Wears all day. What to do if diarrhea does not go away for a week? Folk remedies for diarrhea

When a person is worried about diarrhea every day, this is an alarming symptom. Why can this phenomenon indicate a disease or internal pathology? Let's figure it out.

The specifics of the disease

Short-term diarrhea is something that everyone has experienced. In most cases, the causes of this disease lie in malnutrition.

For example, short-term diarrhea can be caused by overeating or long-term intake of high-calorie foods. But if this disease occurs in a chronic form, a person needs treatment.

Diarrhea is not a separate disease, even if it occurs in a chronic form.

If it occurs in an adult every day, this indicates that he may have problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. To cope with this problem, the patient needs to go to the hospital.

Factors that provoke daily diarrhea

To cope with this disease, it is necessary to determine the factors that provoke diarrhea. Main factors:

Long-term use of drugs. This is one of the most common causes of loose stools in adults. Intestinal upset can be triggered by taking laxatives. If a person treated constipation with laxatives and overdosed, they may develop diarrhea.
Frequent consumption of high fiber foods. Why does diarrhea occur? This ailment can be caused by the difficult process of digestion of food, which is rich in fiber.
Abrupt climate change. The causes of loose stools that occur every day may be associated with the inability of the body to quickly adapt to new climatic conditions. For example, if a person traveled to hot Mexico, and a few days later flew to the frosty Arctic, he is most likely to develop diarrhea.
Psycho-emotional shocks. No wonder people say that the causes of all diseases are related to the nerves. Why does diarrhea occur?

This ailment can proceed in a chronic form, that is, it can last every day until a person regains a state of psychological comfort.

The work of the digestive system is normalized after a person copes with stress and calms down.

These are not all the factors that provoke loose stools. If the problem arose against the background of these reasons, the person does not need therapy.

You can eliminate the problem with the intestines by eliminating the factor that provoked its appearance.

For example, if daily diarrhea is a consequence of long-term use of antibiotics, then the digestive process returns to normal after the patient stops taking them.

And if this disease appeared after a person’s flight to another continent, it is worth waiting a few days for the body to adapt to new climatic conditions.

Causes of diarrhea indicating illness

Now let's talk in more detail about all the possible causes that could provoke diarrhea that occurs in a person every day.

The causes of this disease may lie in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, one symptom of pancreatic disease may be frequent watery diarrhea. Also, this phenomenon is observed in various pathologies of the intestine.
Causes of daily diarrhea can also be related to a viral illness. An infectious agent enters the human stomach, leading to intestinal upset. If time does not begin to treat a viral disease, this can lead to the death of the patient.
Frequent loose stools can occur with irritable bowel syndrome.
Problems of the small and large intestines also provoke this problem.

If frequent bowel movements with liquid stools were provoked by one of these reasons, the patient should immediately begin treatment.

To do this, he needs to undergo a medical examination. After the doctor determines the cause of loose stools, he will prescribe the appropriate therapy to the patient.

irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common causes of daily diarrhea. The exact causes of this disease are unknown.

Symptoms of IBS:

Watery and frequent diarrhoea. Sometimes there is foam or mucus in the feces. The excreted feces resemble granules.
A person does not leave the feeling of complete emptying, even if the rectum is empty.
Sometimes diarrhea may alternate with constipation.
Pain in various parts of the abdomen. Sometimes the pain is localized in the center of the abdomen, and sometimes - below. A person does not leave a feeling of discomfort. The pain is relieved by defecation, which is accompanied by passing flatus.
The urge to defecate comes on suddenly. With irritable bowel syndrome, a person experiences strong imperative urges, especially in the morning.
Muscle pain. The patient may complain of body aches.
Frequent nausea.
Belching.
Fatigue. The patient may complain of weakness and complete lack of strength.
Drowsiness. The patient may complain of drowsiness even during hours of active wakefulness.
Irritable bladder syndrome.
Quick satiety after every meal.
Heartburn after every meal.

Patients who have irritable bowel syndrome cannot function normally in society. This ailment causes them a lot of discomfort, discomfort, becomes the cause of nerves.

The disease negatively affects not only health, but also the mood of a person. Because of the painful and unpleasant symptoms of IBS, a person becomes irritable and anxious.

Therefore, if, in addition to daily loose stools, the patient complains of other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, medical measures should be taken immediately.

Why Chronic Diarrhea Occurs

The reasons why diarrhea occurs daily are not always associated with diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

If loose stools are the result of a person’s wrong lifestyle, he will not have any other symptoms other than belching and occasional nausea.

One-time unformed bowel movements do not indicate any danger to human health, but if they occur daily, this is an occasion to think about your health.

So, why else can daily diarrhea occur?

