Sinusitis

Acute diarrhea symptoms. Diarrhea or diarrhea - what is it, prevention, causes

Acute diarrhea is considered a dangerous disease that leads not only to complications, but also to death. Children, adults and others are at risk of developing the disorder. In most cases, when a minor cause becomes a factor, no special treatment is required. However, if additional serious symptoms occur, urgent medical attention is required.

Types of damage and upset stomach

Diarrhea is classified according to blood, mucus or foreign body inclusions. Depending on this factor, further manifestations of intestinal disorder vary. There are pathogens that infect the small intestine. This manifestation includes:

bacteria;
viruses;
helminthic infestations.

With such factors of intestinal infection, indigestion occurs. The process of defecation is characterized by watery stools. Blood impurities in feces are rarely found during infectious lesions.

However, there are factors that affect the colon. In most cases, pathogens are classified as this type. Microorganisms penetrate the mucous epithelium of the intestine. In this case, the stool contains admixtures of mucus and blood. In this case, the diagnosis finds a large number of leukocytes.

In addition to damage to certain parts of the intestine, some pathogens disrupt the function of all parts. In this case, the stools are watery, and the patient feels manifestations of colitis.

Why does acute diarrhea occur?

In addition to lesions of the upper or lower intestine, the main causes of acute diarrhea are identified. In this case, the digestive organ is often exposed to substances, microorganisms, viruses and inflammation. This leads to indigestion, which causes loose stools.

Viral and bacterial infections

When pathogens enter the intestines, toxins are released. This helps to enhance the contractility of the organ. Such infections affect the small or large intestine. With cholera, the disease occurs in an acute form. The infection affects only the small intestine.

There is salmonellosis, which occurs in an acute form. The infection affects the digestive tract. Microorganisms cause a state of severe intoxication. Because of this, the entire body suffers.

The cause of acute diarrhea in adults is dysentery. In this case, general intoxication of the body is noted. Damage occurs to the distal colon. The infection destroys the intestinal lining.

Enterovirus infection is similar in its damaging effect to dysentery. However, the disease destroys not only the intestinal epithelium, but also other internal organs are at risk.

If intestinal flu is detected, loose stools rarely occur in adults. Diarrhea occurs with additional dysbacteriosis. Sometimes patients present with acute diarrhea, which is caused by a foodborne illness. This happens due to the consumption of products containing substances and elements unacceptable to the body. In products this occurs due to the activity of pathogenic bacteria.

Microflora disturbance

Dysbacteriosis is characterized as a change in the balance of positive and negative pathogenic organisms. The process develops due to long-term use of antibacterial agents. Otherwise, the patient has reduced immunity. Especially when combining treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

If the baby experiences intestinal upset, acute pain in the stomach and diarrhea, parents should immediately call an ambulance. In most cases, a child experiences diarrhea due to dysbiosis. However, there is a high risk of intestinal infections. Before the doctor arrives, you can provide first aid and maintain fluid balance.

Enzymopathy

With this disease, the production of certain enzymes is disrupted. In most cases, only those involved in digesting food. This becomes a factor in the development of acute diarrhea in adults. However, diseases of the digestive tract and nearby organs are isolated.

The process of fermentopathy is caused by:

pancreatitis;
gallstone;
lactose deficiency.

Diseases due to impaired immunity

This manifestation of acute diarrhea includes pathologies in which lesions of the colon epithelium occur, depending on a malfunction in the immune system. In this case, Crohn's disease is isolated when a substance absorption disorder occurs. The pathology is accompanied by increased secretion of water. This leads to rapid passage of stool through the intestines.

In an adult, the appearance of acute diarrhea with reduced immunity is referred to as ulcerative colitis. This pathology occurs in a chronic form, and changes occur in the mucous epithelium of the digestive organ. Enteritis and enterocolitis are also considered factors in the occurrence of acute diarrhea due to impaired immunity.

Nervous and mental disorders

When a disturbance occurs in the nervous system, such disruptions lead to digestive problems. In this case, irritable bowel syndrome is isolated. This diagnosis of acute diarrhea is the absence of other signs and factors for the appearance of loose stools. The disorder continues for several months.

Other reasons

In some cases, acute diarrhea occurs due to poisoning with toxic substances. These elements include:

nitrates;
heavy metals;
pesticide;
antibiotics.

Toxic substances have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora. Antibacterial agents are not classified as pesticides. However, due to frequent use, cell growth is impaired. At the same time, the number of positive microorganisms in the intestines decreases. This leads to dysbiosis.

Sometimes cancerous tumors are found in the digestive organ. In this case, diarrhea appears along with blood and mucus in the stool. This disorder occurs due to intolerance to fatty foods. In addition, pathological changes in the epithelium of the digestive organ have a great influence. In other cases, the appearance of loose stools is associated with the manifestation of chronic diseases of the internal organs.

Symptoms of acute diarrhea

Additional signs of diarrhea depend on the factor of occurrence or the individual characteristics of the body. In most cases, when acute diarrhea occurs in adults, the following symptoms occur:

diarrhea at the most inopportune moment;
frequent bowel movements;
general malaise;
state of lethargy and drowsiness;
burning and itching in the anal area;
pallor;
decrease in urine volume;
unpleasant odor;
no appetite.

