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Infectious genesis. Causes and quick ways to treat diarrhea in adults

So, diarrhea of infectious origin develops according to two algorithms:

infection entering the gastrointestinal tract from the outside;
an increase in the concentration of pathogens due to disruption of the normal balance of microflora.

Most often, doctors have to deal with the second case. A healthy person always has a certain number of different bacteria in the digestive tract. Conventionally, they are usually divided into useful (which contribute to normal digestion of food) and harmful. The concentration of the latter is always low due to the fact that there are significantly more beneficial bacteria. They simply suppress the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Naturally, the balance is upset under certain factors. This may be due to taking certain medications (for example, narrow-spectrum antibiotics), or a weakened immune system, or eating low-quality foods (for example, those that increase the acidity of gastric juice to a critical level).

But infectious diarrhea can also develop due to the entry into the gastrointestinal tract of those bacteria that are completely absent in the digestive tract of a healthy person. Their presence there is already a pathology. These microorganisms include E. coli, staphylococci, mold, and so on. However, the gastrointestinal tract cavity is a positive environment for reproduction for them. How do they enter the human body? Mainly through the consumption of spoiled foods. A similar situation will occur, for example, if someone ignores the rules of hygiene and simply does not wash their hands before eating. This type of diarrhea is more dangerous, as it can cause not only diarrhea, but also other dangerous diseases. For example, the diphtheria bacillus can be completely fatal if it is not detected in a timely manner. The same applies to botulism - one of the most dangerous bacteria that can enter the body with food.

Doctors also classify infectious diarrhea as a separate category, in which the bacteria themselves do not enter the cavity of the digestive tract. But the toxins they release are eventually absorbed in the intestines. The simplest example is infection with influenza or sore throat. The infection does not affect the digestive tract, but the poisons that they secrete during their life processes can actually be found in the intestines. And after this, the body reflexively causes diarrhea in order to get rid of toxins as quickly as possible. But diarrhea, in fact, in this case is caused precisely by infection.

Symptoms of infectious diarrhea

In almost all cases, infectious diarrhea is accompanied by an excessively high temperature, reaching up to 40 degrees. At the same time, the patient may experience severe bouts of vomiting, including blood (this is rare). This is often accompanied by muscle cramps, pale skin, and sudden loss of appetite and weight. In fact, these are signs of severe poisoning, since such a reaction will also occur to a high concentration of toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. The only difference is that very high temperature.

The patient may also experience severe thirst. Moreover, even drinking a large amount of water does not quench it. This indicates dehydration, that is, a salt imbalance in the body. That is why thirst in this state can only be quenched with special solutions, such as “Regidron” and its derivatives. Under no circumstances should you refuse to drink, so as not to provoke dehydration. In critical cases it can be fatal. Saline solutions should be given even if the patient often has the urge to vomit.

With severe infectious diarrhea, the patient may also fall into a coma or lose consciousness. Accordingly, there is no way to get by without medical help. It is better to immediately call an ambulance when the first symptoms of infectious diarrhea occur. Such diarrhea is especially dangerous for young children, whose natural resistance of the immune system to pathogenic bacteria is still quite weak.

First aid for infectious diarrhea

With infectious diarrhea, the main thing is to reduce the concentration of those same toxins synthesized by pathogenic bacteria as quickly as possible. Accordingly, the first thing the patient should do is give Enterosgel or Activated Carbon (at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of human body weight). Naturally, all this is done after calling a doctor.

If the temperature is very high, the patient should also be given an antipyretic. It is recommended to do this only if the temperature has exceeded 39 degrees. Until this moment, there is no point in “interfering” with the body’s fight against infection. For example, a strong immune system can cope with E. coli on its own. If you give an antipyretic at a temperature just above 37 degrees, this will only slow down the release of immune cells.

Until the doctors arrive, the patient should be given as much to drink as possible. Even better is to make a saline solution. How to use Regidron? The contents of 1 sachet are dissolved in 1 liter of boiled, chilled water. It should be taken at the rate of 10 milliliters per kilogram of human body weight per hour. That is, for a patient weighing 70 kilograms, 700 milliliters of solution should be drunk within an hour. You should drink it until the signs of dehydration disappear. Afterwards, the dosage is reduced to 5 milliliters per kilogram of live weight per hour. During this time, the patient’s body temperature should be monitored. It is better to take measurements every 60 minutes and write down the data in a notebook - doctors will then need this information to make a more accurate diagnosis.