Nutritional errors. Improper nutrition always leads to malfunctions and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. Failure to follow the rules of a healthy diet leads to impaired functioning of the digestive system and, as a result, to watery diarrhea.
Long-term consumption of high-calorie foods.
Eating a large number of vegetables that contribute to unformed stools. Diarrhea is frequent and watery.
Treatment of constipation with laxatives. It is important to always consult with your doctor before treating constipation with any laxative. In this case, the stools will be softened and watery.
Pregnancy. During pregnancy, diarrhea occurs frequently, especially in the last stages. Why does it arise? It's all about hormonal disruptions that happen to all pregnant women.

They also have loose stools due to the fact that the enlarged uterus presses on the intestines.

Also, pregnant girls may experience a false urge to defecate for the same reasons. The desire to empty the intestines does not leave them even if the intestines are completely empty.

Medical measures

To get rid of such a systematically occurring problem as loose stools, therapeutic measures should be taken.

It is necessary to normalize the consistency of feces. This can be done by taking appropriate medications. For example, Imodium is used to treat chronic diarrhea in adults.
If diarrhea is caused by a viral infection, only antibiotics can help cure it. You can not prescribe an antibiotic yourself, only a doctor can do this.
You should stop taking medicines that provoked diarrhea. Loose stools are one of the side effects of many medications. It is not recommended to treat any disease with the same medication for a long time, as this negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
If diarrhea is one of the allergy symptoms, the patient is prescribed a hypoallergenic diet. Sometimes an allergy occurs due to the ingestion of a contraindicated product. For example, some people are lactose intolerant.

If a person with this syndrome eats a dairy product that is contraindicated for him, he may have an allergic reaction, accompanied by watery diarrhea.

Diet

To get rid of prolonged diarrhea, you must follow a therapeutic diet. So, in order for the body to cope with this problem as efficiently as possible, the patient needs to be guided by these recommendations:

Diarrhea leads to dehydration. To avoid this, you should replenish the fluid supply in a timely manner. After each act of defecation, a person should drink at least one glass of water. It is advisable to drink mineral water without gas.
Also, teas, juices, fruits and broths will help to replenish the balance of fluid in the body. It is not recommended to drink coffee and other drinks that contain caffeine.
During a therapeutic diet, you should refrain from alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol will only aggravate the patient's condition.
The therapeutic diet should include eating foods rich in pectin. We are talking about products such as yogurt (preferably low-fat), apples, bananas, etc. Thanks to the pectin contained in these products, digestion quickly normalizes and diarrhea disappears.
Also, a therapeutic diet should include the use of foods that include potassium. This substance is found in bananas, potatoes cooked in their skins, fruit nectars, etc. Foods rich in potassium should be eaten because diarrhea helps to remove this substance from the body.
All dishes must be salted. Why? Salt helps retain fluid in the body, which prevents dehydration. You need to add salt to broths, vegetables, steam cutlets and other dishes and products.
To prevent fatigue and feelings of drowsiness, you need to eat foods rich in protein. The patient should eat fried beef, hard-boiled eggs, chicken meat, turkey, etc.
Fruits and vegetables are recommended to be eaten only after hot processing. Why? The fact is that some vegetables and fruits increase the acidity of the stomach. In such an environment, bacteria multiply that prevent the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract.

The main rule of a therapeutic diet is to avoid eating foods and dishes that are difficult for the stomach to digest.

Useful video

Frequent, loose stools that pass more than 3 times a day can be cause for concern. Regular loose stools, but not diarrhea, in an adult are usually a sign of disease, especially if there is blood, mucus or fat in it. In such a situation, you should abandon home treatment and consult a doctor as soon as possible. Check what diseases the above symptoms can indicate, what are the reasons for frequent urination.

Causes of loose stools

Loose stools for a long time may be accompanied by chronic diarrhea. In this case, free (semi-liquid) impurities of large volume are observed, containing traces of blood, pus or mucus, they occur more often than 3 times a day.

A characteristic feature is the constant feeling of the need to defecate. Such a disease can alternate and be a symptom of many serious diseases.

A factor in the development of loose stools in the morning and after each meal can be a disease:

Irritable bowel syndrome.

This is a chronic disease - its symptoms can persist throughout life. The presence of blood is rarely observed, and there is also unexplained weight loss (despite the use of a balanced diet) and a feeling of fatigue. Often the need to defecate appears at night.

Colon cancer.

During the disease, changes occur within the cells of the colon mucosa. A loose stool appears, which may contain an admixture of blood (as a result of bleeding from the tumor). Often the only symptom of developing cancer is a change in the rhythm of the stool: diarrhea and constipation. It is worth knowing that the symptoms of rectal cancer are diverse and depend on the location of the tumor.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

The disease is a chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the rectum or colon. Its symptom is, in particular, frequent urges, which look like loose sediments mixed with blood. The disease is very dangerous, because its complications can be liver failure, colon perforation and even cancer.

