How do you recognize the signs of diarrhea. What are the common causes of diarrhea. When should you seek medical attention for diarrhea. What are the most effective treatments for diarrhea. How can you prevent dehydration during a bout of diarrhea. What are the potential complications of chronic diarrhea. How does diet affect diarrhea symptoms and recovery.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common digestive issue characterized by loose, watery stools occurring more frequently than usual. While it’s often a temporary inconvenience, understanding its symptoms is crucial for proper management and knowing when to seek medical attention.

Common symptoms of diarrhea include:

• Loose, watery stools
• Frequent bowel movements
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Urgent need to use the bathroom

In some cases, diarrhea may be accompanied by more severe symptoms such as fever, bloody stools, or signs of dehydration. These symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.

How long does diarrhea typically last?

Most cases of acute diarrhea resolve within 2 to 3 days. However, some individuals may experience symptoms for up to a week. If diarrhea persists for more than a few days or is accompanied by severe symptoms, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider.

Common Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be triggered by various factors, ranging from viral infections to dietary choices. Understanding these causes can help in prevention and management of the condition.

Some common causes of diarrhea include:

1. Viral infections (often referred to as “stomach flu”)
2. Bacterial infections (including food poisoning)
3. Parasitic infections
4. Food allergies or intolerances
5. Medications (such as antibiotics)
6. Digestive disorders (like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease)
7. Stress or anxiety
8. Overconsumption of alcohol or caffeine

Can certain foods cause diarrhea?

Yes, certain foods can trigger diarrhea in some individuals. Common culprits include spicy foods, dairy products (especially in lactose-intolerant people), artificial sweeteners, and foods high in fats or sugar. Keeping a food diary can help identify potential triggers and inform dietary choices to manage symptoms.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Diarrhea

While most cases of diarrhea resolve on their own, certain situations require prompt medical attention. Being aware of these warning signs can help prevent complications and ensure timely treatment.

Seek medical care if you experience:

• Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
• Signs of dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth)
• Severe abdominal or rectal pain
• Bloody or black stools
• Fever above 102°F (39°C)
• Symptoms of severe infection

Are there specific concerns for children with diarrhea?

Children, especially infants and young children, are more susceptible to dehydration from diarrhea. Parents should seek medical attention if a child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours, shows signs of dehydration, or has a high fever. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent complications in young patients.

Effective Treatments for Diarrhea

Treatment for diarrhea focuses on managing symptoms, preventing dehydration, and addressing the underlying cause when possible. The approach may vary depending on the severity and duration of symptoms.

Common treatment strategies include:

1. Oral rehydration solutions to replace lost fluids and electrolytes
2. Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications (for adults)
3. Probiotics to support gut health
4. Dietary modifications (BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast)
5. Prescription medications for specific causes (e.g., antibiotics for bacterial infections)

How effective are home remedies for diarrhea?

Several home remedies can help alleviate diarrhea symptoms. These include staying hydrated, consuming clear broths, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and gradually reintroducing solid foods. While these methods can be effective for mild cases, it’s important to seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen.

Preventing Dehydration During Diarrhea

Dehydration is a serious risk associated with diarrhea, particularly in children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. Taking steps to prevent dehydration is crucial for recovery and avoiding complications.

Strategies to prevent dehydration include:

• Drinking plenty of clear fluids
• Consuming oral rehydration solutions
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
• Eating small, frequent meals of easily digestible foods
• Monitoring urine color and output

What are the best fluids to drink during a bout of diarrhea?

The best fluids for preventing dehydration during diarrhea are those that replace both water and electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte, are specifically formulated for this purpose. Clear broths, diluted fruit juices, and sports drinks (in moderation due to high sugar content) can also be beneficial. Avoid beverages that can exacerbate diarrhea, such as those containing caffeine or alcohol.

Understanding and Managing Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea, defined as loose stools lasting for more than four weeks, can significantly impact quality of life and may indicate an underlying health condition. Understanding its causes and management strategies is essential for those experiencing persistent symptoms.

Potential causes of chronic diarrhea include:

1. Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
2. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
3. Celiac disease
4. Microscopic colitis
5. Endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
6. Chronic infections
7. Medication side effects

How is chronic diarrhea diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing chronic diarrhea often involves a comprehensive evaluation, including medical history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests such as stool analyses, blood tests, and potentially endoscopic procedures. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include dietary modifications, medications, or in some cases, surgery. Working closely with a gastroenterologist is crucial for developing an effective management plan.

