What is and the causes of a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea (ICD diagnosis code: A09) Functional diarrhea

Symptoms

Diarrhea - copious or watery stools and/or an increased urge to have bowel movements. Risk factors include failure to comply with personal hygiene rules when eating; age, gender, genetics do not matter. Although diarrhea is not a disease in itself, its occurrence may be a symptom of an underlying disorder. In some cases, attacks of diarrhea are accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite and vomiting. In severe cases, diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can threaten the patient's life, especially if the patient is a small child or an elderly person. Attacks of diarrhea most often indicate the presence of gastroenteritis or food poisoning.

Etiology

Diarrhea that suddenly appears in an otherwise healthy person is most often caused by spoiled food or contaminated water. In such cases, the disease can last from several hours to 10 days. This type of diarrhea most often affects people traveling to developing countries, where food preparation may not be properly hygienic and sanitation. The disease can also be caused by a viral infection transmitted through close contact with a patient. - the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children. People with weakened immune systems, such as patients with AIDS, are more susceptible to viral gastroenteritis. In addition, the course of the disease in such patients is more severe. The cause of a prolonged form of diarrhea may be chronic inflammation of the intestines, which occurs in diseases such as, or in some other disorders characterized by the inability to absorb nutrients from the small intestine. Lactose intolerance, a disorder in which the body cannot break down and absorb lactose (the natural sugar found in milk), can also cause diarrhea.

Diagnosis and treatment

In most cases, diarrhea goes away within one or two days. Other symptoms that may accompany diarrhea, such as headache, weakness and drowsiness, are most likely caused by dehydration. If diarrhea lasts more than 3-4 days, you should see a doctor. Your doctor may need to test a stool sample to determine whether your diarrhea is caused by an infection or a malabsorption of nutrients. If diarrhea does not go away within 3 to 4 weeks, or if there is blood in the stool, your doctor may refer you for additional diagnostic procedures, which may include contrast X-rays of the intestines, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.

The choice of specific treatment for diarrhea depends on the cause of the disorder. If the patient needs to quickly relieve an attack, the doctor may prescribe antidiarrheal drugs, such as loperamide. Antidiarrheal medications should be avoided if the illness is caused by a bacterial infection, as such medications may prolong the course of the infection. Antibiotics are necessary only for the treatment of prolonged diarrhea with an established bacterial nature.

You can prevent dehydration or compensate for fluid loss using the following simple methods:

• drink plenty of fluids, such as still mineral water, weak sweet tea, or a ready-made anti-dehydration solution sold at the pharmacy;
• While the symptoms of the disorder persist, be sure to drink at least 500 ml of liquid every 1–2 hours;
• Do not give milk to children, because it may make diarrhea worse. However, if an infant is suffering from diarrhea, breastfeeding should be continued and additional water should be given to the infant;
• do not be in the sun; You should stay in a cool place to prevent additional fluid loss through sweat.

Features of the development of the disease in children

Vomiting and diarrhea in children - vomiting and loose stools caused by allergies, infections, incl. digestive tract. More typical for children under 5 years of age. Risk factors depend on the cause of the disorder. Genetics and gender don't matter.

Bouts of vomiting and diarrhea often accompany a child in early childhood, but are more typical for children under 5 years of age. Vomiting and nausea usually go away within 24 hours, but diarrhea will have to be treated for several days. It is important to start treatment as quickly as possible because the child may become dehydrated.

Most cases of vomiting and diarrhea are caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the digestive tract. In young children, vomiting can be caused not only by a stomach infection, but also by any other infection, such as inflammation of the middle ear or, in rare cases, inflammation of the meninges. If the cause of vomiting is an infection, other symptoms such as high fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite or thirst will be noticeable. A sick child may experience abdominal pain, cry and stomp his feet.

Chronic vomiting with diarrhea is usually not caused by infection, but is a symptom of other disorders, such as cow's milk protein allergy and gluten hypersensitivity.

If a child vomits for several hours, he or she will become dehydrated. The following symptoms are characteristic of it in childhood:

• unusual drowsiness and irritability;
• excretion of small amounts of concentrated urine;
• sunken eyes (in newborns - retraction of the fontanel).

