What is Diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is defined as a loose, watery bowel movement that occurs more than three times per day. It's a common problem that lasts a day or two and goes away on its own within two weeks without requiring any treatment. Diarrhoea can range from slightly watery feaces and brief abdominal discomfort to extremely watery faces and cramping abdominal pains over time.
Types of Diarrhoea
There are basically three types of diarrhoea: acute diarrhoea, persistent diarrhoea, and dysentery.
Acute diarrhoea is defined as a bout of diarrhoea that lasts less than 14 days. Diarrhoea that persists for 14 days or longer is the persistent one. Dysentery is diarrhoea with blood in the stool, either with or without mucus.
Diarrhoea may be mild or severe and may be accompanied by conditions like bloating or cramps in the abdomen, a strong need for bowel movement, nausea, fever, weight loss, dehydration, severe pain, and vomiting blood. Severe diarrhoea can lead to significant complications.
Also Read – Dehydration in Summer – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies
Causes of Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be caused by virus or bacterial infection, or it can be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease in chronic cases. Below mentioned is the list of causes:
- gastroenteritis caused by a virus or bacteria
- food poisoning caused by a virus or bacteria-infected food
- anxiety or emotional stress
- overconsumption of alcohol
- medications, including antibiotics
- lactose intolerance
- parasitic infections such as giardia
- coeliac disease
- food intolerances
- irritable bowel syndrome
- inflammatory bowel disease
- radiotherapy
Treatment options for Diarrhoea
The most common treatment for diarrhoea is to replace lost fluids. Simply put, you should drink more water and electrolyte replacement beverages like oral rehydration solution (ORS).
Your doctor will decide your treatment based on:
- the frequency of diarrhoea and related condition
- the degree of your dehydration status
- the severity of diarrhoea
- your health and ability to tolerate different procedures or medications
- your medical history and age
Effective Home Remedies for Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can make you extremely weak, so it should be treated as soon as possible. Here are some home remedies.
1. Drink Plenty of Fluids: Diarrhea causes a deficit of fluids, including water. Drinking water is the first step to rehydration.
2. Eat a Bland Diet: A diet of small, frequent meals can be better than eating three larger meals a day when recovering from diarrhoea. For someone with diarrhoea, a good diet might include:
- Foods rich in pectin, such as fruit
- Potassium-rich foods like potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Electrolyte-rich foods, such as miso soup and sports drinks
- Cooked, soft vegetables
- White bread
- Noodles
- Bananas
- Fish
- Adequate amounts of protein
Some people find that eating only liquids for the first 24 hours after the onset of diarrhoea helps their digestive system settle down. Salty broths, bland soups, and drinks are examples of this.
3. Use Probiotics: Diarrhea can cause you to lose a lot of the healthy bacteria in your stomach and intestines. Probiotics (which include Lactobacillus,Bifidobacterium as well as Saccharomyces) can help restore normal bowel function by quickly replacing these protective microorganisms.
Diarrhoea should never be ignored. If you have tried the above-listed home remedies and still have loose stools, visit your physician at the earliest.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