For any reason for indigestion, such symptoms may intensify. It depends on the degree and severity of the pathology. When weakness and general malaise begin to appear, the patient needs to replenish the water balance. If primary symptoms of dehydration occur, immediately seek medical help.

However, if the main symptoms occur, you need to pay attention to dizziness or fever. The pain syndrome can be located in the navel or hypochondrium. Treatment of additional symptoms separately is prohibited. It is especially forbidden to make independent decisions regarding the treatment of the disease. This will lead to complications. Otherwise, death will occur.

Treatment methods for loose stools

Diagnosis of acute diarrhea takes place in the form of a survey, examination and laboratory tests. Based on dry skin, vomiting, fever and pain, the disease is determined by a proctologist or infectious disease specialist. Patients who experience indigestion more than 4 times a day are diagnosed.

General blood and stool tests are used as laboratory tests. If a large number of leukocytes and erythrocytes are found in the feces, a microbiological examination of the masses is prescribed. Otherwise, diagnostics is continued using colonoscopy. This helps to identify inflammatory processes on the intestinal mucosa. A detailed picture of the disease of the digestive organ is carried out using radiography. After this, an accurate diagnosis is established. The doctor, based on the research results, prescribes a comprehensive treatment of acute diarrhea using medications and dietary nutrition.

Drug therapy

If it is diagnosed that acute diarrhea is due to infection, then antibiotics are prescribed. The following medications are prescribed:

Furazolidone;
Enterofuril.

If poisoning occurs, then sorbents are taken for acute diarrhea. Such medications reduce the manifestation of intoxication and help remove harmful substances. The products are used after meals.

Probiotic preparations are aimed at restoring intestinal microflora. In most cases, such therapy is prescribed for dysbiosis, and the drugs are aimed at maintaining immunity in good shape. In this case, enzyme agents are prescribed. Medicines are used for pancreatitis and exacerbation of pathology. Sometimes opioid drugs are used, which affect the contractility of the digestive organ.

To eliminate discomfort, antispasmodic medications are prescribed. In this case, the patient can combine some drugs that eliminate not only acute abdominal pain, but also relieve cramps. Otherwise, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Such medications are used for chronic diarrhea.

Diet therapy

If you take any food during acute diarrhea, this will lead to a worsening of the condition. During the diet, fermented milk products should be excluded from the diet. Lactose becomes an intolerant component for the patient. At the same time, you should not consume products with caffeine and alcohol.

When using drugs that slow down intestinal motility, do not take them during an exacerbation of colitis. Medicines cause the development of intoxication.

For acute diarrhea, you can eat cottage cheese, porridge with water, boiled dietary meat and bread crackers.

Drinks allowed include unsweetened black tea, green apple juice and jelly.

The occurrence of loose stools is associated with many factors. Therefore, the causes of acute diarrhea affect treatment methods and diagnostic methods. In most cases, development factors are associated with stomach diseases. If the abdominal pain intensifies, you need to seek help from a doctor. The prescribed treatment will help stop the development of the disease or infection.

The information on our website is provided by qualified doctors and is for informational purposes only. Don't self-medicate! Be sure to consult a specialist!

Gastroenterologist, professor, doctor of medical sciences. Prescribes diagnostics and carries out treatment. Expert of the group for the study of inflammatory diseases. Author of more than 300 scientific papers.

Acute diarrhea sometimes becomes a symptom of various diseases of the internal organs. More often the signal comes from the gastrointestinal tract. Acute diarrhea occurs with discomfort in the abdomen: pain, bloating, pain, attacks of nausea, etc. The number of trips to the toilet per day increases, while the stool is liquid or mushy in consistency.

Children are at risk for developing acute diarrhea. According to medical statistics, every child before reaching the age of five suffers from a digestive system disorder.

Diarrhea, if not chronic, lasts up to 14 days. Lack of adequate treatment leads to an acute form. Therapy in this case is different, different methods are used.

Gastrointestinal disorders manifest themselves in different ways. Depending on the degree of intoxication of the body, mild symptoms of malaise or severe symptoms occur, provoking a significant deterioration in health and death.

It is not diarrhea that is dangerous, but human actions in an attempt to get rid of toxins and pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, beneficial microflora, vitamins and microelements are washed out of the internal organs along with harmful bacteria. The body becomes dehydrated, which leads to disruption of internal systems.

Acute diarrhea does not occur due to a single illness. As a rule, there are many provoking factors:

Poisoning. Negative effects of toxins as a result of abuse of alcoholic beverages, ingestion of household and industrial chemicals.

Symptoms of the disease

The course of acute diarrhea is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. This allows the doctor to make a preliminary diagnosis of infection.

What does an adult patient suffering from an acute gastrointestinal disorder complain about:

Frequent urge to defecate, loose stools interspersed with mucus, blood or pus.
The pain syndrome extends not only to the abdominal area. Complaints are received about headaches with varying degrees of intensity.
The skin turns red and rashes appear.
The body temperature rises and the patient develops a fever.
Weakness, the appearance of seizures is noted.
Nausea, profuse vomiting.
Loss of appetite.
Painful symptoms in the muscles.
Loss of consciousness or temporary confusion may occur.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out through examination and testing. The patient's stool is examined first. By examining the composition of stool, the laboratory technician sees information about the severity of the condition and identifies what caused the diarrhea.