If a child with diarrhea and vomiting begins to become dehydrated, consult a doctor immediately. In most cases, these symptoms do not require special treatment. It is necessary to create all conditions so that the child drinks plenty of fluids, but do not give him fruit juices or too much milk. At first, dehydration can be prevented by means of restoring water balance, which are available without a doctor's prescription: they contain an optimal balance of minerals and salts. If your child's symptoms do not go away within 24 hours (or worsen), you should contact your doctor. He will check the water level and the presence of infection. If a child is severely dehydrated, he will be hospitalized and treated with parenteral medications. If the disorder is caused by food hypersensitivity, a diet may be recommended. As a rule, treatment is successful.

Functional diarrhea (profuse diarrhea) is a sign of acute diarrhea.

Description of the disease

The trouble is accompanied by copious and frequent bowel movements with blood, water and mucus. Hologenic diarrhea is a symptom of a disease and requires medical intervention. The following reasons lead to the appearance of such a symptom as hologenic diarrhea:

• Imbalance of intestinal microflora. Due to the lack of beneficial microorganisms and the presence of bad bacteria, liquid food cannot be fully absorbed and is immediately eliminated from the body naturally.
• Eating poor quality food.
• Complications due to the development of gastrointestinal diseases.
• Negative perceptions of antibiotics used for treatment. These medications destroy not only bacteria, but also beneficial intestinal microorganisms.
• Neuroses and stress. The intestines always react to nervous disorders. This leads to periodic disruptions of the digestive system.

Types of diarrhea

The pathology is classified by the following conditions:

• bacterial diarrhea;
• exudative diarrhea;
• osmotic diarrhea;
• infectious diarrhea ;
• nutritional diarrhea;
• allergic diarrhea;
• toxic diarrhea;
• invasive diarrhea;
• nervous diarrhea.

Symptoms

In the acute form of a disease such as profuse diarrhea or osmotic diarrhea, the following may be observed:

• watery, frequent stools with mucus and bloody streaks;
• nausea and vomiting;
• bloating;
• painful spasms;
• lack of appetite;
• weight loss.

In addition, signs of dehydration may occur:

• weakness;
• fatigue;
• dry skin and mucous membranes;
• temperature increase;
• drowsiness;
• discomfort in the anal area.

The severity of the symptoms that distinguish osmotic diarrhea and other types of diarrhea depends on the number of microbes that live in the gastrointestinal tract, their type, as well as the state of the person’s immunity.

When a patient experiences frequent loose stools, which is additionally accompanied by a fever and vomiting, he should immediately see an infectious disease specialist or therapist.

If profuse diarrhea or hologenic diarrhea has been bothering you for a long time, but the patient’s condition is relatively satisfactory, he needs the help of a gastroenterologist who will help establish the causes of this symptom.

Diagnostics

Acute hologenic diarrhea and other types of diarrhea are characterized by a very pronounced loss of fluid with feces, so the patient himself can see a sign of trouble in the functioning of his digestive tract and consult a doctor. After visiting the clinic, he will receive a referral for physical examinations that will help identify signs of dehydration:

• dry skin;
• drop in blood pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• sometimes cramps.

A proctological examination is also carried out during the diagnosis, since it will help to promptly identify fistulas, anal fissures and other unpleasant pathologies that distinguish different types of diarrhea. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe an instrumental endoscopic examination technique using:

1. Colonoscopy.
2. Gastroscopy.
3. Irrigoscopy.
4. Sigmoidoscopy.

These procedures will help identify lesions, pathologies, tumors and bleeding lesions within the walls of the upper gastrointestinal tract. But usually, in acute diarrhea, diagnosis is based on the patient’s complaints, as well as coprogram data and physical examination. Laboratory tests may include stool tests for helminthic infestation and bacteriological culture.

So, acute diarrhea can be diagnosed based on 5 factors:

• patient complaints;
• physical examinations;
• anamnesis data;
• proctological examination;
• feces studies (macro- and microscopic).

Treatment

Profuse diarrhea is a symptom of many diseases, which is why the doctor’s task is to identify and treat the main pathology. The therapy used is based on the fact that hologenic diarrhea is eliminated and consists of the following measures:

• dietary food;
• pathological treatment;
• antibacterial therapy;
• taking medications that normalize intestinal motility;
• restorative therapy for the consequences of prolonged diarrhea.

In case of acute diarrhea, foods that help reduce peristalsis and also prevent the release of water into the intestinal lumen are introduced into the patient's diet. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea with profuse diarrhea is treated by suppressing the pathological flora, as well as restoring normal microflora in the intestine.