Crohn's disease.

This is an inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown etiology that leads to destruction of the intestinal wall. The inflammatory process initially includes the mucous membrane, eventually occupying all layers of the colon wall. Symptoms of the disease are often loose stools, weight loss and changes in the membrane (ulcers, abscesses, fistulas).

celiac disease

Celiac disease is an inflammatory disease of the small intestine, the essence of which is gluten intolerance. In people who struggle with this type of malabsorption, inflammation occurs as a result of exposure to gluten supplements. The consequence is slow damage to the mucosa of the small intestine. A characteristic symptom of the disease is loose, pale, admixture with a strong pungent odor. It is excreted from the body in a large volume of loose stools.

Hyperthyroidism.

Excessive production of thyroid hormones causes an acceleration of the patient's metabolism, resulting in frequent urination, diarrhea. At the same time, there is a decrease in body weight, despite the fact that the patient's appetite does not decrease.

Typhoid fever.

This is a disease that can be contracted during a stay in tropical countries. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella. In the first week, fever and abdominal pain appear. In the second, severe headaches and a dry cough are observed. Only in the third week does loose stool appear.

Cystic fibrosis.

Urination freely, strong diarrhea immediately after eating with a strong smell is one of the characteristic symptoms of this disease. From the gastrointestinal tract, other symptoms also appear: an increase in the volume of the abdomen and blockage of the salivary glands with thick, viscous mucus.

Other causes of frequent diarrhea and dysbacteriosis:

medication — Many drugs, such as diabetes pills, laxatives, or hydrochloric acid antacids, can cause loose stools as an unwanted side effect of taking them. If there is a suspicion that medications are the cause of diarrhea, they should be stopped and consult a doctor. Antibacterial drugs often cause dysbacteriosis;
the use of large quantities of a sugar substitute (sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol).

Chronic diarrhea is a symptom of an illness that lasts more than 14 days. During this period, the patient gives more than 3 liters of fluid during the day. There can be many reasons, ranging from food allergies to life-threatening diseases.

What to do with loose stools in an adult

Some patients start the disease. Diarrhea can last for more than a year. In this case, there is a high risk of dehydration. With loose stools for a long time, it is important to conduct a comprehensive examination to eliminate the risk of developing a dangerous disease.

At the first symptoms and often recurring diarrhea, it is important to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Medicines such as:

Smekta.
Enterosgel.
Enterofuril.
Activated charcoal.
Imodium.
StopDiar.

The doctor may prescribe probiotics to improve internal intestinal motility (Linex, Bifidumbacterin).

If loose stools are accompanied by vomiting, then the cause of this may be a rotavirus infection or. Enterofuril tablets can help to cope with a bacterial lesion. They have antibacterial and healing properties.

Soft stools after each meal are more likely to develop dehydration. Be sure to drink sweet tea or salted water in small portions. There is a special drug Regidron, which helps to cope with dehydration with rapidly developing diarrhea.

If an adult has loose stools, but not diarrhea, which bothers you for a long time, then you should definitely undergo an examination. It will help identify triggers. You should not self-medicate. After all, the disease can lead to intoxication of the body, significant weight loss and appetite.

With diarrhea, or diarrhea, faced by everyone, even a healthy person. There are a huge number of reasons for its appearance, starting with foods that are incompatible with each other and ending with very serious infections.

In this article, we will not consider severe infections accompanied by excruciating diarrhea, such as cholera and others. This is a separate issue.

Watery diarrhea

Watery diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is involved in the pathological process. This may be a situation where food poisoning has occurred or in case of acute intestinal infections.

Sometimes the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines can be quite small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but the products of their vital activity, the toxins that they secrete.

In the cold season, watery stools are sometimes due to a number of viruses that are active in winter. These are the so-called rotavirus infections, which are very easy to catch.

Why is water diarrhea dangerous?

Diarrhea can be conditionally divided into watery stools without pathological impurities, such as blood, and blood-streaked diarrhea. If blood appears in the discharge from the intestine, this is a signal to seek medical help, because. the causes of such a symptom can be very serious: intestinal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding, or a serious bacterial infection. All these conditions can threaten the life of the patient. But this also needs to be discussed separately.

So, if there is water diarrhea in an adult, treatment should be immediate. It should be noted that with watery stools there is a large loss of water, and if this process is also accompanied by vomiting, then we can talk about dehydration, and it can come very quickly if emergency measures are not taken.