If the patient vomits, then after that, Regidron is repeated. If the vomiting does not stop, then you cannot do without qualified help. You just need to make sure that the patient does not choke on his own vomit, that is, put his head on the side (if he is unconscious).

Treatment in a clinic setting

Infectious diarrhea is treated initially symptomatically in a hospital setting. The patient is usually given droppers of Reosorbilact, Sodium Chloride, Glucose (all intravenously). This will reduce the concentration of toxins, and at the same time provide the body with energy (if the victim cannot eat on his own or immediately has an attack of vomiting). Subsequently, the patient undergoes blood, urine and stool tests to determine the exact type of infection that caused the diarrhea. If necessary, he will also be prescribed antibiotics (intravenously, intramuscularly or orally), immunomodulators (if diarrhea develops during chemotherapy, for example), and vitamin complexes. All this time he is also given as much to drink or saline solutions as possible.

How long does treatment last? For each patient it is purely individual. But the cessation of loose stools and improvement in well-being do not always indicate a complete recovery. Therapy is usually continued for at least 5–7 days from the onset of the first symptoms of infectious diarrhea. Monitoring his condition is carried out only by taking tests.

Subsequently, after discharge from the hospital, the patient is prescribed a strict diet aimed at normalizing the balance of microflora and strengthening the natural protection of the digestive tract from infection.

Diet for infectious diarrhea

Doctors recommend following a diet after treatment for at least 7 days. Its main purpose is to reduce the load on the digestive tract and restore the balance of beneficial bacteria and lactobacilli. For this purpose, probiotics may also be prescribed (for example, Bifidumbacterin in the form of a solution for oral use).

The following should be temporarily excluded from the diet:

fried;
fatty meat;
salted, peppered;
sweet baked goods;
fatty fermented milk products;
fresh vegetables and fruits;
raisins, nuts;
fruit or vegetable juices;
chocolate and other sweets;
alcohol;
legumes

But various kinds of homemade starters and yoghurts will be useful, but always prepared from low-fat pasteurized milk. Their intake is allowed only if the fermentation of gastric juice is normal and there are no diseases associated with the functioning of the pancreas.

As for infants, during the period of treatment they are allowed to eat only mother’s milk and special dairy-free formulas (hypoallergenic). Unfortunately, most of the nutrients will have to be introduced into the body through an IV. Otherwise, there is a high probability of dehydration, which is extremely dangerous for babies under one year old.

You should also include boiled vegetables and fruits, rice and buckwheat porridge, and soft-boiled quail eggs in your diet (to eliminate the possibility of salmonellosis infection). Also, for the purpose of prevention, the patient may be prescribed a single dose of activated carbon per day at the rate of 1 tablet per 15 kilograms of live weight. This will eliminate residual intoxication, especially if broad-spectrum antibiotics were used during treatment.

In summary, infectious diarrhea is the same diarrhea, but caused due to the activity of pathogenic microorganisms that release toxins into the cavity of the gastrointestinal tract. This is considered the most dangerous subtype of poisoning. The main thing is to identify the infection causing the signs of diarrhea as soon as possible and prevent dehydration. You should definitely seek help from a doctor. If your body temperature rises, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Common Causes of Severe Diarrhea in Adults

Diarrhea is one of the symptoms of a number of diseases, so this manifestation is not diagnosed separately and is generally treated comprehensively. Before prescribing a general treatment regimen, the doctor must find out not only the disease itself, but also the causes that are the causative agents.

Diarrhea can “take root” in the body of an adult for a long time, and the reasons why this symptom cannot be treated immediately are very different. Ordinary food poisoning, which does not have aggravating consequences, or failure of the gastrointestinal tract can be treated simply, and in some cases, for a full recovery, it is enough to adhere to a gentle diet. The most common causes of diarrhea are:

Colds and other diseases (gastrointestinal tract, infectious).
Malfunctions of the central nervous system, a consequence of deep stress.
Poisoning with toxic substances and food.

Seafood and fish. The cause of poisoning is some of the methods of preparation (dishes where products are present in raw form), improper heat treatment, expired consumption, violation of transportation and storage rules.
Eggs. Most often, people who like dishes made from raw or soft-boiled eggs suffer from poisoning.
Meat. The cause of poisoning is similar to those observed with the consumption of fish and seafood.
Water. Most often this is a liquid that does not undergo the necessary testing and cleaning.

With proper processing and compliance with sanitation standards, the infection that may be present in the products dies almost immediately.

