Diarrhea in an adult (diarrhea) - what to do, treatment. Causes of diarrhea in adult women. Causes and treatment of persistent diarrhea in adults Causes of diarrhea in adults

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 a 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 the “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 (commonly called “diarrhea”) is an unpleasant symptom of many pathologies that have completely different genesis and causative factors. Diarrhea is considered to be a condition characterized by frequent bowel movements with changes in stool parameters. With diarrhea, in parallel, patients often complain of accompanying unpleasant symptoms: colic, abdominal pain, vomiting,. Diarrhea poses the greatest danger to children, since with diarrhea they quickly become dehydrated, which carries very serious complications, including death.

There are a number of factors that can cause diarrhea in both adults and children. These include:

• Problems with intestinal motility.
• Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which become a source of toxins in the intestines. Such diseases include: enteroviruses, cholera, food poisoning,...
• Disturbances in the intestinal microflora due to taking anti-cancer drugs, and with HIV disease.
• Irritable bowel syndrome, which occurs due to neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Enzyme deficiency and enzymopathies.
• Autoimmune pathologies: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease.
• Hereditary pathologies, which are based on intolerance to certain foods or substances. Such congenital conditions include: celiac disease, pancreatitis (chronic and acute), lactose intolerance, cirrhosis of the liver.

Causes of bloody diarrhea in adults

Bloody diarrhea can occur as a result of a variety of factors. The admixture of blood in the stool in itself already causes anxiety in a person. The reasons for its appearance in feces may be the following:

• Diverticulitis– inflammatory process in the lower intestine. This reason is most common in people after 45-50 years of age.
• Physical inactivity– an inert lifestyle, constantly sedentary work, when a person moves little and there is a lack of movement, sedentary work.
• Ulcerative-erosive processes in the gastrointestinal tract in the upper sections can also provoke the appearance of blood in the stool (ulcerative and in the acute stage or chronicity).
• Haemorrhoids,. In this case, the blood in the stool will be in the form of clots or streaks, and always scarlet in color, since the source of the bleeding is close (the blood simply does not have time to clot). In parallel with this symptom, the patient feels discomfort, pain in the anus, itching, burning, etc., but diarrhea will be a sign of concomitant pathology, but the appearance of blood is evidence of hemorrhoids.
• . It can cause both diarrhea in the patient and the presence of blood in the stool.
• Bleeding. Diarrhea with blood in an adult may indicate internal bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or duodenum. In this case, the stool will be dark in color, “tarry.” The cause of bleeding can be: liver cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, stomach cancer, esophageal varices.
• Chronic pathologies such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis often provoke the appearance of blood streaks (bright) and clots in the stool.
• Infectious diseases. If diarrhea with blood is accompanied by fever, colic, or abdominal pain, you should definitely seek medical help. This clinic can be observed for dangerous diseases that require immediate treatment: salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.

Types of diarrhea

Regarding the course of diarrhea, it happens:

• chronic, when diarrhea persists over a three-week period;
• acute, in which diarrhea lasts up to 3 weeks.

Taking into account the mechanism of development, diarrhea is classified as follows:

• hypokinetic- with it, the feces are mushy or liquid, there are few of them, there is a fetid odor - all this is the result of a reduced rate of movement of food through the intestines;

• hypersecretory – diarrhea is watery and profuse, which is the result of increased secretion of salts and water into the intestines;
• hyperkinetic – small, loose stools or mushy, formed when the speed of movement of digested food through the intestines increases;

• hyperexudative– it is formed when fluid leaks into the intestinal lumen, which in most cases is already inflamed; such diarrhea is characterized by watery but light stools, which may contain blood and mucus.
• osmolar – This is diarrhea as a result of decreased absorption of salts and water by the intestinal walls, in which there can be a lot of bowel movements, they are fatty and contain remnants of undigested food.