The human body normally contains about 85-90% water. More precisely, the brain, muscles and heart contain approximately 76% fluid, blood - 84%, and only the human skeleton consists of 15-20% water. From this you can understand how important water is for a person. Each cell of our body consists of water, and with a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, with diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals are released, which are so necessary for the body.

For a small child, the loss of 10% of body weight with watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then the loss of 500 ml of fluid for him will be fatal. For adults, losing 10% of their body weight in a short time is more problematic, because. their weight is much greater, so they have time to make a decision. Dehydration (dehydration) is most dangerous for children and the elderly. Diarrhea in an adult - what to do? Of course, treat.

Diarrhea is not a diagnosis, but a symptom. To select the correct treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if loose stools in an adult happen 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life, anyway, over time (if it lasts for several days), the body will be severely depleted, and the water-salt balance will be disturbed. Recovery will take much more time than the illness lasted. If diarrhea is watery in an adult, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a kind of protective reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. Thus, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and conducts its detoxification. But if this condition does not go away within a few hours, help is needed. Especially if there is a temperature and in this case it is necessary. Hyperthermia (fever) may indicate a general intoxication of the body. Such a state requires an appropriate attitude. You can't let everything go by itself. Some people think that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea should still be treated if it lasts more than one day. So you can save the body from serious consequences.

If the patient complains of diarrhea, abdominal pain, treatment is also necessary. Pain is a serious symptom that may indicate a serious illness, such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, gallstones, or appendicitis. If there is pain during diarrhea, then you need to see a doctor. In some of these situations, surgical assistance is needed.

There are other causes of diarrhea:

dyspeptic - this is the most common cause of diarrhea, it may occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, malfunction of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of the food consumed;
infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebas and food toxins;
alimentary is an allergic reaction to food;
toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
medication - caused by side effects of medications, for example, some antibiotics in the intestine kill not only the pathogenic flora, but also the beneficial one, thereby causing diarrhea;
neurogenic - can be caused by strong feelings or fear, such diarrhea is also called "bear disease".

Patients tolerate diarrhea in different ways, it depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. So, for example, loose stools in some people 2-3 times a day cause weakness and poor health, while in others, diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negative consequences.

If diarrhea lasts for a short time, it usually does not cause negative consequences and passes without much harm to health. If diarrhea continues for a long time and is accompanied by bloating, rumbling, false urge to defecate (tenesmus), nausea, vomiting, heartburn and causes severe weakness (exhaustion of the body), then this condition requires emergency medical care. It is not uncommon for patients with these symptoms to be hospitalized.

With any nature of diarrhea, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of fluid. Compliance with the drinking regimen can protect against negative consequences and support the patient's body in good shape.

It is better to drink mineral water without gas content in it, it will help maintain the water-salt balance. If there is prolonged water diarrhea in an adult, treatment is necessary. If home treatment does not help, and diarrhea does not go away within a few days, this is a serious reason to seek help from a medical institution. If severe diarrhea develops, the doctor will determine the causes and treatment.

Diet for diarrhea

Sparing, regardless of the reasons that caused it, is necessary. Until the condition improves and the symptoms of intoxication disappear, you need to follow a diet.

The following products are allowed:

porridge on the water;
jelly;
lean boiled or steamed meat;
steam cutlets;
boiled or steamed fish.

Prohibited Products:

fatty foods;
fried foods;
sweets;
spicy dishes;
pickled foods;
any canned food;
carbonated drinks;
coffee;
too strong tea;
any alcohol.

After the disappearance of diarrhea and the improvement of the diet, you need to adhere to a few more days, at least for a week. By gradually adding other previously prohibited foods to the diet, the weakened body is prepared for the usual diet. You can't go back to your normal diet right away. A sharp return to the menu of the wrong dish can upset the balance that is fragile and unstable after illness.

Diarrhea: causes and treatment

The treatment for diarrhea depends on the underlying cause. What drugs are most effective for diarrhea? We will talk about this in this section.

First of all, any diarrhea should not be treated with antibiotics. This is done only in severe cases, for example, if the cause that caused the pathological process really poses a serious danger. This applies to diseases such as salmonellosis or cholera. In this case, the patient must be hospitalized, and he will undergo further treatment under the strict supervision of doctors. If there is water diarrhea in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring the water-salt balance. For these purposes, solutions such as Regidron or Oralit are suitable, you can also drink mineral water without gas.

Solutions are taken after each stool for half a cup. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these drugs within 12 hours.

Medicines for diarrhea

Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. In the treatment of diarrhea, a number of measures should be taken into account. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against. Consider the drugs for diarrhea in adults, which are used most often.

All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:

sulfanilamide preparations ("Ftalazol");
antibiotics (tablets "Levomycetin", "Tetracycline");
nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
antimicrobials ("Enterofuril", "Sulgin");
antifungal (Intetrix) - used for;
enterosorbents (activated carbon);
antiviral drugs.