The danger of intestinal infection is great: the patient rapidly loses strength due to constant.

An acute form of illness occurs unexpectedly, bringing on other symptoms with increasing intensity over a short period of time - fever, pain, cramps, lack of appetite and fatigue.

Acute diarrhea appears and goes away within 3-4 days (rarely a week) provided adequate treatment. If therapy is absent or is not carried out effectively, the disease leads to dehydration and other symptoms:

Dry skin.
The volume of urine decreases. The color of urine changes from yellow to dark brown.
The patient becomes irritable and indifferent.
A feeling of a swollen tongue appears in the mouth, and saliva becomes viscous.
Tingling sensation in the limbs.
Heart rate increases.

Symptoms of diarrhea in adults

The resistance of a particular person’s body varies. Acute gastrointestinal disorders cause symptoms of varying intensity. The main symptom that manifests itself in all patients is the same:

Diarrhea appears unexpectedly.
The urge to go to the toilet increases to 5-6 times a day. There were cases of 10-15 bowel movements.
Feces contain an abundance of water and mucus. There are splashes of blood.
Stomach ache.
Due to frequent bowel movements, pain and irritation appear in the rectum and in the area of the anal outlet.

Symptoms of diarrhea in children

In young children, the period of acute diarrhea is difficult and with serious complications. The body of small children and infants has not matured, and the immune system is not able to effectively resist attacking microbes and bacteria. It is noted that it is impossible to cope with the new product due to insufficient production of the necessary enzyme.

The appearance of acute diarrhea in a baby leads to severe dehydration. Parents take measures to stop the removal of fluid from the child’s body. Baby feces differ in consistency and color from adult feces. This is a mushy stool, yellowish in color, without foreign inclusions. Copious bowel movements, accompanied by discharge and spasmodic phenomena in the abdominal area, indicate the appearance of acute diarrhea. If a child feels sick and vomits at the same time, the body rapidly loses water. To prevent symptoms of dehydration, parents give the baby plenty of fluids to drink to help replenish lost moisture.

Types of disorders

Doctors divide acute diarrhea into several types depending on the method of occurrence.

Secretory diarrhea

During the period of acute secretory diarrhea, an increased release of electrolytes is observed in the intestines. This occurs due to the impact of pathogenic microorganisms on the mucous membrane of the organ walls. The disease is manifested by liquid bowel movements, more than 1 liter per day. Secretory diarrhea does not provoke cramping in the abdomen and does not depend on the contents of the diet.

Osmolar diarrhea

In the body, disturbances occur in the process of digesting food and absorbing nutrients in the intestines - osmolar diarrhea appears. The appearance of particles of undigested food in the stool is typical.

The etiology of this type of diarrhea is the use of medications that have a laxative effect, non-compliance with the instructions for use. The disorder can also be triggered by a lack of enzymatic substances when a certain product appears in the diet. Long-term fasting or stopping the use of laxatives can help stop osmolar diarrhea.

Exudative diarrhea

Diarrhea, characterized by the appearance of mucus or blood in the patient's feces. A viral inflammatory process occurs on the intestinal mucosa, which contributes to the occurrence of diarrhea.

Hyperkinetic diarrhea

Occurs as a result of certain diseases of the nervous system or stress. As a result of increased motor activity in the intestinal tract, food quickly moves through the digestive system. It is poorly digested and has an irritating effect on the walls of the organ, which leads to the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome.

Hypokinetic diarrhea

Once in a beneficial environment, pathogenic microorganisms multiply and disrupt the local microflora, provoking the occurrence of hyperkinetic diarrhea. The stool contains particles of poorly digested fat. There is a strong smell of feces.

Treatment

When choosing treatment methods, remember: it is not the symptoms that need to be treated, but the source of the disease.

Since diarrhea is a dangerous ailment that can significantly worsen health, the choice of medications is made according to the principle of “do no harm.” Strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations and the instructions for use of the drug will help you quickly get rid of diarrhea and the accompanying symptoms.

Not all diarrhea can be cured at home; there are signs of serious pathologies that cannot be avoided without medical help:

Increased body temperature. The fever does not subside within 2-3 days.
A symptom of dehydration. The patient is dizzy, thirsty, general weakness, vomiting.
Spasmodic and burning pain in the abdomen.
The stool contains blood or the stool turns black.

The absence of indications for an emergency call to an ambulance allows you to begin treatment with medications sold in pharmacies.

Sorbents

The action of drugs included in the group of sorbents is aimed at binding toxins and other toxic substances found in the stomach and intestines. Then it is safely removed from the body naturally along with feces. Smecta, Polysorb, activated carbon, Atoxil - help get rid of pathogenic microorganisms, have an astringent effect, and help stop acute diarrhea. The effect of use is noticeable if you take these drugs after the first signs of the disorder appear.