Symptoms of diarrhea

Diarrhea may be accompanied by a number of other signs, which ultimately allows the doctor to differentiate the patient’s illness from a number of others based on the current clinical picture. In particular, diarrhea may include:

• frequent bowel movements;
• fecal incontinence;
• foul-smelling stool;
• color change;
• thin, watery or mushy consistency of stool;
• presence of semi-digested food residues in the stool;
• admixture of blood;
• presence of mucus.

In parallel, the patient may experience additional symptoms of diarrhea:

• increase in body temperature (from 37 to 40C);
• (may have a spasmodic, dull, pulling, cutting character).

With profuse diarrhea, dehydration often occurs, the symptoms of which will be:

• weakness in the body;
• thirst;
• dry mucous membranes;
• lowering blood pressure numbers;
• dizziness;
• tachycardia;
• fainting;
• “flies” before the eyes;
• Cachexia is an extreme degree of dehydration.

In childhood, the causes of diarrhea are slightly different than in adults. Very often they are associated with poor diet and intestinal infections. Diarrhea in children can occur as a result of the following reasons:

Important: Often in children, diarrhea is the result of indigestion of certain types of foods or their quantity. The inability of a child’s gastrointestinal tract to digest and assimilate this or that food is manifested by diarrhea after eating it. In this case, refusing this food is the treatment of the disease.

Diarrhea in an infant may have slightly different causes due to the characteristics of its nutrition (breastfeeding or artificial feeding). These include:

• untimely introduction of complementary foods (very early);
• artificial feeding;
• introduction of the wrong foods in the form of complementary foods;
• failure to observe the required interval between the introduction of a new product;
• infection with intestinal infections;
• large portions of complementary foods;
• intolerance to introduced products;
• consumption of certain foods by the mother who is complaining;
• lactase deficiency, in which diarrhea in pregnant women is observed from the first days of life;
• cystic fibrosis - characterized by profuse diarrhea (liquid) with an unpleasant odor and greasy sheen;
• ARI, in addition to catarrhal symptoms in the nasopharynx, also often provokes diarrhea in infants.

The causative factors for diarrhea during pregnancy are the same as in adults. The only difference is the severity of the clinical picture, since during this period of a woman’s life any illnesses, infections, or poisonings are much more severe.

note: Diarrhea during pregnancy can have negative consequences, so it is very important to seek medical help as soon as the first symptoms appear.

In this case, the gestational age and the cause of diarrhea are of paramount importance. Diarrhea during early pregnancy can be the result of toxicosis, which is quite common. It does not pose a danger to the fetus, because the bacteria that provoke it do not leave the intestines. Severe poisoning can become a threat to the fetus if there is severe intoxication of the mother’s body and toxins penetrate through the placenta into the fetus’ body.

Particularly dangerous is poisoning from fungal poisons, which bypass the placental barrier and cause various defects in the development of the embryo. Diarrhea during early pregnancy is dangerous if the frequency of bowel movements becomes more than 5 times in 24 hours. If there is diarrhea and vomiting, this further complicates the situation and requires immediate medical attention. The consequences of severe diarrhea in a pregnant woman can be:

• spontaneous miscarriage;
• decreased maternal blood pressure;
• the addition of renal failure in a pregnant woman;
• formation of congenital anomalies in the fetus.

note: after the 30th week, diarrhea is most often caused by a virus or late toxicosis. Complications of this situation can include premature birth and thrombosis, so if you have symptoms of diarrhea, you should see a doctor. Sometimes diarrhea during the period from 38 to 40 weeks of pregnancy is a sign of natural cleansing of the body and imminent labor.

The disease can have very different causes and be a manifestation of many pathologies. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to undergo a routine examination and be sure to tell your doctor about the accompanying symptoms. Diagnosis of diarrhea includes:

If necessary or if indicated, the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

The most informative may be such instrumental studies as:

• colonoscopy – optical examination of the colon mucosa;
• EGDS – endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum;
• taking material from the stomach to determine the presence of bacteria Helicobacter pylori;
• – examination of the large intestine using an x-ray method;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - allows you to evaluate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon.