The Role of Diet in Managing Diarrhea

Diet plays a significant role in both the prevention and management of diarrhea. Making informed food choices can help alleviate symptoms and support recovery.

Dietary recommendations for managing diarrhea include:

• Following the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast)
• Consuming probiotic-rich foods
• Avoiding dairy products temporarily
• Steering clear of fatty, spicy, or sugary foods
• Eating small, frequent meals
• Gradually reintroducing normal foods as symptoms improve

Can probiotics help with diarrhea?

Probiotics have shown promise in managing certain types of diarrhea, particularly antibiotic-associated diarrhea and traveler’s diarrhea. These beneficial bacteria can help restore balance to the gut microbiome, potentially reducing the duration and severity of diarrheal episodes. While more research is needed, incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements may be beneficial for some individuals experiencing diarrhea.

Understanding diarrhea, its causes, and effective management strategies is crucial for maintaining digestive health. While most cases resolve on their own with proper care, being aware of warning signs and knowing when to seek medical attention can prevent complications. By staying informed and taking appropriate measures, individuals can effectively manage diarrhea and minimize its impact on daily life.

As research in gastroenterology continues to advance, new insights into the prevention and treatment of diarrhea emerge. Staying up-to-date with the latest recommendations from healthcare professionals and reputable health organizations can help individuals make informed decisions about their digestive health. Remember, while diarrhea is a common condition, persistent or severe symptoms should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

15 Common Causes and How To Treat It

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is Diarrhea?
• Diarrhea Causes
• Diarrhea Symptoms
• Serious Symptoms of Diarrhea
• When to See a Doctor for Diarrhea
• Diarrhea Diagnosis
• Treatment for Diarrhea
• Relief From Diarrhea Symptoms
• When Diarrhea Won’t Go Away
• More

When you have diarrhea, your bowel movements (or stools) are loose and watery. It’s common and usually not serious.

Many people get diarrhea a few times a year. It normally lasts 2 to 3 days. Some people get it more often. That could be because they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions.

Usually, diarrhea happens because of a virus that gets into your gut. Some people call it “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu.”

Other causes include:

• Allergies to certain foods
• Diseases of the intestines (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Eating foods that upset the digestive system
• Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning) or other organisms
• Laxative abuse
• Running (Some people get “runner’s diarrhea” for reasons that aren’t clear. )
• Some cancers
• Surgery on your digestive system
• Trouble absorbing certain nutrients, also called “malabsorption”

Diarrhea may also follow constipation, especially for people who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

You may have:

• Bloating in your belly
• Thin or loose stools
• Watery stools
• An urgent feeling that you need to have a bowel movement
• Nausea and throwing up

Most cases of diarrhea are nothing more than a brief inconvenience. But sometimes, they warn of a serious condition. Talk with your doctor if your child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours. If you have it for more than 3 days, make an appointment.

Also, be sure to let your doctor know about your diarrhea if you have cancer, or have had recent treatment for it.

More serious symptoms of diarrhea include:

• Blood or mucus in your stool
• Weight loss

If you have watery stools more than three times a day and you’re not drinking enough fluids, you could become dehydrated. That can be a serious problem if it’s not treated.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Blood in your diarrhea or black, tarry stools
• A fever that is high (above 101 F) or that lasts more than 24 hours
• Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days
• Nausea or throwing up that prevents you from drinking liquids to replace lost fluids
• Severe pain in your belly (especially the right lower quadrant) or rear end
• Diarrhea after coming back from a foreign country

These can be warning signs of things like:

• Infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Colon cancer

Also, call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea and any of these signs of dehydration:

• Dark urine
• Smaller than usual amounts of urine or, in a child, fewer wet diapers than usual
• Rapid heart rate
• Headaches
• Dry skin
• Crankiness
• Confusion

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and what medications you take, as well as what you’ve eaten or had to drink recently. They will give you a physical exam to look for signs of dehydration or belly pain.

Certain tests can help pinpoint the cause of your diarrhea, including:

• Blood tests to look for certain diseases or disorders
• Colonoscopy, in rare cases, in which your doctor looks inside your colon with a thin, flexible tube that holds a tiny camera and light. They can also use this device to take a small sample of tissue. Or your doctor might need to do only a sigmoidoscopy, which looks at just the lower colon.
• Stool tests to look for bacteria or parasites

If your case is mild, you may not need to take anything. Adults can take an over-the-counter medicine such as bismuth subsalicylate or loperamide, which you can get as liquids or tablets.