Consider the most famous in adults. In which case is it advisable to take this or that drug?

activated charcoal for diarrhea

What to give from diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with activated charcoal. Sometimes this is enough. These tablets for diarrhea in adults (and children) are not absorbed in the intestines.

Activated charcoal is taken at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of the patient's weight. So, if the patient weighs 60 kg, then, accordingly, he should take 6 tablets and drink plenty of water.

Activated charcoal absorbs all harmful toxins, bacteria and viruses, and also binds water and covers the intestinal wall with a protective layer. After that, it is excreted naturally. It should be noted that after taking the tablets of this drug, the stool will be black. This is not something to be afraid of. If diarrhea occurred due to poor-quality products, then activated charcoal in most cases is sufficient for treatment.

The drug "Ftalazol" from diarrhea

This group is most appropriate to take with infectious types of diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the drug "Ftalazol" with allergic types of diarrhea and ordinary indigestion will be ineffective. Its effect is noticeable only on day 2-3, when the growth of pathogenic microflora under the action of the drug will be stopped.

Means "Imodium" for diarrhea

The drug "Imodium" (its other name is "Suprelol", "Lopedium" and "Loperamide") begins its action within the first 40-60 minutes. This drug is effective in diarrhea caused by poor-quality products, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and in the initial stages of infectious diarrhea. It helps a lot with frequent urge to vomit. This drug is convenient to take with you on the road. Diarrhea is a common travel companion.

Treatment with Loperamide and Simethicone

This is a new generation drug, it is a combined remedy for diarrhea "Imodium plus" and includes the so-called defoamer - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to him, spastic pains and a feeling of fullness of the intestine disappear. These are chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. It is not recommended to give them to children under the age of 12.

natural remedies for diarrhea

This includes drugs such as "Smekta" and "Kaopectat". These drugs are used for those caused by rotavirus infections. It should be noted that the drug "Kaopektat" is contraindicated in childhood.

These drugs belong to the group of enterosorbents, they gradually reduce the frequency of going to the toilet, and also relieve bloating and rumbling in the abdomen.

Tablets "Lineks" from diarrhea

This remedy contains beneficial microflora and has a positive effect on the entire gastrointestinal tract. It includes 3 types of positive microflora:

lactobacilli - positively affect the functioning of the small intestine;
enterococci - have a similar effect and help the small intestine to function properly;
bifidobacteria - actively work in the large intestine.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Traditional medicine knows many ways to treat such an ailment as diarrhea. Folk remedies for treating diarrhea have been tested for centuries.

A decoction of pomegranate peels is considered an effective remedy for intestinal disorders. To prepare the medicine, you need to take a well-washed peel of one fruit and pour a glass of cold water. Boil on low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours for 2 tbsp. spoons.
Alternative treatment of diarrhea involves the use of rice water. Taking this remedy every 20-30 minutes for 3-4 hours will relieve bloating and stop diarrhea.
Wormwood will help to cope with diarrhea. But with this tool you need to be careful: do not exceed the dosage and do not use for too long. To prepare the medicine, 1 teaspoon of dry grass should be poured with one glass of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcohol infusion of walnut partitions has long been known. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops each), otherwise it may provoke a backlash - constipation. As soon as the number of trips to the toilet decreases, you need to reduce the dosage to 2-3 drops. It is clear that only adults can use alcohol tinctures inside for treatment. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ground walnut partitions and pour one glass of vodka. Insist in the dark for 5-7 days. This remedy is prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to always have this medicine on hand for those who are prone to frequent bowel disorders.

Conclusion

With such an ailment as diarrhea, folk remedies can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you can’t cope with the intestinal disorder on your own, and besides, pain or fever joins, in this case you need to seek medical help. This is especially true for elderly citizens, because. they become dehydrated much earlier than young people in their prime.

Everyone has experienced diarrhea. This condition, which is expressed in frequent loose stools, brings a lot of anxiety. And under certain circumstances, it can cause significant harm to the body.

The main causes of diarrhea are food poisoning, infectious diseases, an ill-conceived diet, uncontrolled medication, nervous disorders, helminthic invasion, and intestinal dysbiosis.

Diarrhea indicates indigestion.

Before identifying the causes of diarrhea, one must learn to identify the disorder that has really begun in.

After all, the number of bowel movements is a fairly average indicator. For some, 2 times a day is already a lot, but for others, 4 bowel movements is a common occurrence.

A fairly wide variation is also characteristic of the consistency of feces. Sometimes the secretions are solid, have a decorated appearance. But the consistency of thick sour cream is also not in itself a sign of violations.