Rehydration products

During the period of diarrhea and profuse vomiting, fluid leaves the human body in large volumes and the water-salt balance is disturbed. Regidron is used to replenish lost moisture and salts. The drug solution replenishes lost fluid and restores electrolyte balance.

Antibiotics

Antimicrobial drugs are prescribed to combat severe forms of the disorder, such as dysentery, salmonellosis, etc. The attending physician, based on examination and test data, prescribes antibiotics and a course of treatment.

Acute diarrhea is a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, which is characterized by repeated release of liquid feces from the intestines. It develops in various diseases, including infectious ones, is painful and causes a lot of inconvenience.

The incidence of acute diarrhea is high and there are deaths depending on the etiology. High-risk groups include the immunocompromised, the elderly and newborns.

As a rule, diarrhea can be cured with the help of medications and folk remedies; there is no need to use specific therapy. The exception is patients with bloody diarrhea and other signs of intoxication. In such cases, patients are treated in a hospital setting, using special therapy and constantly monitoring the condition.

Acute diarrhea is characterized by bowel movements occurring three or more times a day, with loose or watery stools. If acute diarrhea in an adult lasts more than two weeks, it is called persistent, more than a month - chronic.

Diarrhea is a symptom of the disease. The condition for getting rid of the disease is an accurate diagnosis. Stool upset occurs as a result of food poisoning; such diarrhea is easier to deal with. Treatment is more difficult and longer if the cause is a dangerous infection.

Types of acute diarrhea

Acute diarrhea comes in several types, differing in symptoms, severity, treatment time and medications.

Secretory diarrhea occurs as a result of excess intake of electrolytes and water into the intestinal lumen. In rare cases, the cause is a decrease in the absorption functions of the intestine. Secretory occurs with cholera, salmonellosis. The appearance can be triggered by viruses, medications, biologically active substances, laxatives, and castor oil.

Hyperexudative diarrhea is accompanied by the release of blood and mucus from the intestines. Indicates the occurrence of an infectious-inflammatory disease or ulcerative colitis.

Hyperosmolar diarrhea begins due to impaired absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. Undigested food is found in loose and copious stools.

Manifestations of hyper- and hypokinetic diarrhea are frequent loose stools. These varieties occur in patients suffering from neuroses and irritable bowel syndrome.

Causes and symptoms of the condition

Viruses and bacteria are the main causes of acute diarrhea, which can enter the body in different ways. Sometimes diarrhea occurs due to nervousness. Preceded by a state of anxiety and stress. When drawing up a clear clinical picture, the doctor finds out the circumstances of infection or the onset of the disease. The affected small intestine results in watery, large stools caused by malabsorption. The affected large intestine is characterized by the presence of blood in the stool, and the urge occurs suddenly. Important factors to help determine the causes of diarrhea:

Recent travels.
Close communication with pets.
Drinking water from sources of unknown origin.
Foods eaten, especially vegetables and fruits.
Treatment with antibiotics.

The main symptoms of acute diarrhea:

stomach ache;
loose or watery stools;
frequent and sudden urge to have a bowel movement;
blood, pus in stool;
nausea, vomiting, belching;
increased body temperature;
weakness and fever.

If diarrheal symptoms are mild, medical intervention is not necessary. Bed rest, adsorbents and drinking plenty of water will help. In such cases, the usual concern is bowel movements several times in a row with a short interval of time, and slight pain in the abdominal area. There were no chills, fever, vomiting, or blood in the stool.

But if the temperature has risen, acute pain is present, there is a strong fever, intense vomiting does not stop and diarrhea does not stop for a long time, consultation with a specialist is required. In some cases, with severe infectious diseases, complete recovery is only possible in the hospital. In some forms, a complete medical and bacteriological examination is required. This condition is considered dangerous in older people and children.

Diarrhea causes dehydration of the body. A mild course of the disease involves replenishing fluid in the body naturally in the form of water, fruit juices, tea, broth, compote, and fruit juice. Excessive fluid loss and severe dehydration require intravenous infusions of water-salt solutions or oral formulations, which are no less effective.

At home, a prepared composition will help: half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of soda, eight teaspoons of granulated sugar, a glass of orange juice are mixed, supplemented with water to one liter. It is recommended to drink the solution, supplemented with other types of liquid.

A remedy for severe acute diarrhea is an essential component of a home first aid kit. Diarrhea appears suddenly and can be stopped by taking medications. A first aid kit should be a constant companion on long journeys and minor trips. The need to stop particularly severe acute diarrhea on the road often arises. Lack of hygiene, poor quality food, and excessive anxiety can trigger the onset of the disease at any moment.

There are drugs containing the active substance - loperamide. Carrying stops after an hour after taking the pill. These include:

loperamide;
imodium;
suprelol;
lopedium;
diara.

The remedies are applicable for diarrhea of non-infectious origin caused by eating poor-quality food, stress, and changes in climatic conditions. If you have an infectious disease, use is contraindicated. The drugs are available in the form of capsules, tablets, drops. The dosage for an adult is initially 2 tablets, and one after each trip to the toilet. You can take up to eight capsules per day. Children's dose: 3 loperamide tablets per day. The drugs are first aid.