Loose stools with vomiting in adults

Vomiting and loose stools are dangerous symptoms, especially if they occur simultaneously and are accompanied by fever. The danger of manifestation is the rapid rate of dehydration and the body’s loss of microflora necessary for normal functioning, especially if the situation cannot be controlled for more than 2 days.

The cause of vomiting and diarrhea may be:

Infection. Dysentery, intestinal flu, salmonellosis or other infections can, when entering the body, create complex toxic poisoning that provokes serious consequences.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including those that are considered difficult to treat (Crohn's disease).
Inflammatory processes that manifest themselves against the background of the development of ulcers and gastritis.
Chemical and food poisoning.

Why is profuse watery diarrhea dangerous?

Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the most serious factors that can not only disrupt the functioning of internal organs, but also cause serious changes. If you do not take measures to prevent dehydration and do not monitor the restoration of the required water balance, a person can completely weaken and subsequently die. Dehydration manifests itself as follows:

The amount of urine decreases, its color changes from light yellow to brown.
Weakness and dizziness appear.
Blood pressure drop.
A state of drowsiness appears, turning into loss of consciousness.

Failure to treat dysentery, typhoid and other infectious diseases, in which diarrhea and loose stools are one of the leading symptoms, can lead to the development of severe dehydration, which in turn creates the risk of death.

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis is a condition in which there are disturbances in the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, directly related to the functioning of digestion. With diarrhea, part of the beneficial microflora is washed out of the body along with the liquid. It takes time for the body to restore the microflora on its own; sometimes, in particularly difficult cases, the period may differ in duration.

At the first signs of dehydration and dysbiosis, specialists prescribe types of treatment that help keep the body normal. As restorative substances, there are a number of products on the market that contain enzymes and microorganisms that are beneficial to the body, with the help of which the balance is equalized.

When to see a doctor?

Experts do not recommend taking medications for diarrhea on the first day. This physiological manifestation is explained by the fact that in this way the body tries in a unique way to eliminate the consequences of poisoning and malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, and tries to remove toxins naturally. If diarrhea lasts more than two days, and the patient’s condition does not worsen, you need to go to the clinic. Which of the manifestations, in addition to diarrhea, are a reason to seek help from specialists:

If diarrhea occurs in young children or the elderly.
If, with diarrhea, there is a long period of elevated temperature, which does not subside (+38 0 C) even after taking medications.
When an allergic or psychosomatic reaction occurs while taking medications for the treatment of diarrhea.
If there is constant pain in the stomach area.
If diarrhea is observed in combination with other dangerous symptoms: vomiting, the presence of blood in the vomit and feces, a sharp deterioration in general condition.
If there are signs of severe dehydration.

What to do?

Diarrhea, while not an independent disease, belongs to the category of symptoms that, if manifested for a long time, must be treated comprehensively (if the cause is identified), or if the disease at an early stage could not be diagnosed, independently.

When using medications or folk remedies, you need to choose those that will help not only cure the symptom, but also protect the body from the negative consequences of diarrhea (imbalance, dehydration). If diarrhea appears against the background of other, equally complex symptoms, it is necessary to take a number of emergency medical measures:

If the reason was found out before the arrival of specialists, begin to carry out a set of actions that will help remove some of the toxins from the body: rinse with a saline solution or potassium permanganate diluted in water.
In addition to treatment, we must not forget about restoring water balance, so the patient should drink as much fluid as possible.
Organize proper nutrition.
Start taking medications (folk) remedies that will help relieve diarrhea and reduce the number of trips to the toilet.

Diarrhea, especially if it is frequent, is an insidious symptom and dehydration is one of the negative side effects that can cause serious harm to health.

To ensure that the body does not experience a lack of fluid, it is important to adhere to the drinking regime at the time of diarrhea. The list of permitted liquids includes:

Any high-quality water without gas.
Fruit and vegetable juices.
Compotes from fruits and dried fruits.
Lightly brewed black tea.

During the period of diarrhea, fermented milk drinks are excluded from the menu; these products are added after the diarrhea completely disappears and this is done primarily to restore the body's microflora.

An important point in the treatment of diarrhea and restoration of the body after its consequences is the organization of dietary nutrition. Of the permitted products, which by their properties will speed up recovery after poisoning and other manifestations that provoked the appearance of diarrhea, folk and traditional medicine advise paying attention to the following.