Therefore, they look not so much at the quantity and quality characteristics, but at the familiarity of these phenomena. If a liquid consistency in the stool is observed for several months, while it does not affect the general condition in any way, then this is the norm. This is how the body works.

If a person tracks the features of his stool, he will quickly be able to identify diarrhea by its characteristic smell. The presence of impurities in the stool is another sign of what has begun. Impurities in the stool of a healthy person should be absent.

Important! The onset of diarrhea is determined by the increased number of bowel movements, by the appearance of the watery nature of the feces and impurities in them. The general nature of bowel movements should be fundamentally different from the usual.

The main reason for the onset of diarrhea is a malfunction in the digestive tract, as a result of which all digestion processes are accelerated to an unacceptable level. As a result, undigested food, along with a large amount of undigested fluid, comes out.

This not only leads to liquefaction of feces, but also to an increase in the number of bowel movements. starts to malfunction in the following situations:

penetration of rotavirus / enterovirus / adenovirus / bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract;
salmonellosis;
food poisoning;
herpes viruses in the digestive organs;
escherichiosis;
lack of enzymes;
pancreatitis;
, Whipple;
diverticulitis;
rheumatoid arthritis;
allergic manifestations;
chemical poisoning;
treatment with antibiotics, cytostatics, anticholinesterase agents and prokinetics;
drug overdose;
bleeding in the intestines.

For the causes of diarrhea, see the video:

Since the most common pathogens of intestinal diseases enter the body through food, drinking water, it is necessary to maintain strict control over everything that enters the table.

Often, infection occurs during tours, when a person is faced with many bacteria that are unusual for the body. Due to the high frequency of diarrhea among lovers of tropical countries, the concept of “tourist diarrhea” has been introduced into practice.

Since digestion depends both on the state of the internal organs and on many external factors, any negative impact on this system from the outside or from the inside can lead to diarrhea.

Therefore, the appearance of mucus, other special inclusions, an increase in the amount of defecation can signal the presence of a certain pathology in the body. For effective treatment, one must learn to distinguish between diarrhea caused by food poisoning, stress, and other factors.

If diarrhea is caused by taking certain medications, it should be treated with special attention. After all, such a condition is considered very dangerous, capable of developing into a serious condition and even provoke death.

Such a development of events is possible with prolonged use. First, this leads to dysbacteriosis, and then to pseudomembranous colitis. This disease is accompanied by diarrhea, which is difficult to stop, and sometimes simply impossible.

Diarrhea caused by a viral or bacterial infection is also dangerous, but with timely adequate treatment, the condition quickly returns to normal. With the help of medications, the body can quickly overcome the disease, because any viruses, bacteria, are part of nature, like the human body. But if the diarrhea started due to toxins, it is much more difficult to regulate the situation.

The mechanisms for the development of diarrhea depend on the causes that provoked this condition. Pathogenetic mechanisms correspond to the reasons due to which diarrhea began. At the same time, it should be taken into account that only one mechanism for the development of a pathological condition rarely operates. Usually there is a combination of several models, among which one mechanism is dominant.

Varieties of diarrhea

Diarrhea is divided into several varieties.

In accordance with the causes and mechanism of development, several types of diarrhea are distinguished:

Infectious. This variety develops as a result of the penetration into the body of a dangerous infection that can cause disease. These diseases include salmonellosis, others. The cause may be other infections that have entered the body with food.
Alimentary. It becomes a consequence of allergic manifestations, as well as an incorrectly composed diet.
Dyspeptic. This species develops with insufficient intake of enzymes, bile into the intestines, with a lack of gastric juice. As a result, the food bolus cannot be digested normally.
Toxic. It occurs after poisoning with mercury, other chemicals.
Medical. This is a consequence of the use of drugs that have a detrimental effect on the intestinal flora.
Neurogenic. can develop under the influence of factors that irritate the nervous system. Excessive excitement, stress often become a provoking factor in the disruption of the digestive system.

If diarrhea lasts for a short time, it will not have any significant effect on the person. But if the trouble drags on, we can expect dehydration, hypovitaminosis, changes in the functioning of internal organs.

Symptoms

Diarrhea may cause pain in the abdomen.

With diarrhea, almost all patients present the same complaints. However, each type of diarrhea has its own unique symptoms.