When diarrhea is caused by intoxication - bacterial, viral, allergic, enterosorbents come to the rescue, removing toxins and protecting the stomach walls from irritation.

Adults take Enterosgel 3 times a day, a tablespoon, children from seven to twelve years old - a dessert spoon, from two to seven - a teaspoon, infants - half a teaspoon.
Smecta is diluted in half a glass of water. Adults take up to six packets per day, four are enough for children, and one packet for children under two years of age.
Polysorb, Silix, Atoxil act on the body in a similar way; drug intake is calculated depending on the person’s weight.
Polyphepan is the optimal remedy for babies. Children under one year old are given one teaspoon diluted in 50 grams of water. For adults and children, dilute a tablespoon in the same amount of water.
Gastrolite helps normalize water and electrolyte balance. The composition includes: sodium and potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, chamomile extract, glucose. The daily dose for an adult is 1 liter, divided into several doses. Children 3-12 years old take 100 ml for the first 4 hours, then 50 ml, from one to three years - 50 ml, then 10 ml; infants are given the drug at the rate of 50 ml per kilogram of weight per day.
Filtrum-sti is used for viral diarrhea and acute food poisoning. Adults take 2 - 3 tablets 3 times a day, in children from 7 to 12 years old the dose is reduced to 1-2 tablets in three doses, from 4 to 7 years old it is permissible to take 3 tablets per day, 1-3 years old - ½ pills.
Activated carbon is taken at the rate of one tablet per ten kilograms of weight. Children are recommended to take no more than 3 tablets per dose.

For diarrhea of infectious etiology, the following drugs are considered effective:

Enterofuril;
Phthalazol;
Furazolidone;
Enterol;
Sulgin;
Intetrix;
Nifuroxoside;
Stop diar.

If there is any doubt when choosing a medicine, you should consult a doctor for advice.

Possible complications

If an acute form occurs, self-medication can be dangerous. If symptoms are pronounced, medical intervention is required. Diarrhea leads to complications. First of all, dehydration of the body, leading to death.

Human systems and organs require fluid to function; if there is a lack of it, the body’s functioning will malfunction. It is necessary to ensure that a patient suffering from acute diarrhea constantly replenishes lost fluid.

If the condition worsens, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, partial loss of consciousness are observed, you should urgently call an ambulance.

There are a number of diseases that many people who suffer from them do not like to talk about and are even ashamed of. And diarrhea (in common parlance - diarrhea) is one of them. Meanwhile, this condition is often a sign of very serious disorders in the body. Not to mention, diarrhea itself is dangerous and can even be fatal. However, practice shows that not all people know how to treat diarrhea properly.

What is diarrhea?

First of all, let's define this concept. Diarrhea in medicine is usually called a condition when a person performs an act of defecation, or bowel movements too often. Of course, frequent bowel movements is an imprecise criterion, so it should be clarified. A person who eats normally and consumes a normal amount of water should have bowel movements from 1 time in 2 days to 2 times per day. If defecation occurs more often than twice a day, then this condition can be considered one of the characteristic signs of diarrhea.
The second determining factor is the consistency of the stool. Normally, human excrement is cylindrical in shape and quite hard. With diarrhea, the type of stool is always different from usual - it is a semi-liquid, liquid or mushy mass, or even just water. If these symptoms of diarrhea - frequent urge to defecate and loose stools - continue for more than two weeks without a break, then the diarrhea is considered acute. Otherwise, it should be classified as chronic.

Generally speaking, diarrhea can be a symptom of many diseases. However, this disease cannot be determined by the mere fact of diarrhea. Other symptoms also play a huge role. It is extremely rare to find a case where diarrhea occurs against the background of complete health and is not accompanied by other characteristic signs.

The main symptoms that often accompany diarrhea:

elevated temperature;
weakness;
nausea;
gas formation in the intestines;
pain in the lower or upper abdomen.

You should also pay attention to such characteristics of diarrhea as stool consistency. Pasty, liquid, watery diarrhea may indicate various gastrointestinal diseases. Also, with diarrhea, some additional discharge may be observed - blood, mucus, pieces of undigested food. What matters is the color of the discharge, its volume - abundant or scanty, the smell - foul or not.

Causes of diarrhea

What causes diarrhea? The causes of this condition can be varied. It is important to know well the cause of diarrhea, as otherwise treatment may not be effective.

Additional factors contributing to the occurrence of diarrhea are:

insufficient personal hygiene;
insufficient chewing of food, incorrect eating habits;
stress and neuroses;
sedentary lifestyle;
use of certain types of medications;
reduced immunity;
pregnancy;
childhood.

However, whatever the causes, diarrhea requires serious treatment and adequate treatment.

The main viral and bacterial infections that can cause diarrhea are:

salmonellosis,
dysentery,
rotavirus infection,
enterovirus infection.

As a rule, the main symptom indicating that diarrhea is caused by an infection is fever. Also, infections of the gastrointestinal tract are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. Patients often complain that they have a stomach ache or pain in the lower abdomen. Stools with infectious diarrhea are frequent. Diseases such as dysentery are characterized by very liquid stool, which usually has a foul odor and contains mucus or blood.