Biscuits, crackers from any type of bakery products.
Steamed omelette.
Boiled porridges: buckwheat, rice, oatmeal.
Dishes with a minimum amount of fat (vegetable or animal origin).
Baked fruits and vegetables.

For children during the period of acute manifestation of diarrhea, you can give vegetable purees, rice water, and dishes cooked in water.

How to treat?

If necessary, if specialists have determined the cause of diarrhea in cases where the symptom has been bothering you for more than 2 days, treatment is prescribed, both combined and separately, in order to restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. To treat diarrhea, you can use substances taken and prepared according to traditional medicine recipes, or purchased at any pharmacy.

Medications

Although not a separate disease, diarrhea as a symptom can cause many negative phenomena, which is why in some cases doctors insist to deal with it first. Of the medicinal substances that can be bought ready-made, you should accurately determine the groups of substances and their healing properties, this will be done by a doctor who has studied the nature of the occurrence of diarrhea.

Diarrhea(popular name - diarrhea) - a painful condition of the human body, accompanied by frequent loose (watery) stools and, in most cases, pain in the abdomen, high fever and vomiting.

Diarrhea (diarrhea)- a symptom that causes, and is therefore quite dangerous for children and the elderly, which, if not given proper attention, can lead to serious consequences, even death.

According to statistics for 2009, more than 1.5 million children (under 5 years of age) died from diarrhea in third world countries.

Types of diarrhea

Medicine distinguishes between two types of diarrhea (diarrhea) - acute and chronic, the symptoms of which are generally similar. The main difference is the duration and other accompanying symptoms.

Acute diarrhea

The duration is usually short, 1 – 14 days. The causes of loose stools in acute diarrhea can be: allergic reactions to medications, food poisoning, as well as various infections (viruses, bacteria).

Chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea (diarrhea) is persistent, prolonged diarrhea (diarrhea) with possible periods of remission. Chronic diarrhea (diarrhea) can lead to weakening and dehydration of the body, and can also be a symptom of a hidden disease, so you should definitely see a doctor to prescribe treatment for an intestinal disorder.

Possible causes of chronic diarrhea (diarrhea) as an intestinal disease: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), drug therapy, endocrine diseases, etc.

Symptoms accompanying diarrhea (diarrhea) are as follows:

feces with blood;

See a doctor immediately if:

diarrhea continues in a child for more than 2 days, in an adult for more than 5 days;
high body temperature;
stool that is dark, bloody, or contains mucus;
there is severe and prolonged abdominal pain (more than 2 hours);
nausea and vomiting appeared;
diarrhea began after a trip to Africa, Asia and other exotic parts of the planet;
signs of dehydration appeared.

You should immediately consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms occur in infants or the elderly.

Causes of acute diarrhea:

Causes of chronic diarrhea:

In most cases, diarrhea goes away on its own within 2 days. The main thing these days is to stick to your diet and also prevent dehydration. That is why experts prescribe patients plenty of fluids and other means to prevent the body from losing the necessary amount of fluid for its normal functioning.

If diarrhea does not go away within 2 days in a child or 5 days in an adult, consult a doctor who, based on the examination, can prescribe medications and, if necessary, refer you to the hospital for tests and treatment.

Basically, treatment of diarrhea includes the following set of measures:

— diet;
— maintaining the body’s water balance;
- drug treatment at home;
- treatment in a hospital (if the doctor has concerns or diarrhea does not go away for a long time).

Diet for diarrhea

What to eat for diarrhea? We have selected some useful recommendations:

— For diarrhea, it is necessary to drink plenty of liquid (water, still mineral water, broth), preferably warm or at room temperature.

— If you have no appetite and feel cramps in the abdomen, then it is better to refrain from eating;

— Eat food in small doses;

- If an infant has diarrhea, continue to breastfeed him, but if he is bottle-fed. When bottle feeding, replace cow's milk with clean water.

If you have diarrhea, you should avoid the following foods:

fatty and fried foods;
coffee;
alcohol;
milk and fermented milk products (yogurt, fermented baked milk);
fruit juices (except apple);
grapes, plums and most other fresh fruits;
legumes, beets, radishes, radishes, cucumbers and other green vegetables;
sweets;
sauces, ketchups, mayonnaise and spices;
black bread

What to eat for diarrhea:

boiled rice, oatmeal and other grains;
white bread crackers;
potatoes and other boiled or baked vegetables;
lean meat, can be in the form of cutlets or meatballs, but always steamed or boiled;
applesauce;
bananas.