If infectious diarrhea is diagnosed, drugs with a broad-spectrum antibiotic effect are prescribed, which eliminate the infection itself. It can be:

• sulfonamides;
• quinolones;
• nitrofurans.

In some cases, especially when antibiotic-associated diarrhea is diagnosed, the patient is prescribed eubiotics - Linex, Bactisubtil, Bifiform and Lactobacterin. Treatment with these medications is usually appropriate after diarrhea symptoms have subsided to eliminate dysbiosis.

During recovery, enveloping drugs, adsorbents and astringents that neutralize organic acids can also be used. This:

• Smecta;
• Tannacomp;
• Polypephane.

Imodium is prescribed to maintain intestinal motility. Do not forget about the usefulness of enzymes during diarrhea. They are especially valuable for diarrhea associated with malabsorption. In this case, preference should be given to medications that do not contain bile acids:

• Pancitrate;
• Creon;
• Mezim-forte;
• Pancreatin.

Approximate price tags for treatment in major centers

Prevention

Preventive measures for diarrhea include actions to maintain personal hygiene of the body, as well as nutrition. A prerequisite that will help prevent infection of the intestines with pathogenic bacteria is washing fruits and vegetables and hands before eating. Proper heat treatment of products is also important. You should avoid drinking low-quality raw water and suspicious food, which can cause profuse diarrhea. If diarrhea is associated with allergies, avoid contact with the allergen. For neurogenic diarrhea, rest and a calm environment are necessary.

Despite the fact that many viruses, bacteria and protozoa die when they enter the stomach upon contact with hydrochloric acid, under certain circumstances they are able to survive and move into the intestines, causing diarrhea.

It is imperative to replenish water in the body during treatment, since hologenic diarrhea leads to the loss of several liters. Microelements also come out along with the liquid. That is why it is extremely important to pay attention to their replenishment.

In addition, you can prepare your own glucose-saline solution. For the recipe you need 1 tsp. salt and 1 liter of water, half a teaspoon of soda and a quarter spoon of potassium chloride preparation. It is also necessary to include sugar in the amount of 4 tablespoons.

RCHR (Republican Center for Health Development of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
Version: Archive - Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan - 2007 (Order No. 764)

Diarrhea and gastroenteritis of suspected infectious origin (A09)

general information

Short description

Prolonged diarrhea an episode of diarrhea that begins as acute is considered but lasting 14 days or more.

Protocol code:P-P-019 "Diarrhea in children. Prolonged diarrhea."

Profile: pediatric
Stage: PHC

ICD-10 code(s): A09 Diarrhea and gastroenteritis suspected infectious origin

Classification

Classification (1-A):

1. Prolonged diarrhea - diarrhea lasting 14 days or more, but without symptoms of dehydration.

2. Severe prolonged diarrhea - diarrhea lasting 14 days or more and the presence signs of moderate or severe dehydration.

Risk factors and groups

Long-term or frequent use of antibiotics, immunosuppressants, artificial feeding, history of infections, malnutrition,deficiency anemia, exudative-catarrhal diathesis, celiac disease, syndromemalabsorption (2-A; 4-A; 5-C).

Diagnostics

Complaints and anamnesis:

Detailed information about the nature and volume of nutrition, drinking regime;

The nature and duration of loose stools, uncharacteristic in consistency and frequency for a child of a specific age, 14 days or more (1-A).

Physical examination:

Frequent (more than 3 times/day), loose, watery stools with admixtures of mucus, greens, but without blood; possible flatulence, bloating;

Identifying signs of moderate or severe dehydration:

Restlessness or increased irritability;

Impaired consciousness (lethargy/low level of consciousness), sunken eyes;

Straightening of the skin fold (slow or very slow - more than 2 seconds);

Presence of thirst, the child drinks greedily or, on the contrary, drinks poorly, refusal child from eating or drinking, vomiting after any food or drink.

Identifying Signs of Dehydration(1-A):

Laboratory research: A stool pH of 6.0 or more indicates the presence of persistent diarrhea; identification of opportunistic flora in diagnostic titers;with lactose tolerance test - low blood glucose level, sugar determinationin feces and urine (6-C).

Instrumental studies: no.

Indications for consultation with specialists: consultation with a gastroenterologist if there is no effect of treatment within 5 days.

List of basic and additional diagnostic measures:

Basic:

Detailed general blood test;

The coprogram must include pH determination;

Bacteriological cultures for pathogenic 3-fold and opportunistic flora.