Lack of digestive enzymes

Digestion is a complex chemical process. It involves many substances, whose task is to break down the organic substance entering the digestive tract into those simple compounds that can be absorbed by the body’s tissues. Many of the substances necessary for digestion are produced by various organs - the liver, stomach, pancreas. Such compounds include pepsins, bile, pancreatic enzymes - protease, lipase, amylase. If any of the enzymes is missing, this means that undigested food remains will accumulate in the intestines. This causes irritation and upset of the intestines, which causes diarrhea.

Poisoning

Often, loose stools are the body’s reaction to toxic substances. There may well be some toxins in the food we eat. This may mainly apply to stale or expired products, products treated with some chemicals or containing poisons (mushrooms, fruits and vegetables). It is also possible that drugs and chemicals may be ingested in large doses. This circumstance may well cause poisoning of the body, accompanied by diarrhea. As a rule, in case of poisoning, not only loose stools are observed, but also other symptoms. Typically, poisoning is initially accompanied by pain and stomach cramps. As the pathological process develops, poisoning begins to manifest itself as cramping pain, vomiting, nausea, sometimes headaches, neurological symptoms, or symptoms of cardiovascular failure.

One of the varieties of this type of diarrhea is the so-called “travelers’ diarrhea”. Although in fact this disease has a whole range of causes. It occurs in people who try a large amount of unusual and unfamiliar food. Most often, this behavior is typical for people who travel to distant and exotic countries and want to get new sensations. However, the problem is that our gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole are conservative in nature and, to a certain extent, are tuned to the diet to which they have been accustomed since childhood. And when faced with something new, their work becomes disorganized, resulting in loose stools and an upset stomach.

Inflammatory processes of the digestive organs

Diarrhea often accompanies inflammatory diseases of the digestive system that are not directly caused by infectious agents. With these diseases, inflammation or ulcers of the surface of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines are observed, which, in turn, leads to gastrointestinal disorders. In addition to stool disorders, inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum are often accompanied by heartburn, characteristic belching, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth (bitter or metallic). Such diseases include:

enteritis,
cholecystitis,
autoimmune diseases (for example,).

Intestinal motility disorder

In diseases of this type, undigested food remains due to malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system of the intestine move too quickly through it and do not have time to form solid feces. Most often, this type of diarrhea is characteristic of a disease called “irritable bowel syndrome.” The urge to defecate with this syndrome may appear more often than usual and be associated with moments of nervous tension. However, the total amount of feces usually does not exceed the norm, and dehydration of the body, characteristic of other types of diarrhea, is usually not observed.

Dysbacteriosis

Many of the bacteria that live in our intestines are not pathogenic, but take part in the digestive process. If the number of intestinal bacteria drops catastrophically, for example, in the case of taking antibiotics, then a proliferation of other microorganisms may be observed, as well as disruptions in the digestion process, which often leads to diarrhea. After restoring the balance of the microflora, the stool, as a rule, returns to normal.

Diagnostics

What to do if diarrhea is chronic? To identify the causes of the pathology, you must consult a doctor. Although not all patients do this. But this is not always prudent, because it is completely unknown what pathology manifests itself due to diarrhea. This could be an accidental mild food poisoning, a relatively harmless irritable bowel syndrome, which, in principle, you can not pay much attention to, ulcerative colitis requiring long-term treatment, salmonellosis, in which the patient is subject to immediate hospitalization, and extremely dangerous tumors.

As for acute diarrhea, especially in severe form, here, of course, any doubts about the advisability of seeing a doctor should be discarded. If diarrhea occurs in an acute form, then the acute dehydration accompanying the disease can often lead to death. Statistics show that diarrhea kills more than a million children every year around the world. It must be remembered that most infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are dangerous not in themselves, but in the complications associated with diarrhea.

In some cases, if we are talking about relatively mild diarrhea, the patient himself can determine the causes of diarrhea - for example, overeating or food poisoning, and draw appropriate conclusions about how treatment should be carried out.

Treatment

How to treat diarrhea? It must be remembered that this is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, although quite dangerous in itself. Therefore, in order to eliminate diarrhea, it is necessary, first of all, to eliminate the pathology that caused it. However, symptomatic treatment of diarrhea is also very important in many cases.

Let's look at the main methods that can successfully treat diarrhea. They can be both medicinal and non-medicinal. Non-drug ways to combat diarrhea include diet, methods for cleansing the stomach, etc.

Drug treatment

First of all, medications will help get rid of diarrhea. They can be divided into several main groups:

sorbents,
antibiotics and antiseptics for intraintestinal action,
probiotics,
antidiarrheals,
means for restoring fluid in the body (rehydration).

Enterosorbents are products that absorb the contents of the stomach and intestines, bind and neutralize them, and then excrete them with feces. Thus, if loose stools are caused by some foreign agents (microorganisms or toxins), then with the help of enterosorbents they can be removed from the body.

Diarrhea is most often treated with antidiarrheals such as loperamide, which affect intestinal motility and slow down the movement of feces through it. This type of medication, however, may not be effective for all diarrhea, and sometimes they can even be harmful. Therefore, before using this type of medication, it is necessary to clarify the cause of diarrhea.