You also need to stay hydrated. You should drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. Choose electrolyte replacement drinks or soda without caffeine. Chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey, and sports drinks are also good choices. Instead of drinking liquids with your meals, drink liquids between meals. Sip small amounts of fluids often. Liquid probiotics may also help.

Your rectal area may become sore because of all the bowel movements that diarrhea brings. You may have itching, burning, or pain when you go to the bathroom.

For relief, take a warm bath or sitz bath. Afterward, pat the area dry (don’t rub) with a clean, soft towel. You may also try using a hemorrhoid cream or petroleum jelly on the affected area. If this continues for several days, you should contact your doctor.

If you still have diarrhea after 4 weeks, then you have chronic diarrhea.

To figure out the cause, your doctor will want to know your symptoms and medical history. You’ll get the most out of your appointment if you can tell them:

• How long you’ve had diarrhea
• Whether your diarrhea comes and goes, or is continuous
• If you think certain foods and situations make things better or worse
• If your stool looks bloody, oily, fatty, or watery
• Other symptoms you have and how long you’ve had them
• If you have a family history of chronic diarrhea
• Places you’ve traveled to recently
• Unusual foods you’ve tried in the last little while
• Any medication or supplements you’re taking
• If you’ve lost a lot of weight

Top Picks

15 Common Causes and How To Treat It

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is Diarrhea?
• Diarrhea Causes
• Diarrhea Symptoms
• Serious Symptoms of Diarrhea
• When to See a Doctor for Diarrhea
• Diarrhea Diagnosis
• Treatment for Diarrhea
• Relief From Diarrhea Symptoms
• When Diarrhea Won’t Go Away
• More

When you have diarrhea, your bowel movements (or stools) are loose and watery. It’s common and usually not serious.

Many people get diarrhea a few times a year. It normally lasts 2 to 3 days. Some people get it more often. That could be because they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other conditions.

Usually, diarrhea happens because of a virus that gets into your gut. Some people call it “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu.”

Other causes include:

• Allergies to certain foods
• Diseases of the intestines (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Eating foods that upset the digestive system
• Infection by bacteria (the cause of most types of food poisoning) or other organisms
• Laxative abuse
• Running (Some people get “runner’s diarrhea” for reasons that aren’t clear.)
• Some cancers
• Surgery on your digestive system
• Trouble absorbing certain nutrients, also called “malabsorption”

Diarrhea may also follow constipation, especially for people who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

You may have:

• Bloating in your belly
• Thin or loose stools
• Watery stools
• An urgent feeling that you need to have a bowel movement
• Nausea and throwing up

Most cases of diarrhea are nothing more than a brief inconvenience. But sometimes, they warn of a serious condition. Talk with your doctor if your child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours. If you have it for more than 3 days, make an appointment.

Also, be sure to let your doctor know about your diarrhea if you have cancer, or have had recent treatment for it.

More serious symptoms of diarrhea include:

• Blood or mucus in your stool
• Weight loss

If you have watery stools more than three times a day and you’re not drinking enough fluids, you could become dehydrated. That can be a serious problem if it’s not treated.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Blood in your diarrhea or black, tarry stools
• A fever that is high (above 101 F) or that lasts more than 24 hours
• Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days
• Nausea or throwing up that prevents you from drinking liquids to replace lost fluids
• Severe pain in your belly (especially the right lower quadrant) or rear end
• Diarrhea after coming back from a foreign country

These can be warning signs of things like:

• Infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Colon cancer

Also, call your doctor right away if you have diarrhea and any of these signs of dehydration:

• Dark urine
• Smaller than usual amounts of urine or, in a child, fewer wet diapers than usual
• Rapid heart rate
• Headaches
• Dry skin
• Crankiness
• Confusion

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and what medications you take, as well as what you’ve eaten or had to drink recently. They will give you a physical exam to look for signs of dehydration or belly pain.

Certain tests can help pinpoint the cause of your diarrhea, including:

• Blood tests to look for certain diseases or disorders
• Colonoscopy, in rare cases, in which your doctor looks inside your colon with a thin, flexible tube that holds a tiny camera and light. They can also use this device to take a small sample of tissue. Or your doctor might need to do only a sigmoidoscopy, which looks at just the lower colon.
• Stool tests to look for bacteria or parasites

If your case is mild, you may not need to take anything. Adults can take an over-the-counter medicine such as bismuth subsalicylate or loperamide, which you can get as liquids or tablets.