Diarrhea: Treatment and Prevention of Dehydration

Water diarrhea in an adult requires treatment, which consists of an integrated approach. It is important not only to eliminate the symptoms, but also the cause that caused the diarrhea. Treatment for diarrhea includes:

REMEDIES FOR INFECTION

Treatment of diarrhea should be comprehensive: first of all, it is necessary to get rid of the cause of the malaise and, at the same time, start the process of restoring the disturbed intestinal microflora. The drug "Ecofuril" will help cope with both problems. The active ingredient of Ecofuril is nifuroxazide. Ecofuril is not absorbed and acts on the cause of diarrhea - microbes, only in the intestines, reduces the amount of toxins produced by pathogenic microorganisms, this improves the general condition of a person with diarrhea. The prebiotic lactulose, an excipient of the drug, creates a nutrient medium for the growth of its own beneficial bacteria in the intestines. It is recommended to take Ecofuril capsules or suspension for 5-7 days, but even after the end of taking the drug, the effect of the prebiotic continues and therefore does not require additional courses of pro- and prebiotics in the recovery period. Ecofuril® for children over 3 years of age and adults is available in capsules, and for children aged 1 month to 3 years – in the form of a banana-flavored suspension. It is not recommended to take this drug during pregnancy and you should consult your doctor.

To avoid dehydration, it is important to follow these rules:

1. Drinking plenty of fluids is the basis for treating diarrhea, because without it, all other drugs will be ineffective.
2. Drink more fluids immediately after diarrhea begins.
3. If you have diarrhea, you are allowed to drink the following drinks: ready-made saline solutions (Regidron), rosehip decoction, raisin compote, chamomile decoction.
4. If you have diarrhea, do not drink juice, milk, soda, or sweet tea.
5. It is necessary to drink after each act of defecation.
6. The volume of liquid drunk should be approximately 150 to 300 ml at a time.
7. If vomiting and diarrhea are present, you should drink in small sips, otherwise drinking too much in one gulp can provoke a vomiting attack.
8. It is not necessary to eat during diarrhea; it is important to drink a lot, but if the patient wants to eat, then you should not refuse him.
9. BRYAS - optimal diet on the first day of diarrhea - banana - rice - apple (baked) - crackers.

note: when there is relief in the patient’s condition, then from the 2nd or 3rd day you can already introduce meat and yogurt, but low-fat, into the diet, as well as porridge and pasta.

What to do at home for diarrhea

If diarrhea occurs, you should adhere to general treatment instructions that will alleviate the patient’s condition and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. These include:

1. Refusal to eat certain foods (fatty meat, eggs in any form, milk, hot seasonings, soda, cabbage, cucumbers, radishes).

Chronic diarrhea (or, in simple, “folk” language - regular diarrhea) is when emptying the rectum occurs twice a day or even more often for several weeks.

As a result, the patient may experience dangerous symptoms such as dehydration and sudden weight loss. At the same time, diarrhea itself may be only one of the manifestations of some more serious disease. That is why it is so important to establish its cause.

Persistent diarrhea is a symptom of a chronic disease

There are several types of diarrhea:

• Dyspeptic. In this case, problems with stool arise due to digestive disorders. As a rule, this happens if the patient’s body lacks the necessary digestive enzymes.
• Nutritional. Diarrhea of ​​this type is a direct consequence of food or diet violations (abuse of fatty heavy foods, alcohol and other “harmful substances”).
• Infectious. In this case, the causative agents of the disease are harmful microorganisms or viruses.
• Neurogenic. Diarrhea of ​​this type occurs when there is nervous overstrain (for example, due to a feeling of strong fear) due to disturbances in the regulatory system of the gastrointestinal tract that accompany stress.
• Medication. As is clear from the name of the disease, problems with stool in this case are the result of disruption of the intestinal microflora through the use of strong medications (most often -).
• Toxic. Such diarrhea can hardly be called a disease; rather, it is a protective reaction of the body aimed at cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of toxic substances that have entered there.