Medicines for diarrhea

It is better to take medications after seeing a doctor. If there is still such a need, then you can take them, but strictly follow the instructions for use and remember that if over-the-counter antidiarrheal drugs are taken for a long time, diarrhea can become chronic and provoke more serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Antidiarrheal group:“Enterol”, “Eubikor”, “Mezim Forte”, “Smecta”, “Enterosgel”, “Imodium”, “Hilak Forte”, “Loperamide Akri”, “Panzinorm Forte”, “Lopedium”, “”, “Polysorb MP ", "Linex", "Polyphepan", "Diosmectite", "Coapectate", "Enterosorb".

To prevent dehydration:"Regidron", "Hydrovit".

Intestinal antiseptics: Nifuroxazide (Enterofuril, Ersefuril, Stopdiar), Rifaximin (Alfa Normix), Intetrix.

For infectious diarrhea:"Galavit."

Diarrhea due to colitis is treated with drugs that relieve inflammation.

Attention! Products containing salicylate may temporarily darken the tongue or stool.

Antibiotics for diarrhea

Antibiotics for diarrhea are prescribed only by a doctor, and only after diagnosing the body and identifying an “infectious” cause of diarrhea.

Prevention of diarrhea

To prevent diarrhea, the following rules must be followed:

- always wash your hands, especially after going outside, using the toilet, contacting money, before eating, before contact with food for cooking. Hands should be washed with warm water and soap.

— before consumption, fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed;

- diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems can be caused by: unpasteurized dairy products, meat, eggs;

- do not eat food that has expired;

— meat must undergo complete heat treatment before being eaten;

- in the kitchen, including places and objects for preparing food, must be clean (tables, knives, boards, plates, etc.);

- do not leave cooked foods in a warm place for a long time, because... This is an excellent environment for the proliferation of bacteria harmful to the body.

- Try not to drink raw water or any untreated water, especially of unknown origin. To purify water, boil it for 15 minutes and then consume. You can also purify water using special filters, as well as by adding a tablet or drop of iodine and chlorine to it.

- do not eat fruits or vegetables that have not yet reached the ripening season, for example: strawberries, melon, watermelon. Often, unscrupulous producers inject such berries and fruits with “chemicals”, which provokes their rapid ripening and, of course, frequent poisoning of their customers.

Diarrhea is a rather unpleasant condition, and it can happen to absolutely anyone, and sometimes just when an important meeting is coming up or you need to urgently run to work. There are quite a lot of reasons causing it. And, of course, if loose stools are taken by surprise, everyone begins to frantically look for options to solve this delicate problem. How to stop diarrhea in an adult? Is it necessary to do this? What medications will help cope with unexpected loose stools?

Diarrhea is a pathological condition, the main symptom of which is frequent bowel movements, during which shapeless, liquid, almost watery feces are released. It also has another, more delicate and correct name - diarrhea. Diarrhea can be either one-time or it can torment a person several times in a row during the day or longer.

Attention! Diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 weeks is considered an acute form of diarrhea. And if it continues further, then most likely the condition has become chronic.

The main signs of diarrhea:

strong urge to defecate;
stool is liquid, almost watery;
symptoms such as vomiting and nausea may be present;
abdominal pain;
flatulence, rumbling;
under a certain condition – elevated temperature;
general weakness and lethargy.

Liquid stool is a natural way of protecting the body from the effects of poisonous or toxic substances that enter the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of reasons:

eating low-quality or expired products;
eating junk food that has a high concentration of preservatives and dyes;
entry into the body of pathogens of infectious diseases;
dysbacteriosis;
stress;

improper diet;
taking a number of medications;
eating food that is unusual for the body, new dishes;
the presence of various pathologies.

Important! When buying food, you should always buy it as fresh and natural as possible. It is better to refuse to buy products that will soon expire, even if they are offered at a very attractive price.

Table. Types of diarrhea.

Form	Cause
Infectious	In this case, diarrhea is caused by representatives of pathogenic microflora that have entered the intestinal tract and are actively multiplying. They can get there with food or as a result of lack of personal hygiene.
Dyspeptic	The form develops due to disturbances in the processes of food digestion, due to problems with the functioning of the liver, gastric secretion, etc.
Nutritional	Such diarrhea can be triggered by allergic reactions of the body. It can be caused by eating unusual dishes, foods, and spices.
Toxic	It develops against the background of toxic substances entering the body (for example, mercury and arsenic).
Medication	It occurs as a result of taking a number of medications that have diarrhea in the list of side effects. It also develops while taking a large number of medications.
Neurogenic	It is associated with the fact that a person experiences strong negative or positive experiences and fears. Often occurs in children.