Additional:

Consultation with a gastroenterologist;

Stool analysis for dysbacteriosis;

Lactose tolerance test.

Differential diagnosis

It is necessary first of all to exclude the presence invasive diarrhea (blood in the stool) and any symptoms of dehydration degrees:

If there is dehydration - severe, prolonged diarrhea and the patient is sent to the hospital;

No dehydration - treatment in an outpatient setting for 5 days (1-A).

Treatment abroad

Get treatment in Korea, Israel, Germany, USA

Get advice on medical tourism

Treatment

Treatment Goals- normalize stool consistency and frequency accordingly child's age.

Non-drug treatment: Nutritional therapy plays a decisive role.

The diet is physiologically complete, with a normal content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, 6 times a day to achieve the total energy value of the diet is notless than 110 kcal/kg/day. Culinary processing: all dishes are cooked boiledor for a couple. Products that enhance the processes of fermentation and rotting are excluded.intestines, as well as strong stimulants of bile secretion, gastric secretion,pancreas, foods that irritate the liver (fatty meats,rich broths, smoked meats, whole milk, sauces and spices, chocolate, coffee,carbonated and cold drinks). The basis of the basic diet is complete orpartial elimination of presumably intolerant nutrients (lactose, proteincow's milk, sucrose, starch), for bottle-fed children -adaptation of feeding, replacement of lactose mixtures with lactose-free ones containingcow protein substitutes or fermented fermented milk products (3daytime Biolact, Narine, etc.).
(2-A; 3-A; 5-C: 6-C)

Drug treatment:

1. Oral rehydration with ORS solutions.

If dehydration is present, hospitalization and rehydration therapy plan A, B or C (see relevant protocols).

If there are no signs of dehydration, preventive rehydration with solutions ORS (plan A): up to 2 years of age - 50-100 ml ORS after each loose stool,over 2 years old - 100-200 ml.
In case of impaired glucose absorption and deteriorationcondition of the child (increase in stool volume, thirst and appearance of signsdehydration) requires IV rehydration in a hospital setting.

3. Zinc for 10 - 14 days at a dose: children up to 6 months. - 10 mg 1 time per day; over 6 months - 20 mg 1 time per day (4-A).

5. Lyophilized suspension of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli - 10-15 doses/day. , 5 days.

6. Pancreatin 1000-2000 mg/day, 5 days.

Indications for hospitalization: any symptoms of dehydration severity or the presence of another serious disease.

List of basic and additional medications

Essential medications:

Zinc (4-A);

Folic acid;

Vitamin A;

Metabolic product of normal intestinal microflora containing organic acids, lyophilized suspension of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli;

Pancreatin (Creon).

Additional medications:

Intestibacteriophage;

Combined probiotics.

Indicators of treatment effectiveness:

Relief of diarrhea;

Weight gain.

Prevention

1. Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months.

2. Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, especially under 2 years of age (2-A).

Information

Sources and literature

1. Protocols for diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Order No. 764 of December 28, 2007)
   1. List of references: 1. WHO Program Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses, module diarrhea (A); 2. Management of a child with serious infection or severe malnutrition. Guidelines for care in first-level hospitals in Kazakhstan. WHO, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2003 3. Feeding and nutrition of infants and young children. Methodological recommendations for the European region with special emphasis on the republics of the former Soviet Union. WHO Regional Publications, European Series, No. 87 (A); 4. National Guideline Clearinghouse www.guideline.gov. Brief Summary/ Dyspepsia: managing dyspepsia in adults in primary care. (A) 5. Proceedings of the Intercountry Technical Consultation on Hospital Management of Diarrhea, Almaty, Kazakhstan, May 16-18, 2006. Presentation by WHO expert, Professor O. Fontaine (A). 6. Intestinal dysbiosis in children. A manual for doctors. Supplement to the journal "Pediatrics and Children's Surgery of Kazakhstan", Almaty, 2004. (C) 7. Malabsorption syndrome in children. Supplement to the journal "Pediatrics and Children's Surgery of Kazakhstan", Almaty, 2004. (WITH)

Information

List of developers:

Golovenko M.V., Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, AGIUV. In June 2006, she was trained at a seminar on evidence-basedmedicine at the Scientific Center for Medical and Economic Problemshealthcare.

Kuttykuzhanova G.G., Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of Department childhood infections of KazNMU.