All of the listed types of diarrhea are divided into two main groups – diseases of infectious and non-infectious origin. In each of these cases, problems with stool can arise due to a number of reasons. Infectious diarrhea can be caused by the following pathogens:

Diarrhea can occur due to poisoning

Unlike infectious, non-infectious diarrhea does not have direct pathogens. It usually occurs for one of the following reasons:

• disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas;
• inflammatory processes occurring in the mucous membranes of the rectum;
• impairment due to antibiotic use;
• taking medications with a strong laxative effect;
• the occurrence of tumors (both malignant and benign);
• lack of immunoglobulin production;
• allergic reactions of the body to “chemicals” (most often to preservatives);
• hereditary diseases such as cystic fibrosis;
• liver problems (insufficient production of necessary enzymes);
• increased activity of the thyroid gland;
• alcohol abuse.

Before you consult a doctor with your problem, remember what exactly preceded the diarrhea (in other words, which of the above factors could have affected your body). In addition, pay attention to the nature of the discharge itself, as well as other symptoms of the disease (we will talk about the latter in more detail). All this is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and prescription of effective treatment.

It is important to know: often chronic diarrhea is only a symptom of various diseases of the small and large intestines (colitis, lipodystrophy, tropical diarrhea or any food allergies). In this case, in order to eliminate problems with stool, it is necessary, first of all, to treat the accompanying disease.

About the symptoms of diarrhea

Diarrhea is dangerous due to dehydration

In addition to loose stools, which is the main symptom of chronic diarrhea, the disease is also characterized by some other signs. Which of them should be taken into account when making a diagnosis?

1. . As a rule, this symptom indicates an infectious origin of the disease.
2. and vomiting. The body’s desire to cleanse itself in all possible natural ways suggests that the cause of diarrhea is probably severe poisoning.
3. , smell from the mouth. Even in the absence of diarrhea, these symptoms usually indicate some kind of disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract (most often, digestive problems caused by a lack of appropriate enzymes), therefore, most likely you are dealing with dyspeptic diarrhea.
4. accompanied by unpleasant or painful sensations. Unfortunately, such reactions are typical for any type of diarrhea. They arise as a result of spasms in the intestines caused by increased muscle contraction, which is inevitable with regular diarrhea. The type of bowel movement itself can tell you a lot:
5. Yellowish diarrhea is quite common. This type of feces indicates, first of all, that the patient’s intestines are currently working at an accelerated rate. In the absence of other symptoms, this type of diarrhea is not a cause for alarm and can be treated with appropriate medications.
6. Feces with or indicate an infection that has entered the body (usually the causative agent of the disease in such cases is staphylococcus). In this case, it would be wisest to consult a doctor about the problem, since greenish diarrhea, among other things, indicates a weakened immune system. This means that the body is unlikely to cope with the infection on its own.
7. Dark-colored stool is most often a sign of something opening in the stomach. Such cases require immediate medical attention and, possibly, hospitalization of the patient.
8. Light or white feces (as well as dark urine) indicate problems with the gallbladder and the need for appropriate diagnostics.
9. Bloody diarrhea can be the result of severe food or chemical poisoning, a dangerous infection, or even the formation of a tumor. In any case, as soon as you notice blood in your stool, you should immediately seek medical help.

Very loose stools (water diarrhea), accompanied by pain and pain in the abdomen, are usually a sign of the onset of cholera. The situation also requires medical intervention.

What guides doctors when making a diagnosis and prescribing treatment?

Dairy products can cause diarrhea

Today, to diagnose diarrhea and related diseases, as well as to identify the source of the problem, doctors use the following methods:

In some of the above situations, successful treatment of chronic diarrhea will require hospitalization of the patient. In any case, fixing the problem will take quite a long time.

To alleviate the symptoms of the disease until the treatment takes effect, you can use adsorbent preparations: Activated carbon, Smecta, Entorosgel and Filtrum.

Treatment of chronic diarrhea with traditional methods

Constant diarrhea is very debilitating for the body.

