dehydration situation. It is best to increase your water consumption and healthy liquids such as isotonic drinks or infusions; they must be drunk little by little in small sips. The best inputs to combat diarrhea and improve the digestive system are thyme, chamomile, ginger tea, and fennel.

Likewise, oral rehydration preparations sold in pharmacies can be an excellent solution to provide the body with the fluids it needs to stay hydrated. These contain sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose, and potassium and must be prepared mixed with water or purchased already bottled or in tetra brick. The doctor’s instructions or those indicated in the package leaflet regarding the appropriate dose should be followed.

Only in those more severe cases in which the diarrhea is excessive, and the fluid intake is not enough to avoid dehydration will it be necessary to go to a hospital to administer the required fluid and electrolytes intravenously.

On the other hand, there are drugs called antidiarrheals, which reduce excess bowel movements, thus helping regain their usual rhythm. The doctor must prescribe these in each case, and the doctor’s instructions must also be followed regarding the dose and duration of treatment.

When the cause of diarrhea is conditions or diseases caused by certain bacteria or parasites, it will be necessary to initiate specific medical treatment to cure the infection in question.

The recommended diet for diarrhea

Faced with diarrhea, the patient’s diet must change completely immediately to reestablish their intestinal transit, avoid dehydration and not aggravate the current situation.

At first, if the diarrhea is intense and is accompanied by vomiting, it will be impossible to eat anything. Still, it is essential to start a liquid diet by consuming little by little and in small spoonfuls of liquids such as water oral serum, or alkaline lemonade. After the first hours and when the tolerance to beverages is excellent, you should start an astringent diet based on the consumption of soft and light foods that are easy to digest. To do it properly, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

• Eat soft and bland foods such as boiled white rice, fat-free noodle soup, grilled or boiled white fish or chicken, cooked potato, cooked carrot, cooked ham, and some fruit like skinless apple.
• Cook all foods on the grill or boiled without adding fats or seasonings.
• Eat small portions of food, chew well before swallowing, and avoid large amounts of food.
• Eat food at a warm temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.
• Avoid those foods with a lot of dietary fiber, which could aggravate diarrhea.
• Avoid foods that produce gases, such as legumes or grains.
• Avoid dairy products.
• Do not eat fatty, salty, sugary, or spicy foods.
• Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.

Once this phase is over and when the patient begins to recover, other usual ingredients should be introduced in their diet slowly and progressively, leaving for the last those more challenging to digests, such as salads, legumes, cereals, or vegetables. Milk. To replenish the bacterial flora, it may be an excellent option to eat a natural yogurt, a portion of probiotic food that improves digestion and intestinal processes.

We recommend consulting the Astringent article diet for diarrhea for more details about proper nutrition.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Diarrhea: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category.

Alivia Nyhan

I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.