Nauryzbaeva M.S., Ph.D., Head of the Research Center for IMCI at the Research Center for Pediatrics and pediatric surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Attached files

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Information: DIARRHEA (diarrhea) - frequent (more than 2 times a day) discharge of liquid feces associated with the accelerated passage of intestinal contents due to increased peristalsis, impaired absorption of water in the large intestine and the release of a significant amount of inflammatory secretion or transudate by the intestinal wall. In most cases, diarrhea is a symptom of acute or chronic colitis or enteritis. Infectious diarrhea occurs with dysentery, salmonellosis, food toxic infections, viral diseases (viral diarrhea), amoebiasis, etc. Alimentary diarrhea can occur due to poor nutrition or allergies to certain foods. Dyspeptic diarrhea is observed when the digestion of food masses is impaired due to secretory insufficiency of the stomach, pancreas of the liver or insufficient secretion of certain enzymes by the small intestine. Toxic diarrhea accompanies uremia, mercury and arsenic poisoning. Drug-induced diarrhea can be a consequence of suppression of the physiological intestinal flora and the development of dysbiosis. Neurogenic diarrhea is observed when the nervous regulation of intestinal motor activity is disrupted (for example, diarrhea that occurs under the influence of excitement, fear). The frequency of stool varies, and stools are watery or mushy. The nature of bowel movements depends on the disease. So, with dysentery, the feces first have a dense consistency, then become liquid, scanty, mucus and blood appear in it; with amebiasis - contains glassy mucus and blood, sometimes the blood permeates the mucus and the stool takes on the appearance of raspberry jelly. With diarrhea, there may be abdominal pain, a feeling of rumbling, transfusion, bloating, and tenesmus. Mild and short-lived diarrhea has little effect on the general condition of patients; severe and chronic diarrhea leads to exhaustion, hypovitaminosis, and pronounced changes in organs. To determine the cause of diarrhea, scatological and bacteriological examination is carried out. The severity of diarrhea can be judged by the speed of passage (promotion) of carbolene through the intestines (the appearance of black color in stool after a patient takes carbolene after 2-5 hours instead of the normal 20-26 hours) or barium sulfate during x-ray examination. If cholera, salmonellosis, or foodborne toxic co-infection are suspected, patients are subject to immediate hospitalization in the infectious diseases department. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the diarrhea. For example, for hypovitaminosis, appropriate vitamins are administered parenterally, for gastric achylia, gastric juice or its substitutes are prescribed, for pancreatic insufficiency - pancreatin or panzinorm, festal, etc. For diarrhea not associated with infection, a gentle diet (limitation of carbohydrates, refractory fats of animal origin), frequent small meals, and thorough chewing of food is indicated. Calcium carbonate, bismuth preparations, tanalbin are used as symptomatic remedies; decoctions of oak bark, St. John's wort, serpentine rhizomes, cinquefoil or burnet, bird cherry fruits, blueberry infusion, alder fruits, chamomile flowers, belladonna tincture, etc. For diarrhea caused by dysbacteriosis, colibacterin, lactobacterin, bificol, bifidumbacterin are prescribed. Viral diarrhea is becoming particularly relevant in modern medical practice. In children, rotavirus becomes the leading etiological factor causing acute infectious diarrhea. Most often, rotavirus diarrhea is observed in children under 2 years of age in the form of sporadic cases; epidemics of rotavirus infection are possible, more often in winter. In adults, rotavirus is rarely the causative agent of gastroenteritis and the process caused by it is erased. Acute diarrhea in adults is most often caused by the Norwolk virus. The latent period for rotavirus infection is from one to several days. The onset of viral gastroenteritis is acute - with vomiting, severe in children; then diarrhea occurs, as well as general symptoms of infection: headaches, myalgia, fever, but these phenomena are usually moderate. Abdominal pain is not typical for viral gastroenteritis. Swelling and inflammation in the wall of the small intestine caused by the virus leads to impaired secretion and absorption of fluid rich in sodium and potassium. Diarrhea is watery in nature; the fluid lost with diarrhea contains little protein, but a lot of salts. This pattern is reminiscent of secretory diarrhea caused by Vibrio cholerae or E. coli enterotoxins; it can lead to massive fluid loss, exceeding 1 liter per hour in an adult. With viral diarrhea, the large intestine is not affected and there are no leukocytes in the stool; viral diarrhea in adults lasts 1-3 days, in children - twice as long. Severe dehydration can threaten the patient's life. Therapy comes down mainly to replacing lost fluid. This replacement can be carried out by infusion, using a drink containing glucose and salts (glucose stimulates sodium absorption). Liquid is administered at the rate of 1.5 liters per 1 liter of stool, but the main control is the visible filling of the vessels of the skin and mucous membranes. Antibiotic therapy for watery diarrhea does not change the duration of the disease.