To alleviate the course of the disease, you can also use traditional methods. Below are several simple but very effective recipes to combat diarrhea:

1. Walnut-based tincture. 300 grams of nuts are peeled, filled with alcohol (about 20 ml will be needed) and left in the dark for 5 days. Use the product diluted with water; 15 drops three times a day, before meals. After the first improvements appear, you must immediately stop taking the tincture.
2. Tea with mint. For 200 ml of boiling water, take only 20 grams of aromatic leaves. Infuse the drink for 10 minutes. You can and even need to drink this tea three times a day: in addition to diarrhea, it relieves belching, nausea and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Green tea. For 2 liters of water take 100 grams of tea leaves; the mixture is boiled for 10 minutes, after which it is left warm for about another hour. It is better to drink tea little by little (50 grams), before meals, no more than 4 times a day.
4. Oak bark. Prepare a decoction: take 2 tablespoons of oak bark, a spoonful of nettles and a spoonful of blackberry leaves for 500 ml of boiling water and leave the mixture for two hours. Drink the product in small doses (100 g) before each meal.

A simple diet will help relieve the symptoms of diarrhea. Try to eat more, but, if possible, avoid legumes, fatty meats and any other delicacies that increase peristalsis.

Diarrhea in adults is a fairly common disorder, which can have many causes. Most often there are two types: oversaturated with water and with blood. The first category, although it causes severe discomfort for a person, treatment of watery diarrhea takes place in a short time and the main emphasis is on replenishing the loss of fluid and beneficial microelements. The second category is more dangerous, due to the development of serious diseases against the background of diarrhea with blood. The review article will discuss the causes of loose stools, how to cure persistent diarrhea and preventive methods.

The change in stool is due to a malfunction in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor nutrition, overeating and other factors can result in constant diarrhea. The right remedy to solve a problem can be found by knowing the cause. If you cannot make a diagnosis yourself, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Reasons for appearance:

• penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the intestines;
• viral infection;
• food poisoning;
• stomach diseases;
• stressful state;
• side effect from taking medications.

Diarrhea often manifests itself with other symptoms - nausea, fever, gag reflex, abdominal pain. The totality of manifestations of a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the color of stool, makes it possible to establish the probable cause.

Loose stools in an adult

The human body in a healthy state is capable of excreting up to 300 g of feces per day. Diarrhea in an adult occurs due to a sudden influx of water and there can be many reasons for this. In addition to the above reasons, there are more compelling reasons for immediately seeking prompt medical help.

Causes of diarrhea in adults can often be caused by serious illnesses, such as:

• dysentery, intestinal flu;
• deficiency of beneficial enzymes;
• Crohn's disease;
• mercury poisoning.

In such cases, it is not enough to use traditional treatment for diarrhea; it is necessary to quickly establish a diagnosis, the cause, and prescribe the correct methods, which are often carried out in a hospital.

When it comes to food indigestion, home treatment is appropriate. The symptomatic picture of frequent loose stools in adults manifests itself in the form of abdominal pain, high fever, nausea, vomiting and bloating. However, you need to be careful - if, in addition to these manifestations, the patient, along with diarrhea, experiences dry mucous membranes, chapped lips and dark urine, then you should immediately call an ambulance - this often indicates serious intoxication that occurs as a result of the disease.

How to treat diarrhea?

It can be treated both with medication and with traditional methods. It is important to remember that correct ones in an adult can only be obtained after consultation with a doctor. At a doctor’s appointment, a diagnosis is made, the causes are determined, and a rehabilitation course is prescribed.

Most often, doctors prescribe the following drugs:

1. Sorbents (De-Nol, Smecta, Balignin and others) are the basis for the treatment of indigestion. Such drugs are designed to remove harmful viruses and bacteria from the intestines. They also reduce bloating and gas formation.

2. Medicines to reduce the production of intestinal mucus. Most often, the appointment is prescribed in the first days so that the disorder does not take the form of chronic diarrhea. These anti-inflammatory drugs combat the causes of Crohn's disease. These include Diclofenac, Metipred, Sulfasalosin and others.

3. Fermented medications for the treatment of diarrhea are prescribed in cases where it is associated with gastrointestinal diseases, that is, absorption in the intestines is impaired. Creon, Festal, Mezim are often prescribed.

