What is diarrhea?
The frequent occurrence of loose and watery stools is known as diarrhea. Most incidences of diarrhea are acute and last for a couple of days. However, it may even be a chronic condition if an individual suffers from diarrhea for several days.
What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea involves the gastrointestinal tract and is usually the result of a viral infection. It explains why some call it intestinal flu. Some episodes of diarrhea may be because of an infection by bacteria. One may get diarrhea because of diverse causes such as:
- Food allergies
- An adverse effect of
medications, particularly antibiotics
- Surgery of the intestinal organ
- Indigestion
- Problems in the absorption of certain nutrients
- Chronic conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis
Symptoms of Diarrhea
The most common symptom of diarrhea is the incidence of watery stools. Besides loose motions, a person with diarrhea may present with the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cramps in the belly
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal bloating
- Urgency to defecate
- Dehydration
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Severe pain in the abdomen
- Leg cramps
Infectious Conditions
Diarrhea may be caused due to an E Coli infection or consuming contaminated food or water. Diarrhea is the most common symptom of intestinal tuberculosis. Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that may cause diarrhea in three out of ten patients. Close to 20% of individuals who suffer from COVID-19 have diarrhea as one of the symptoms.
Treatments of Diarrhea
Hydration is a vital part of treatment as diarrhea leads to dehydration with loss of electrolytes. An Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) may be necessary to replenish the electrolyte loss. Your physician may recommend specific antibiotics if it is infectious diarrhea.
It is better to avoid caffeine and greasy dairy products such as ghee or butter as these may aggravate the condition. A high fiber diet helps regulate your digestive functions and may reduce the severity of diarrhea as these have stool solidifying properties.