Functional diarrhea is a disturbance in the functioning of the intestines, which results in a frequent urge to defecate. The stool becomes watery, and bowel movements occur at least 2-3 times a day.

This type of diarrhea is not a disease, but an unpleasant symptom often indicates the development of hidden disorders of the digestive system. How can functional diarrhea be cured, and does it have its own specific symptoms? Let's talk.

Symptoms of functional diarrhea

The main difficulty of diagnosis is that symptoms can vary depending on the course of the disease. For example, functional diarrhea may be accompanied by diarrhea alone or in combination with constipation. Still, we can identify an approximate list of symptoms, and here are the most common of them:

• an increase in the amount of feces (up to 4–5 times a day), in which pathological impurities such as pus or blood do not appear;
• pain may appear, but it disappears immediately after defecation;
• pain may occur in the joints, sacrum and spine;
• often functional diarrhea is accompanied by headaches;
• in the first half of the day, the urge to defecate becomes constant, and the person is tormented by the feeling of incomplete bowel movement.

The disease may occur without visible improvement or worsening for several years. At the same time, the person himself experiences anxiety,
the problem affects his emotional state. Thus, with prolonged functional diarrhea, depression and the appearance of increased irritability are common.

The disease often develops against a background of stress, and it affects mainly people aged 30 to 50 years, with women being more susceptible to this disorder.

Sometimes functional diarrhea suddenly ceases to appear, and sometimes a person runs to the toilet every 2-3 hours. Despite the fact that the disease does not simultaneously cause any problems with well-being, against the background of the development of such a disorder, problems often arise in the gastrointestinal tract.

The main causes of the disease

Despite the fact that this problem is common, doctors cannot always tell why problems in the intestines have arisen. The most common reasons are 2:

• increased sensitivity of the nerve endings in the rectum to the pressure of feces leads to the rapid release of the latter from the body;
• disorders of the nervous system also affect the appearance of this chronic form of diarrhea.

Against the background of severe nervous disorders or due to regular stress, the problem appears most often. Thus, a person may experience functional diarrhea before defending a thesis or on the days of important interviews. Everything in the human body is interconnected, so severe stress causes a deterioration in the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal system.

Some experts believe that such disorders may be directly related to heredity. If a person’s parents felt the urge to defecate in stressful situations, then he himself may suffer due to the influence of a similar problem.

When a person is nervous, the body produces large quantities of adrenaline and other potent chemicals. As a result, these substances affect the functioning of the central nervous system. All functional processes in the body are accelerated, including the work of the intestinal tract. The urge to defecate occurs more often, and the stool becomes liquid, but without impurities.

Treatment

Typically, functional diarrhea goes away on its own after eliminating the factor that caused it. If the problem does not go away on its own within 3-4 days, you should consult a doctor. What drugs are most often prescribed by a specialist? This:

1. Antidiarrheal drugs such as Imodium or Loperamide.
2. Eubiotics are also prescribed, for example, “Baktisubtil”, “Bifiform”, “Linex”.
3. Sorbents are prescribed, as well as astringents, in particular Smecta and Polyphepan.

You can take such medications on your own, but there is a risk of not guessing the diagnosis. It is likely that diarrhea is not associated with nervous disorders, but with serious problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

If after a couple of days your symptoms increase in temperature, heartburn, or bloody stool, you should immediately consult a doctor. Functional diarrhea does not cause such alarming symptoms, although it may bother a person for several weeks or even months.

Despite the fact that minor symptoms are not typical for this disease, in its long stage it can be extremely dangerous. Thus, due to frequent bowel movements, beneficial microelements are washed out of the body and dehydration occurs. Functional diarrhea that develops over a long period of time can even lead to death, especially when it comes to the weakened bodies of children or elderly patients. In addition to taking medications, it is necessary to drink enough water to prevent dehydration.

Functional diarrhea often overtakes a modern person who is accustomed to living under stress. You shouldn’t ignore it, because with the help of modern drugs you can overcome the problem in just a couple of days.