For the correct diagnosis, all symptoms are taken into account, as well as laboratory diagnostic data. Signs to watch out for include the following:

Body temperature. If it is elevated, most likely the problem is a viral or bacterial infection. After all, getting into the body, foreign immune cells lead to an acceleration in the production of antibodies, because of this. However, fever with diarrhea is a common occurrence.
, vomit. Diarrhea is often accompanied by nausea. These are practically 2 inseparable phenomena. This fact is explained by the impossibility of the food bolus to move normally along the digestive tract. Fragments of food are thrown back, causing vomiting. The second cause of nausea is considered to be intoxication of the body. Toxins, getting into the blood, quickly spread throughout the body, causing systemic disorders. The vomiting center in its own way reacts to the spread of toxins, signaling the need for the development of vomiting as one of the cleaning methods. Thus, nausea, vomiting is the result of improper functioning of the digestive organs and the desire of the brain to protect the body from toxins.
. Soreness in the abdomen has several causes. Firstly, the acceleration of motor skills is accompanied by a pain factor that occurs due to spasms. Attacks of pain may increase and decrease. The pains become more intense before the moment of defecation, and after it subside for a while.

This condition most often develops with food poisoning and when an infection enters the body.

Other types of diarrhea cause heaviness in the abdomen, discomfort, and spasmodic pain, as a rule, is absent.

Color of feces

The color of feces can tell a lot about a person's health. If diarrhea begins, then the color takes on a special meaning. If an experienced doctor looks at the color of the feces during diarrhea, he can put quite.

Green color

Feces may vary in color.

Greenness in the stool, like the green color of the entire stool, indicates the presence of an infection. It can be both viruses and bacteria.

This color is a consequence of the presence of leukocytes and pyogenic coccal flora in the feces. The pathogenic flora in the weakened intestine multiplies rapidly and gives the feces a green tint.

Greens usually show up in liquid stools as mucus that is mixed with stools and coats the top of the stool.

Such diarrhea without high fever is rare. Usually the thermometer readings are elevated. The condition is characterized by pain, nausea,. The changes taking place in the body are reflected in the state of the blood, the KLA will show signs of inflammation, intoxication.

Yellow

This color indicates a relatively normal condition. The most common cause of yellow diarrhea is the acceleration of intestinal motility.

However, even at an increased speed, much of what the body needs can be absorbed normally. True, such fecal masses cannot take shape, they simply do not have enough time. As minor pains of a cutting nature, heaviness in the lower abdomen can be observed.

Black color

Black stool can indicate a serious illness.

Blackness in feces does not appear by chance, this color can be a messenger of life-threatening conditions.

But before you think about the bad, you should analyze your diet.

Some foods, such as beets or blueberries, can give blackness. The reception will also not be asymptomatic, the feces will turn black. The same consequences for taking de-nol, vikalin and similar drugs.

Deep black color appears due to internal bleeding. Gastric bleeding is accompanied by erythrocyte hemoglobin, which is unstable to gastric juice. The formation of hydrochloric hematin at the same time gives black feces, resembling tar in color.

This condition is extremely dangerous, therefore, when black diarrhea appears, an emergency call should be called immediately. The hospital should do tests, and also see if hemodynamic parameters are lowered.

White color (light shades)

Light diarrhea is also an alarming indicator. It appears practically only with the defeat of the bile streams, as a result of which the food bolus loses the ability to receive bile processing at a normal level.

Therefore, white diarrhea is a signal of the presence or neoplasm in the bile ducts. As an additional sign of one of the above diagnoses, you can use dark urine, yellowness of the skin.

The temperature in this condition rarely rises, pain is not felt.

Presence of blood in diarrhea

If streaks of blood are visible in the feces, it means that the integrity of the intestinal wall is broken. This may be the result of mucosal damage or destruction.

This condition is characteristic of serious toxic lesions. If the blood comes from the area located in the upper part of the large intestine, then the blood will not appear as separate inclusions, but will simply give the feces a cherry tint.

Mucus for diarrhea

The presence of mucus in the feces is not considered a pathological sign. To determine the state, you need to look at its color. Clear mucus is a variant of the norm.

But green, yellow, brown, bloody - this is already a clear symptom of a serious condition. The reason for it can be both simple and the effect of a severe infection.

If, despite the treatment, the mucus persists, then the medicines are chosen incorrectly, there is no effect from the therapy. This is a sure signal to change the measures to counteract this condition.

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Who doesn't know from TV commercials what to do when adult diarrhea occurs? Drink a "magic" pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such a “treatment” at best will not help, and at worst it will harm. Firstly, drugs for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce, and secondly, the use of such drugs is contraindicated in a number of diseases. What to do when tormented by loose stools?

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract or in the body as a whole. Therefore, it is impossible to cure diarrhea without knowing what causes it. Diarrhea is the discharge of liquid stools both once and with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation passes in 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, more than 21 days - chronic.

In the normal state, the body of a healthy adult excretes 100-300 g of formed feces daily or at other intervals that are comfortable for a particular gastrointestinal tract. Liquefaction and accelerated evacuation of the stool occur due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, feces are 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

violations of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces, it is excreted often, but in small portions;
if the problem is in the absorption of substances by the intestinal wall, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to the mass of undigested food.