Note! Experts identify another form of diarrhea - traveler's diarrhea. It occurs in people who make long trips or hikes and is associated with violation of sanitary and hygienic standards. Bacteria that live in a certain area and are characteristic of it can cause diarrhea - the traveler’s body may not have the required degree of immunity to them.

General principles of treatment

As a rule, diarrhea, if it is not caused by an infection or a pathological condition of the body, in adults goes away quite quickly on its own. The main thing is that it does not drag on for a long time. However, you should not leave it unattended - it can cause dehydration. The general principles for treating the condition are as follows.

Video: Diarrhea (diarrhea). Causes, signs and symptoms.

Medicines

To eliminate toxic substances from the body and remove some pathogenic intestinal bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, doctors recommend the use of sorbents. These can be Enterosgel, activated carbon, Smecta, Biligin, Kaolin and other drugs. Activated carbon should be in every first aid kit, and it is also recommended to take it with you on the road.

Important! Sorbent drugs can remove not only harmful but also beneficial substances from the body, and also smooth out the effects of other medications. Therefore, you need to take them along with other drugs with an interval of at least 2 hours. But modern remedies usually act selectively - they cleanse the body only of toxins.

If diarrhea was caused by long-term use of any medications, it is important to contact the doctor who prescribed them in order to discontinue them. The specialist will be able to recommend another remedy. If the cause of diarrhea is problems with the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, the doctor will recommend taking enzyme preparations. This could be Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.

If diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain, then it is necessary to take antispasmodic drugs such as Drotaverine or No-Shpa. And to restore the intestinal microflora at the end of treatment, Lactobacterin, Linex, Hilak-Forte, Enterol, etc. are used.

If you need to stop the diarrhea itself as quickly as possible, doctors recommend using a drug such as Loperamide. It does its job perfectly, but it should not be taken if diarrhea is caused by an intestinal infection. They retain feces in the body, and in such a situation it is contraindicated.

If you want not only to relieve the symptoms of diarrhea, but to get rid of the cause of its occurrence - an intestinal infection, then you need to take antimicrobial drugs, for example, Ecofuril. Its active ingredient, nifuroxazide, eliminates pathogens that cause intestinal infections, and the auxiliary substance lactulose (prebiotic) creates a nutrient medium in the intestines for the proliferation of its own beneficial microflora. Doctors recommend taking Ecofuril for 5-7 days. After finishing taking the drug, no additional course of pro- or prebiotics is required for recovery. The medicine for adults and children over 3 years of age is available in capsules.

Ecofuril allows you to get rid of one of the causes of diarrhea - intestinal infection

Traditional methods

There are many traditional medicine methods that alleviate diarrhea or eliminate it altogether. Most of them can be used without consulting a doctor. As a rule, the effect of their use is achieved within a couple of hours.

Perhaps this is the most popular and accessible way to combat diarrhea. In addition, it is one of those products that are classified as absolutely safe for the body. Rice broth envelops the intestines and does not allow gastric juice to negatively affect it, improves peristalsis, and helps the formation of feces. Due to the starch contained in rice cereal, the product has the ability to absorb excess liquid and thicken liquid feces. In addition, rice water perfectly eliminates flatulence and inhibits fermentation processes.

Note! Rice water can be given even to children.

It’s easy to prepare: just boil a couple of teaspoons of rice soaked in cold water in a liter of boiling water. You need to cook for about 50 minutes. Next, the broth is cooled, filtered through a fine sieve and taken 150 ml every 3 hours.

Bird cherry is excellent for treating diarrhea if the latter did not develop against the background of infections. But you should not overuse the decoction - bird cherry contains amygdalin, which, when broken down in the body, produces hydrocyanic acid, which is classified as a poison. The decoction must be prepared according to a prescription and should not be drunk without consulting your doctor. Nursing mothers and pregnant women should not use it.

To prepare the decoction, use bird cherry berries washed with clean water (0.5 cups). They are poured with boiling water and placed in a water bath for 30 minutes. After this, the broth is infused for half an hour, covered with a lid. Next, you need to strain it and dilute it with blueberry juice in the same amount. You need to drink 1 tbsp every hour. l.

