Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common condition in which the stools get soft and watery. Usually it’s not serious, however if severe, it can lead to serious complications including life-threatening situation.

Diarrhea usually resolves within a couple of days and there are over the counter medicines available for diarrhea too.

Diarrhea can be due to any other lying issue too including irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of diarrhea

 Common symptoms of diarrhea include:

-       Urgency – feeling to have bowel movement urgently

-       Loose or thin stools

-       Watery stools

-       Bloating

-       Cramps

-       Nausea

-       Vomiting

In serious condition, symptoms include:

-       Blood in stools

-       Mucus or undigested food in stools

-       Fever

-       Dehydration

-       Weight loss

It’s important to rehydrate the patient and replenish the nutrients and minerals to avoid any serious complication.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea can occur due to various reasons, including:

-       Allergies to various food items

-       Alcohol abuse

-       Diabetes

-       Intestinal diseases, including:

o   Ulcerative colitis

o   Crohn’s disease

-       Bacterial infection

-       Toxins in foods

-       Laxative abuse

-       Medications

-       Radiotherapy

-       Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

-       Running (in some patients, running causes runner’s diarrhea)

-       Various cancers

-       Malabsorption

-       Digestive tract surgery

In some patients with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea may be followed by constipation.

Diarrhea can be due to any other abnormality in the gut too, in which the gut gets irritated, like appendicitis.

When to consult a doctor

Diarrhea can usually be treated through over the counter drugs if it’s mild and doesn’t have any complication including dehydration or any other serious symptoms. However, consult a doctor immediately if you have:

-       Blood in stools

o   Fresh blood

o   Dark blood

o   Tarry stools

-       High grade fever (e.g. 101^oF)

-       Diarrhea for more than 2 days

-       Severe pain in abdomen or rectum

-       Nausea or vomiting, preventing fluid or meal intake to replace the fluids being lost through diarrhea

-       Diarrhea episode after you have traveled to a different location, especially overseas

-       Dark urine

-       Fast heart rate

-       Headache

-       Dry skin

-       Smaller than usual quantity of urine

-       Irritability

-       Confusion

-       Dehydration

There can be symptoms associated with diarrhea that aren’t mentioned here.

Causes of chronic diarrhea

Causes of chronic diarrhea include:

-       Irritable bowel syndrome

o   Functional cause of constipation or diarrhea

o   Inflammation doesn’t exist usually in the affected bowel

-       Bacterial overgrowth in small intestine

o   Colonic bacteria can spread to the small intestine due to any issue or disease condition

-       Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

o   Ulcerative colitis

o   Crohn’s disease

-       Infectious diseases, including:

o   Giardia lamblia

o   Aids complications

-       Colon cancer

o   If there is blockage to the passage of stools at any level due to cancer in colon, it can result in constipation

o   The fluid can leak from the blockage and result in diarrhea

o   Cancers especially in the later part of the colon can lead to thin stools

o   Diarrhea caused by cancer usually progresses with time and gets worse gradually

o   Rectal cancer results in a feeling of incomplete evacuation

-       Post-infections

o   Following acute infections from:

§  Viruses

§  Parasites

§  Bacteria

-       Severe constipation

o   Can result in diarrhea due to the

-       Fat malabsorption

o   Inability to digest or absorb fat

o   Can also occur due to decreased pancreatic secretions that are necessary for normal digestion

§  Can occur in pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis

-       Carbohydrate malabsorption

o   Inability to digest and absorb sugars and carbohydrates

o   E.g. lactase deficiency resulting in lactose intolerance (milk and milk products intolerance)

-       Laxative abuse

-       Endocrine diseases

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, consult a doctor as soon as possible to avoid any life serious complication.

Treatment of diarrhea

In case of mild diarrhea, medicine might not be needed, or over the counter medicines might be sufficient including:

-       Loperamide

-       Bismuth subsalicylate

However, always read the manual that comes with the medicine before using them. In case of any confusion or any sort of query, consult your doctor immediately.

Have plenty of water with ORS or any product to replenish your nutrients, however do read the manual that comes with it and ask your doctor if you have any query.

If you’re having any itching, soreness, pain or burning sensation in rectal area, try these tips to improve the condition:

-       Take warm bath

-       Don’t rub to dry, instead pat the area with a soft and clean towel

-       Use hemorrhoid cream or white petroleum jelly

Drink plenty of water when you’re having diarrhea. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. Avoid having caffeine.

Avoid taking plenty of water with the meals unless required; rather have more water before or at least 2 hours after the meal.

If your diarrhea doesn’t settle or the symptoms are aggravation with time, consult your doctor immediately as it can be fatal especially if dehydration occurs.