The main causes of loose stools in adults:

Such diarrhea usually resolves in 3-4 days, and the sick person is likely to be able to associate the onset of diarrhea with previous events.

However, the causes of diarrhea in an adult can be more serious:

infection with bacteria, viruses, protozoa (dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu);
inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, hepatitis, ulcers);
functional insufficiency of organs (deficiency of certain enzymes);
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of unclear etiology (Crohn's disease);
toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough just to stop diarrhea: it is necessary to establish a diagnosis and conduct qualified treatment, often in a hospital. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when, in addition to loose stools, spastic abdominal pain and dyspeptic symptoms (seething, bloating,) can be observed.

In the case of food poisoning, pain is accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and the temperature may rise. Similar signs are accompanied by intestinal infections and viral diseases.

Warning signs that require an immediate response are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, chapped lips, intense thirst, rare urination, dark urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition is very dangerous: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do with diarrhea in an adult - first aid

In order to prevent dehydration, the water and salts lost by the body must be compensated by drinking plenty of water: it is best to take rehydrating solutions (Rehydron and analogues), in their absence, you can drink saline, salted water, chamomile tea. Prevention of dehydration should be started as soon as it becomes clear that loose stools are not an isolated case.

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and persistent, has been going on for several days, accompanied by vomiting. It is necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the feces. It can appear with dysentery, ulcerative colitis,.

Depending on the established diagnosis, the doctor will select a specific treatment, but there are general rules that must be observed in any case of diarrhea. This is diet food, taking adsorbing drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in adults

The nature of the diet obviously affects bowel movements. Many products have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and they should be forgotten with diarrhea until complete recovery. These are spices, raw vegetables, plums and other laxatives.

Some foods have a fixing effect, so in the first few days of the diet, you need to limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

wheat bread croutons;
vegetable purees;
mucous porridges;
pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steam, boiled);
tea, blueberry jelly, decoction of bird cherry fruits, rice broth.

You can start the diet from a "hungry" day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

If diarrhea is caused by lactose, gluten intolerance, then diet is the main, and often the only, factor in treatment. In these diseases, therapeutic nutrition is prescribed, which completely excludes products containing milk sugar and cereal protein gluten.

The diet is important: you need to eat often (every 3 hours) and in small portions.

The diet must be followed throughout the treatment and beyond, but after the first "hard" days, you can remove the restrictions and expand the diet, adhering to the following principles:

Thus, we list the products under the ban:

any fried meat;
offal;
saturated broths;
fatty fish cooked in any way, and lean if it is fried, canned, smoked;
milk, high-fat cream;
scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs;
cabbage in any form, beets, spicy root vegetables, turnips, radishes, cucumbers;
canned vegetables;
mushrooms;
sour berries and fruits;
pastries and bread;
carbonated drinks, kvass, cold drinks.

What then can you eat with diarrhea in adults? Here is an approximate list of dishes from which it is recommended to make a diet menu:

steam cutlets from minced meat, meat puree (can be from "children's" jars), soufflé;
boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish meatballs, steamed cutlets;
cereals boiled in water, you can add a little milk, a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
rice pudding;
puree soups on vegetable or weak meat broth;
boiled pasta;
fermented milk drinks;
fresh cottage cheese;
omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
boiled, baked or mashed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
baked fruits, in compote, some fresh strawberries;
jelly and mousses from berries and fruits;
crackers from white bread, drying, biscuits like "Maria";
water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

In addition to diet, it is important to organize the correct drinking regimen. The fluid entering the body should be several liters in volume in order to fully compensate for the loss of water with diarrhea.

Since trace elements are washed out with loose stools, plain water is not very suitable for drinking. It is better to take glucose-salt drinks, which will replenish the loss of electrolytes, maintain normal blood sugar levels, besides, salt contributes to fluid retention in the body.

There are special preparations for the preparation of rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but in their absence, you can prepare the liquid with your own hands by diluting it in a liter of water:

Instead of potassium chloride, you can pour a decoction of dried apricots, freshly squeezed orange juice into the solution. You need to drink in small portions, but constantly throughout the day.

Medications to treat diarrhea in an adult

As an important piece of advice, it should be noted that diarrhea in an adult that has not gone away in 3 days is a reason to see a doctor. Chronic diarrhea can indicate the presence of serious diseases, it even happens with some forms of cancer.

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature during diarrhea rises above 38, signs uncharacteristic of indigestion or poisoning appear: rash, yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, sleep disturbances. Constant excruciating pain in the abdomen should not be the norm (spastic pain before and during defecation is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or clotted (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate the criticality of the situation: an ambulance must be called urgently.