Dense, red, dry pomegranate peels, peeled from the white layer, are an excellent remedy. They contain about 30% tannins and are effective against diarrhea and almost any intestinal disorder. They are also capable of suppressing the pathogens of dysentery. However, the product has contraindications and requires consultation with a doctor before using it.

Dried pomegranate peels are ground to a powder, after which 1 tsp. This powder is poured with boiling water (1 tbsp.) and boiled in a water bath for 60 minutes, after which it is infused for 40 minutes. You need to take 1 tsp. about 4 times during the day until diarrhea disappears.

Blueberry

It turns out that this plant benefits not only the eyes, but also the gastrointestinal tract. Dried berries are used to eliminate diarrhea; fresh ones have the opposite effect and are used for constipation. Blueberries are rich in pectin and tannins, effective and safe. You can make decoctions, jelly, and compotes from dried blueberries.

Oak bark is an excellent remedy against inflammation; it fights pathogenic microorganisms, has an astringent effect, and is capable of combining with proteins to form a protective layer on the intestinal walls. It is also effective for diarrhea. You can make tinctures, decoctions, and enemas from oak bark.

Black pepper

The simplicity and availability of this remedy for diarrhea made it possible to make black peas, along with rice water, the most used folk method for treating loose stools. Black pepper normalizes digestive processes by activating the production of enzymes and gastric juice. It's easy to use: you need to take 10 pcs. peas and simply swallow them with water. But the remedy, unfortunately, has contraindications - pepper cannot be used for ulcers, anemia, inflammatory processes in the kidneys or urinary tract.

When to see a doctor

Adults usually cope with diarrhea on their own and quite quickly. But in some cases, a visit to the doctor is still necessary. You need to visit a specialist’s office if:

symptoms do not go away for a long time;
the intensity of diarrhea does not decrease;
severe pain is felt in the abdomen;
the patient has an elevated temperature;
severe dehydration occurs;
pallor of the skin is noted;
stool is very dark in color.

The doctor will definitely take a medical history to determine the duration of the period of diarrhea and try to find out its cause. Next, he will order a series of tests to establish an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, the patient may be hospitalized according to indications.

Video: Deadly diarrhea

How to quickly get rid of diarrhea?

Step 1. The very first action for diarrhea should be to try to replenish fluid levels in the body. Diarrhea can seriously deplete its reserves in the body. You need to drink as much water and broth as possible. On this day, if possible, it is better to cancel all activities and lie down at home, not far from the toilet.

Step 2. You can try over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications.

Step 3. Analgesics should not be taken even if there is pain, without first consulting a doctor.

Talk to your doctor about analgesics in advance.

Step 4. You need to rest as much as possible, or better yet, sleep.

Step 5. If diarrhea persists throughout the day, you should consult a doctor the next day.

Step 6. If diarrhea is accompanied by severe pain and high fever, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Step 7 It is important to stop eating sweets, soda, and coffee. It is best to drink natural jelly.

Step 8 To avoid making your diarrhea worse, you should eat foods low in fiber. And for the first few hours it is better to completely fast.

Step 9 It is strictly forbidden to eat fatty foods and unhealthy foods.

Step 10 At the end of treatment, you need to eat foods rich in probiotics in order to restore the intestinal microflora.

Step 11 If the cause of diarrhea is an intestinal infection, then it is important to take all measures to cope with it.

Minimize stress

Video - How to get rid of diarrhea? Traditional methods

Diarrhea can dramatically change a person’s plans for the day and throw him off track. However, you can deal with it quickly if you know how. As a rule, all of the above remedies have a fairly quick effect, and as soon as the diarrhea subsides, you can return to your usual rhythm of life. you will find on our website.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a pathological condition that is accompanied by frequent bowel movements of very thin, almost watery, feces. In this case, bowel movements can be single or multiple.

If diarrhea continues for 2-3 weeks, they speak of an acute form of diarrhea. If profuse diarrhea lasts longer than 3 weeks, then we are talking about a chronic form of diarrhea.

Diarrhea is the body's defense against viruses, bacteria and unfavorable microorganisms. However, with diarrhea, along with processed foods, a large amount of salts, water and nutrients are removed from the body, which inevitably leads to dehydration.

