Diarrhea
Introduction/Overview
Diarrhea is a condition which causes abdominal cramping and loose, watery stools. Diarrhea can last for a day or it can become chronic diarrhea and last for a month or more. Persistent diarrhea causes dehydration and you should see a doctor if it becomes bothersome.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Everyone, at one time or another, has symptoms of diarrhea. Stools become watery and loose and abdominal cramping can have you running to the bathroom several times a day. Sometimes severe diarrhea has other accompanying conditions, such as having a fever, pain in the region of the abdomen, bloating or bloody stools. See a doctor if you have watery diarrhea for three or more days or bloody diarrhea.
Known Causes
The causes of diarrhea are many. When you have diarrhea, foods pass too quickly through your colon and the fluids do get absorbed. Diarrhea causes include viruses, bacteria, prescription medications, intestinal parasites, milk products, and the artificial sugars in sugar-free foods and gums. Diarrhea is a common symptom of several bowel diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome. Infant diarrhea is a common problem especially when being introduced to solid foods. Some fruits which contain fructose can cause toddler diarrhea.
Treatments/Procedures
Most cases of diarrhea pass in a few days. If your diarrhea is from parasites or bacteria, seeing your doctor and getting a prescription for antibiotics might help. If you have diarrhea from a virus, antibiotics won’t do anything. Often the best diarrhea treatment is removing the cause of the diarrhea, such as to stop drinking milk or eating sugarless candies. Drink lots of water and other fluids. While they might not stop diarrhea, fluids will stave off dehydration. Loss of water and salts can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Prevention / Vaccination
Diarrhea caused by a virus can be prevented by washing your hands frequently. Viruses can be spread by something as simple as sneezing or many people touching a common doorknob. While an allergy to milk causes watery diarrhea in some people, in others it can be milk that hasn’t been pasteurized or dairy products which were eaten after their expiration date. Clean out your refrigerator regularly. If you are traveling, be careful of water supplies in developing countries. Precautionary antibiotics can help prevent diarrhea from bacteria and parasites.
Prognosis / Management
There are several ways to manage diarrhea so it doesn’t keep you from daily activities. Anti-diarrheal meds can help slow diarrhea so you can get through your day but they are not advisable for children. While you are usually told to eat fiber, do not eat a lot of fiber when you have diarrhea, as it can make the situation worse. Try not to eat to many milk products and go light on fruit juices.
Alternative Treatments & Products
Diarrhea is one condition which has many alternative treatments, most of the home remedy or herbal variety. One of the most popular diarrhea treatments is chamomile tea. You can buy it all prepared in tea bags or make your own by steeping chamomile and peppermint leaves for around fifteen minutes in boiling water. Another diarrhea treatment is eating starchy foods. Among these, rice is good for you as are potatoes and cooked cereals. Yogurt with live bacteria is excellent for diarrhea as are certain spices, such as ginger or fenugreek seeds.