You also need to stay hydrated. You should drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. Choose electrolyte replacement drinks or soda without caffeine. Chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey, and sports drinks are also good choices. Instead of drinking liquids with your meals, drink liquids between meals. Sip small amounts of fluids often. Liquid probiotics may also help.

Your rectal area may become sore because of all the bowel movements that diarrhea brings. You may have itching, burning, or pain when you go to the bathroom.

For relief, take a warm bath or sitz bath. Afterward, pat the area dry (don’t rub) with a clean, soft towel. You may also try using a hemorrhoid cream or petroleum jelly on the affected area. If this continues for several days, you should contact your doctor.

If you still have diarrhea after 4 weeks, then you have chronic diarrhea.

To figure out the cause, your doctor will want to know your symptoms and medical history. You’ll get the most out of your appointment if you can tell them:

• How long you’ve had diarrhea
• Whether your diarrhea comes and goes, or is continuous
• If you think certain foods and situations make things better or worse
• If your stool looks bloody, oily, fatty, or watery
• Other symptoms you have and how long you’ve had them
• If you have a family history of chronic diarrhea
• Places you’ve traveled to recently
• Unusual foods you’ve tried in the last little while
• Any medication or supplements you’re taking
• If you’ve lost a lot of weight

Top Picks

causes, symptoms, how to quickly stop

Gastroenterologist

Neronov

Vladimir Alexandrovich

Experience 25 years

Gastroenterologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences

Make an appointment

Acute diarrhea is a multifactorial syndrome included in the list of symptoms of many infectious and non-communicable diseases. The main symptom of pathology is frequent loose stools. The feces become watery or mushy. With an exacerbated course of the primary disease, undigested food residues, mucus, and foam are present in the feces. The urge to defecate becomes more frequent and occurs with an interval of 2-3 hours.

General

Each year, two billion people around the world are diagnosed with diarrhea. Stool disorder remains the most common manifestation of pathological processes of gastroenterological, proctological and infectious types.

The disease is characterized by a favorable course in the presence of adequate and timely treatment. Patients with acute intestinal infections are placed in hospitals. Diarrhea of ​​a different origin can be treated on an outpatient basis.

Causes of disease

A stool disorder develops in patients under the influence of various factors:

• Infections;
• toxins;
• medication;
• inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
• acute diseases of the pelvic organs.

In countries with a high culture of personal hygiene, diarrhea is the result of infections entering the human body. Their pathogens are rotaviruses and adenoviruses. Bacterial infections remain an equally common cause of diarrhea. Stool disorder is provoked by salmonella, E. coli, shigella. Similarly, helminthic invasions affect the condition of children and adults.

A common form of pathology is travelers’ diarrhea. It develops in people who move between countries with strict sanitary standards and countries with low levels of sanitation.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of the pathology is determined by the type of intestinal disorder detected in the patient. The secretory form of diarrhea occurs without abdominal pain. The daily volume of loose stools exceeds 1 liter. The mild course of the disease is explained by increased secretion of water in the intestine against the background of irritation of its mucous membrane with toxins. The frequency of the urge to defecate does not depend on the diet of the patient.

The aggravated course of diarrhea is accompanied by a number of non-specific symptoms:

• abdominal pain;
• fever;
• bouts of nausea;
• episodic vomiting.

Significantly frequent stool provokes dehydration. Against this background, the patient is faced with dehydration and its manifestations in the form of desiccation of the skin, an increase in blood pressure and tachycardia. The smell and color of feces change – dark shades of green dominate. Pathological processes in the large intestine can lead to staining of the stool with blood, the appearance of mucus and foam.

Diagnostics

The patient is examined by an infectious disease specialist, proctologist or gastroenterologist. The doctor collects data for anamnesis and clarifies the list of drugs that the child or adult used before the onset of diarrhea. The main diagnostic criterion for the disease is loose stools observed in humans at least three times a day. The duration of the intestinal disorder should not exceed three days.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is carried out after laboratory tests. General blood and stool tests allow you to verify the presence of an inflammatory process in the body of a child or adult. The coprogram contains information about the concentration of leukocytes and erythrocytes in the biomaterial. Based on these data, doctors differentiate between inflammatory and non-inflammatory types of pathology. Identification of signs of inflammation involves bacteriological culture. This technique makes it possible to determine the causative agent of the pathology that caused acute diarrhea. Occasionally, microbiological studies are ineffective. In this case, the patient is referred to hardware tests that are designed to establish the cause of the stool disorder.