To relieve severe pain, you can use antispasmodics, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, it should be firmly understood that they can only be used if the source of pain is accurately identified, the disease is diagnosed and does not threaten the patient’s life. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking these medications. In some cases, painkillers can mask the development of life-threatening infectious and inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Fluid replenishers are a type of medication that is often not taken seriously. And it’s completely in vain, because they help the body fight dehydration. Most often, saline solutions such as Regidron are used for this purpose.

Probiotic drugs are usually used if diarrhea is caused by dysbiosis. If the amount of normal intestinal microflora decreases, probiotics will help restore balance in the gastrointestinal tract and normalize digestion. However, in most cases, the use of these drugs alone will not correct the situation.

The choice of drugs from any group depends on the etiology of the disease. Therefore, in order to know how to treat diarrhea, you must first identify the source of the problem.

If frequent loose stools are caused by food or household poisoning, then the most effective method of treatment is gastric lavage and/or taking enterosorbents. It is also necessary to take means to restore fluid in the body.

If diarrhea is caused by an infection, then it is necessary to use antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, anti-inflammatory drugs as an auxiliary element of therapy, and rehydration agents.

For irritable bowel syndrome, non-infectious colitis, enteritis and gastritis, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory drugs will be most effective. The method of treating inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract is quite complex and the treatment strategy should be determined by a doctor.

How to treat diarrhea caused by a lack of digestive enzymes? This is quite simple - first of all, you should take enzyme preparations containing pancreatic enzymes and bile. Antidiarrheal medications will also be helpful.

Diet

Diet is an important part of therapy. First of all, it is necessary for those who do not know how to get rid of diarrhea. Taking any medications in most cases will be useless if the patient simultaneously eats foods that irritate the digestive organs and help prolong the disease.

The diet largely depends on the type of disease. However, there are a number of principles that must be followed when eating.

You should exclude from your diet too fatty and sweet foods, foods that provoke active fermentation and gas formation in the stomach, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, and alcohol. Preference should be given to boiled food rather than raw food, and especially not fried or smoked. Food should be easily digestible, that is, hard-to-digest foods such as mushrooms should be excluded from the diet. Drinking is also important. In case of severe dehydration, it is useful to drink saline solutions; for intestinal infections - decoctions of chamomile, rose hips, and strong tea.

Prevention

Prevention includes, first of all, personal hygiene, washing and proper heat treatment of food. It is also important to follow a proper diet, not to eat expired or spoiled foods, products of dubious origin, and to ensure that hazardous chemicals do not get into your food. It is also important to monitor your eating habits, do not eat on the go or dry food, avoid stress and overwork, monitor your health and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.

Diarrhea is a syndrome in which the patient has an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, the stool becomes liquid and frequent, sometimes accompanied by bloody discharge. In healthy people, the frequency of stool is 1-2 times a day or once every two days. The volume of feces is about 300-400 grams per day.

When symptoms of diarrhea persist for up to 14 days, it is called acute diarrhea. And if diarrhea persists for more than two weeks, they already speak of the development of chronic diarrhea.

Reasons

The following are the most common causes of diarrhea:

Acute intestinal infections

dysentery;
salmonellosis;
cholera.

Acute viral diseases

rotavirus infection;
enterovirus infection;
adenovirus infection.

Intestinal diseases

ulcerative colitis;
irritable bowel syndrome;
oncological diseases of the intestine;
Crohn's disease.

Disruption of digestive processes with

pancreatitis;
celiac disease;
lactose intolerance.

Endocrine diseases

diabetes mellitus;
thyrotoxicosis.

giardiasis;
amoebiasis.

Diarrhea after long-term use of medications:

antibiotics;
laxatives;
drugs that reduce stomach acidity and contain magnesium;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Travelers' diarrhea - develops with a sharp change in climate, diet, or water quality.

Of course, the main symptom that unites all these diseases is diarrhea. But each disease has its own characteristic developmental features and additional symptoms. Next, let's take a closer look at the most common of them.

Features of diarrhea in various diseases

Acute intestinal infections (dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera)

They develop when consuming contaminated foods or water. Dysentery and salmonellosis develop quickly with increasing symptoms.

Loose stools can reach 20-30 bowel movements per day. At the same time, the patient experiences cramping pain in the abdomen. Signs of intoxication of the body develop. Body temperature rises to febrile levels (39-40 degrees), general weakness increases.

After bowel movement, a false urge to defecate occurs, accompanied by pain in the rectal area - tenesmus. As stool frequency increases, dehydration develops. This manifests itself in dry skin and oral mucosa, increased heart rate (tachycardia), and decreased blood pressure. Severe general weakness appears.

The most severe intestinal infection is cholera. Cholera is one of the most dangerous infections. When it appears, a huge number of people get sick, and pandemics develop.

The disease is characterized by an acute, sudden onset. The patient develops uncontrollable vomiting and profuse, loose, watery stools. There is no abdominal pain during or after defecation. Due to the severity of diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration of the body soon develops, which is accompanied by the appearance of tachycardia, hypotension (low blood pressure), and convulsive syndrome. The disease often occurs without fever. The patient requires emergency medical care and isolation.

