Causes of Diarrhea
We’ve all experienced those times when it seems like our bowels just won’t stay closed. I know I have. Our poo becomes watery and we make like 10 toilet visits in a day. Okay, I hope I’m exaggerating here. 10 is a little bit over the top. The body needs fluid to function; lots of it. In diarrhea, more than just fluid is lost. The body also loses valuable substances called electrolytes, which are responsible for maintaining some valuable cellular processes.
Introduction
Diarrhea can be defined as a situation in which there is a frequent need for a bowel movement characterized by watery and loose stool. Diarrhea usually disappears within a few days without having medicine or treatment.
Types
Diarrhea may be acute or chronic.
Acute diarrhea occurs when the condition lasts for 1 to 2 days. You would possibly experience diarrhea as a result of a viral or bacterial infection. Other times, it might be due to gastrointestinal disorder. This simply means that the cause of the diarrhea is from a disease along the lower parts of the digestive system.
There’s a condition referred to as traveler’s diarrhea, which happens once you have diarrhea after being exposed to bacteria or parasites while on vacation during a developing nation. Most times, this is caused by a bacterium called Escherichia coli.
Chronic diarrhea is a type of diarrhea that lasts at least four weeks. It’s usually the result of an intestinal disorder such as Crohn’s disease.
Causes
Some several diseases and causes can result in diarrhea.
- Bacteria and parasites
Bacteria and parasites can find their way into your body by contaminated water and food. When traveling in developing countries, traveler’s diarrhea – as mentioned earlier – is somewhat common. Clostridium difficile is another sort of bacteria which causes serious infections that could lead to diarrhea, and this infection can even occur after a course of antibiotics or during hospitalization.
• Medications
Many medications, like antibiotics, can cause diarrhea. Antibiotics destroy both harmful and good bacteria, which may disturb the healthy balance of bacteria in your intestines, a condition usually referred to as pseudomembranous colitis. Other drugs that cause diarrhea are antacids with magnesium and anti-cancer drugs.
• Lactose intolerance
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. People that have difficulty digesting lactose have diarrhea after eating dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme responsible for the digestion of lactose. Lactase deficiency can increase with age because of levels of the enzyme that helps digest lactose drops after childhood.
- Fructose
Fructose is a type of sugar found naturally in fruits and honey. It is sometimes used as a sweetener in certain beverages. People who have trouble digesting fructose usually experience diarrhea.
- Artificial sweeteners
Mannitol and sorbitol are artificial sweeteners that are found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products. It can cause diarrhea in some otherwise healthy people.
• Surgery
Sometimes, gallbladder surgeries and surgeries that involve the intestine can be the cause of diarrhea.
• Other digestive disorders
Chronic diarrhea has a lot of other causes, like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, microscopic colitis and celiac disease.
Symptoms of diarrhea
There are various symptoms of diarrhea, depending on the cause. You may experience any combination of all of them or just one of those. The symptoms depend upon the cause. It’s general to feel more than one of the following:
- Cramps
- Frequent urge to evacuate bowels
- Nausea
- Large volume of stools
- Bloating
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Bloody stools
If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor.
Dehydration and diarrhea
Diarrhea is usually associated with a risk of dehydration mainly because there is loss of fluid. It can have severe effects if not promptly treated. The dehydration symptoms include:
- dry mouth
- lightheadedness
- increased thirst
- headache
- fatigue
- dry mucous membranes
- increased heart rate
- decreased urination
If you think your diarrhea is becoming the cause of your dehydration, please contact your doctor.
Preventing viral diarrhea
Wash your hands to stop the spread of viral diarrhea by following these steps:
• Wash frequently
Wash your hands at the start and end of preparing food. After handling uncooked meat, wash your hands. When you change diapers, use the restroom, cough, sneeze, or blow your nose, wash your hands, and before you eat as well.
• Lather with soap for 20 seconds
Apply soap on your hands, rub your hands together for a minimum of 20 seconds and wash.
• Use hand sanitizer
When water is not available, try to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Apply the hand sanitizer as a lotion. Make sure to sanitize the front and back of both hands equally. Use a product that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol.
• Vaccination
Now, you can protect your infant from rotavirus, which is a predominant cause of diarrhea. Rotavirus is the foremost and frequent explanation for viral diarrhea in unvaccinated children. Ask your doctor about the vaccination of your baby.
• Preventing traveller’s diarrhea
You can easily get infected with diarrhea when you visit countries with inadequate sanitation and unhygienic raw food. To reduce the risk, follow these simple instructions;
• Watch what you eat
Eat well-cooked and hot food. Avoid vegetables and raw fruits unless you peel and wash them by yourself. Also, avoid dairy products and undercooked or cold meats.
• Watch what you drink
Drink fluids served in their original bottles. Avoid ice cubes and local tap water. Even for brushing, use drinkable water. While taking a shower, keep your mouth closed.
Beverages prepared with boiled water like tea and coffee, are possibly safe. Don’t forget that caffeine and alcohol can worsen diarrhea and aggravate dehydration.
• Ask your doctor about antibiotics.
If you’re traveling for an extended time, to a developing country, ask your doctor about antibiotics. Especially if you’ve got a weak immune system.
• Check for travel warnings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention keeps a health website for travelers. On this website for various countries, disease warnings are posted. Ensure to check there for helpful tips when leaving your home country.
Final words:
Diarrhea is not a complicated disease as long as you act promptly. Acute diarrhea usually lasts for one or two days. If you are suffering from chronic diarrhea, seek medical help. If not treated, chronic diarrhea can result in dehydration and severe weakness.
Diarrhea treatment involves the replacement of fluid lost during dehydration. Doctors recommend drinking more water and beverages e.g sports drinks, for replacing electrolytes. If the case is severe, intravenous therapy is usually incorporated.