Therapeutic measures

Treatment of diarrhea is based on relief of the main symptoms. Patients with stool disorders are prescribed a diet, eubiotics and adsorbents. The diet includes foods that reduce intestinal motility and reduce the secretion of fluid in it. Adults and children should temporarily avoid foods that can irritate the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and damage them.

Diarrhea is often accompanied by marked loss of fluid and electrolytes. Restoration of water balance is carried out through rehydration therapy. A mild degree of dehydration is eliminated by oral administration of saline solutions. Severe forms of pathology require parenteral rehydration. Intravenous infusion of saline solutions quickly normalizes the condition of patients.

The appointment of antibacterial drugs is appropriate when pathogenic bacteria are detected in the analyzes of children or adults. Oral medication continues until the complete disappearance of traces of infection from the biomaterials of patients.

Preventive measures

Preventing the development of acute diarrhea in an adult or child is relatively simple – it is enough to eliminate the main causes of pathogens entering the body. Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene remains a key element of prevention. Particular attention should be paid to the storage of perishable products. Meat, fish, unpasteurized milk and chicken eggs must be thoroughly cooked. Products in the refrigerator need regular revision – expired products must be disposed of. The same should be done with any purchases with damaged packaging.

Questions and answers

What are the features of the diarrhea diet?

Patients should drink water, light broths, tea. With the normalization of the condition (for 2-3 days), it is permissible to include steamed meat, mucous soups in the diet. Foods with a lot of fiber should be avoided. Food should be taken in small portions with an interval of 2-2.5 hours.

How to prevent the development of diarrhea in a child of preschool age?

Parents should have a preventive conversation with the kids and talk about the need to observe the rules of personal hygiene. The child should be aware of the dangers of eating unwashed vegetables and fruits, the main ways of transmitting viral and bacterial infections. You can consolidate the acquired knowledge in game situations. Parents can show their children how easy it is to follow all the rules by personal example.

Loose stools (diarrhea, diarrhoea) – MC “Academy of Your Health”

One of the most common, but at the same time dangerous symptoms of diseases that everyone has encountered and may encounter in life, is loose stools – diarrhea (diarrhea). This problem becomes especially relevant in the summer season.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea does not exist as an independent disease (although it is classified as a separate state according to the international classification of diseases and is the result of various changes in the body). In medical practice, loose stools are not yet diarrhea, and only loosening of stools more than 3 times a day for 3 days will be considered diarrhea. A chair up to 3 times a day is considered physiological.

Causes of diarrhea

Finding the cause on your own, without medical knowledge, can be very difficult:

1. Food poisoning. May occur due to eating expired or low-quality products.
2. Viral infection. It occurs after the rotavirus enters the body, which in turn activates the work of all functions to fight the infection.
3. Dysbacteriosis of the gastrointestinal tract. Its main cause is an unhealthy lifestyle, malnutrition, antibiotics.
4. Stressful condition. Prolonged physical activity, trouble at work, anxiety or fear can also cause diarrhea.

What to do about diarrhea?

Acute diarrhea is always dangerous. It is especially difficult in children under 1 year old and in the elderly – in the former due to the fact that part of the fluid in the body is greater than in adults and the loss of a small amount of fluid dramatically affects the state of the body. Older people have chronic diseases, so fluid loss can exacerbate their course. It is necessary to pay attention to other symptoms – fever, nausea or vomiting, localization and nature of abdominal pain, the presence of similar symptoms in others.

First of all, you should try to establish a relationship with food intake and start symptomatic treatment before going to the doctor:

• It is important to stop loose stools – for this purpose, drugs are used that protect the intestinal mucosa from exposure to toxins, absorb them and remove them. For this purpose, you can use drugs: “Smekta”, “Enterosgel”, “Atoxil” or activated carbon. These drugs are absolutely harmless, and can be used both in children and in pregnant or lactating women.
• To eliminate microorganisms that can cause liquid stools, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are used, such as nifuroxazide, rifaximin (Alfa Normix). These drugs are almost not absorbed into the blood and thus the risk of side effects is reduced to a minimum.