Definition
Diarrhea is loose, watery, and frequent stool.
Diarrhea is considered chronic (long-term) when you
have had loose or frequent stools for more than 4
weeks.
Causes
Diarrhea is caused by
infections or illnesses that either lead to excess
production of fluids or prevent absorption of fluids.
Also, certain substances in the colon, such as fats
and bile acids, can interfere with water absorption
and cause diarrhea. In addition, rapid passage of
material through the colon can also do the same. The
most common cause of diarrhea is viral
gastroenteritis, a mild viral infection that goes away
on its own within a few days.
This condition is often called the stomach flu.
Food poisoning and traveler's diarrhea are two other
common causes of diarrhea. They occur as a result of
eating food or drinking water contaminated with
bacteria or parasites.The more serious causes
include ulcerative colitis (when blood is usually present in the stools),
regional ileitis (Crohn's disease), some forms of intestinal cancer (when pain
and weight loss might also be present), and some disorders of the intestine that
lead to poor digestion of food.
Symptoms
-
Watery diarrhea
-
Nausea/vomiting
-
Abdominal cramps
-
Bloody diarrhea
-
Fever
-
Abdominal cramps
-
Pain in rectum after a bowel
movement
Screening and
Diagnostics
-
Stool checked for white blood
cells
-
Stool checked for culture or
toxins
-
White blood cell count in blood
may be elevated
-
Blood chemistries may show
depletion of electrolytes or
Dehydration
Sigmoidoscopy (scope passed into
colon) if diagnosis is unclear
Treatment
Drink plenty of fluid to avoid becoming dehydrated. Start with sips of any
fluid other than caffeinated beverages. Milk may prolong loose stools, but also
provides needed fluids and nourishment. Drinking milk may be fine for mild
diarrhea. For moderate and severe diarrhea, electrolyte solutions available in
drugstores are usually best.
Dehydration occurs:
-
Oral rehydration with solutions
such as Pedialyte
-
Intravenous fluids may be
necessary
-
Antibiotics in bacterial
causes
-
Discontinuing the antibiotics
for antibiotic induced diarrhea
-
Note: it is generally recommended
not to treat Salmonella infections with antibiotics
unless they are very severe.
-
Clostridium difficile is treated
with metronidazole or vancomycin (see section on
Clostridium difficile
Colitis)
Prevention
-
Wash
your hands often, especially after going to the
bathroom and before eating.
-
Teach
children to not put objects in their mouth.
-
When
taking antibiotics, try eating food with
Lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthy bacteria.
This helps replenish the good bacteria that
antibiotics can kill. Yogurt with active or live
cultures is a good source of this good bacteria.
-
Use
alcohol-based hand gel frequently.
When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the
steps below to avoid diarrhea:
-
Drink
only bottled water and DO NOT use ice.
-
DO
NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruit that do not
have peels.
-
DO
NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.
-
DO
NOT consume dairy products.