Types and causes of diarrhea

The occurrence of diarrhea in adults is due to a number of reasons. Depending on them, there are several types of diarrhea:

Infectious diarrhea is caused by toxic food infections, viral diarrhea, and dysentery.
Nutritional diarrhea is caused by allergic reactions to various foods.
dyspeptic diarrhea appears due to improper digestion of foods, dysfunction of the liver glands, lack of secretions in the stomach, and the release of negative enzymes by the small intestine.
Drug-induced diarrhea is the result of the use of an excessive amount of drugs during treatment and their negative effect on the body.
toxic diarrhea occurs after arsenic or mercury poisoning.
neurogenic diarrhea is caused by strong emotional experiences, fears, fear of various phenomena and circumstances.

An adult can easily, without any special consequences, suffer from diarrhea that does not have a long course. Diarrhea, which continues over a long period of time, causes exhaustion of the body, heartburn, constant rumbling in the stomach, and tenesmus.

Treating diarrhea in adults at home

Regardless of the causes of diarrhea, there are a number of general rules that get rid of it.

In the first hours after the appearance of loose stools, the patient should completely refuse food. And only when it becomes unbearable to endure hunger, during diarrhea it is recommended to drink large quantities of herbal or black tea, bird cherry decoction or blueberry jelly with dry cookies or white bread croutons.

A little later, the diet is replenished with slimy porridges cooked in water without oil and salt, vegetable purees, boiled and pureed meat and low-fat fish. A decoction of white rice has a good astringent effect.

During the treatment of diarrhea, it is necessary to exclude from the patient's diet raw vegetables and fruits, fried and fatty foods, spices, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, sweets, as well as anything that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract of the body.

A self-prepared glucose-salt solution will help to replenish the water-salt balance when treating diarrhea at home: 1 tsp per 1 liter of water. salt, 1/2 tsp. soda, ¼ tbsp. potassium chloride, 4 tbsp. Sahara. You can also use ready-made drugs - Citroglucosolan, Regidron.

For infectious diarrhea, as well as for irritable bowel syndrome, sorbents are used to reduce flatulence and remove toxins, bacteria, gas and liquid from the intestines. Drugs in this group include: Activated carbon, Kaolin, Calcium Gluconate and Carbonate, Cholestyramine, Smecta, Attapulgite, Bismuth Salts, Bilignin, Polyphepan.

However, it must be remembered that all of the above drugs also have a binding effect on medications. Therefore, the gap between taking sorbents and other medications should not be less than 2 hours.

In these cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Indomethacin) are used. Antibacterial drugs help restore the normal state of intestinal microflora.

If diarrhea is caused by the use of excessive amounts of antibiotics against the background of a pre-existing disease, then the attending physician should either discontinue this drug or replace it with a safer one.

In cases where diarrhea is associated with impaired absorption and cavity digestion, the patient is prescribed enzymes. Preference is given to drugs that do not contain bile acids (Mezim-Forte, Pancreatin, Pancitrate, Creon).

Treatment of acute diarrhea in adults in the first days after its onset, especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting, is carried out with the help of drugs that reduce intestinal motility:

antispasmodics (No-Shpa, Papaverine);
anticholinergics (Platifillin, Atropine).

In both acute and chronic diarrhea, the obligate intestinal microflora undergoes changes that lead to the loss of its functional abilities. To restore normal digestion and absorption use:

preparations containing obligate intestinal flora (Lactobacterin, Narine, Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Acylact);
preparations containing particles of intestinal microorganisms (Hilak-Forte);
drugs that contain transient microflora (Baktisubtil, Enterol).

Treatment with folk remedies

The most popular traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhea in adults include:

thick jelly cooked in water;
black hot peppercorns;
chamomile decoction;
chopped chicken gizzards;
starch diluted in water;
oatmeal;
decoction of oak bark;
pomegranate peels.

The effect of using these remedies can be achieved within 2-3 hours, although in some cases the expected relief comes much later.

How to stop diarrhea in an adult at home

Diarrhea is a rather unpleasant condition that causes discomfort to everyone who has it. Elimination of the causes that caused it and consistent treatment is mandatory and urgent. However, everyone wants to instantly get rid of annoying trips to the toilet.

Medicines such as Lopedium and Loperamide will help stop acute intestinal disorders within half an hour.

You can quickly stop diarrhea in an adult with the help of decoctions of medicinal herbs that have astringent properties (painting oak) and relieve pain and cramps in the abdomen (barberry spinosa).

Self-treatment of diarrhea is quite possible. But with prolonged duration of diarrhea, high temperature, the appearance of mucus and bloody streaks in the stool, dark tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, it is simply necessary to seek medical help.