Acute respiratory diseases

Diarrhea syndrome develops with adenovirus, rotavirus and enterovirus infections. With all these infections, symptoms characteristic of damage to the respiratory tract develop: the patient develops a runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Symptoms of intoxication appear - fever up to 38.5 degrees, increased fatigue, headache, body aches.

Also, damage to the gastrointestinal tract develops like acute gastroenteritis - there may be vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, loose stools. The patient’s symptoms of gastroenteritis go away on their own and the symptoms of damage to the upper respiratory tract come first.

Intestinal diseases

With intestinal diseases - ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, intestinal cancer, an inflammatory process develops in the mucous membrane, erosions and ulcers occur on the mucous membrane. This leads to the release of fluid, electrolytes, and proteins into the intestinal lumen.

Constant abdominal pain appears, and there may be an increase in body temperature to 37.5-38.0 degrees. The stool is liquid with an admixture of blood, and the appearance of pus is also noted. Due to chronic blood loss, the patient develops anemia (decreased hemoglobin). When examining the intestines, signs of inflammation of the mucous membrane (hyperemia, swelling) can be detected.

With irritable bowel syndrome there are no signs of organic intestinal damage. An increase in motor activity of the intestinal wall develops, and motility increases. Food passes through the intestines at a higher speed and the liquid does not have time to be absorbed into the intestinal walls. This diagnosis is a diagnosis of exclusion, that is, it is made when no other diseases are detected. It often occurs at a young age and is triggered by stress. In addition to diarrhea, there may be flatulence (bloating) and minor abdominal pain.

Digestive disorders

During exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis, the digestion process is disrupted due to insufficient amounts of pancreatic enzymes. The patient develops signs characteristic of pancreatitis - pain in the umbilical area or girdling pain, which can be extremely pronounced. Such pain is accompanied by vomiting, which does not bring relief to the patient. Liquid, copious stool appears, which is poorly flushed from the walls of the toilet, due to the increased fat content in the feces (steatorrhea). In chronic pancreatitis, diarrhea is also chronic. Intensification of symptoms is caused by non-compliance with the diet for pancreatitis, consumption of fatty, smoked, spicy, and alcohol-containing drinks. An ultrasound examination reveals signs of inflammation of the pancreas; a blood test can reveal an increase in amylase, the enzyme responsible for inflammation of the pancreas.

Celiac disease develops in the absence of the enzyme responsible for breaking down grains. Diarrhea is also chronic.

Lactose intolerance lacks the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for digesting cow's milk proteins. Diarrhea appears after eating dairy products.

Endocrinological diseases

With endocrinological diseases, fluid absorption and intestinal motility are impaired. There is an increase in the speed of food passage through the intestines and the liquid does not have time to be absorbed into the intestinal mucosa.

Traveler's diarrhea

It develops with a change in diet and water in people traveling to other climatic zones. The frequency of bowel movements can reach ten times during the day, and moderate abdominal pain may occur. Most often it goes away within 5-7 days.

Diarrhea after taking medications

It differs in that when the medications that cause diarrhea are discontinued, the symptoms go away on their own. You may need to take medications that restore intestinal microflora.

Treatment of diarrhea

Drug treatment of diarrhea is carried out in conjunction with diet (see below).

Sorbent drugs are prescribed - they promote the rapid removal of harmful substances from the body.

*First aid for diarrhea is Enterosgel, a drug in the form of a soft paste with a neutral taste. The delicate structure of this product does not injure the internal lining of the stomach and intestines. The porous enterosorbent, like a sponge, absorbs and reliably holds bacteria and particles of harmful substances, ensuring their removal from the body naturally. The native microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract is not affected, since it is not adsorbed by this drug.

If dehydrated:

rehydron - dilute the contents of the package in 1 liter of boiled water, consume 1 liter per day until symptoms are completely eliminated.

When increasing intestinal motility, antidiarrheal drugs are used:

imodium,
loperamide

Antibacterial drugs (Normax, Enterofuril) are used strictly as prescribed by a doctor.

bifiform,
Linux,
bifidumbacterin.

Treatment of diarrhea during pregnancy

For diarrhea during pregnancy, treatment should begin with following a diet and taking adsorbents (Smecta, Enterosgel) in normal dosages.

If you have frequent loose stools and vomiting, you can start taking rehydron to avoid the development of dehydration. It is recommended to take drugs that restore intestinal microflora (Bifiform, Linex) in normal dosages.

Antibacterial drugs are prescribed by a doctor.

Diet

Diet plays a big role in the treatment of diarrhea. In some cases (with lactose intolerance, celiac disease, pacreatitis), diarrhea can be eliminated only by following a diet.

All measures are aimed at reducing mechanical and chemical effects on the intestinal mucosa. We recommend foods that are easily digested in the intestines.

Should be avoided

salty, spicy, smoked;
alcoholic beverages;
conservation;
sodas; caffeinated drinks;
chocolate.

Puree soups are well digestible. To coat the mucous membrane, it is recommended to use jelly and rice water. It is better to exclude fresh yeast bread; you can eat bread in dried form (crackers).

If you have lactase deficiency, you must avoid dairy products.

For celiac disease, foods made from barley, oats, rye and wheat are excluded.