4. A drug to reduce intestinal motility stops diarrhea, but is not prescribed if the cause is an infection - Loperamide, Imodium, Octreotide and the like.

If an adult has persistent diarrhea that cannot be cured within 3 days, you should immediately consult a doctor. Chronic loose stools often indicate serious illnesses, and are also observed in some forms of oncology.

ethnoscience

In addition to traditional methods of treatment, there are also folk remedies that are no less effective. Often, in the first days of diarrhea, they help normalize the functioning of the intestines. Let's look at popular recipes.

1. Herbal decoctions based on chamomile, oak bark, bird cherry. These remedies must be taken throughout the day. You can buy it at the pharmacy.

2. A collection of St. John's wort (2 tbsp), sage (2 tbsp), immortelle (4 tbsp) and rhubarb root (1 tbsp). Mix the herbs, take 2 tbsp. l of the resulting mixture and pour 1 tbsp. boiling water Boil in a water bath for another 10 minutes and let it brew for half an hour. Then filter and take 1/3 tbsp. three times a day. The course of treatment is until stool is completely normalized.

3. To cure persistent diarrhea, dill is an indispensable remedy. Its seeds are ground into powder, take half a teaspoon and pour one glass of milk. The mixture is boiled for 3 minutes. Cool and drink 4 times a day.

4. Another herbal recipe is effective for treatment. Calendula, chamomile, plantain leaves and blueberries, as well as calamus root, caraway seeds and activated carbon are taken in proportions of 1 tbsp. l. 1 tbsp is poured. boiling water, heat in a water bath for 15-20 minutes. Then let it cool, decant and top up with boiling water to the original volume. Take 1/3 tbsp. three times a day.

The juice of dogwood, grapes and blackberries, prepared at home, has a high effect. It is noteworthy that these berries cleanse the intestines even of dysentery germs during diarrhea. Drinking half a glass of juice daily before meals improves the microflora of the mucous membrane and normalizes stool. However, you shouldn't overdo it. It is better to use this recipe in courses and stop taking it in case of intoxication.

It is important to drink plenty of water during this period to prevent dehydration. Following a diet and rest from physical activity will help in the treatment of loose stools.

Prevention is the basis of health

In order for a person to feel comfortable and not focus on the intestines, simple rules should be applied.

For prevention it is necessary:

• maintain personal hygiene;
• wash vegetables and fruits in hot water;
• monitor the freshness of products;
• drink boiled or purified water;
• reduce antibiotic intake;
• Healthy food;
• Do not eat in crowded places during epidemics.

Paying attention to your health is also more economically beneficial than purchasing expensive products to cure diarrhea. Doctors advise adhering to a healthy lifestyle, strengthening the immune system and drinking herbal teas and herbal decoctions as a preventive measure. Following these recommendations will allow you to feel comfortable and enjoy life.

Frequent loose stools are popularly called diarrhea, and in medicine – diarrhea. Diarrhea in an adult is just a symptom that can be caused by various reasons. Many of them can negatively affect the general condition of the body. Frequent and recurring episodes of diarrhea are a sign that you should visit a doctor.

Diarrhea syndrome

Why not a symptom? Because diarrhea is a disorder of a very different nature. It has varying degrees of severity depending on its causes. The consequences may also be different.

The general principle of the appearance of loose stools in humans is that a large amount of moisture is released with feces. In adults, such conditions can occur due to:

• infectious processes (food poisoning);
• dysbiosis (disturbance of the normal content of bacteria in the intestines);
• disorders of the function of internal organs (congenital and acquired);
• exposure to a number of chemicals (toxins, laxatives).

Please note that frequent loose stools cannot be ignored!

As a one-time event after an error in nutrition, diarrhea has no clinical significance. And if stool becomes more frequent, accompanied by abdominal pain, increased body temperature and a change in general condition, consulting a doctor becomes of great importance.

The main consequence of frequent diarrhea is dehydration and disruption of the protein and lipid balance of the blood. If these disorders become pronounced, they cannot be corrected without a qualified approach. The consequences may be unpredictable.

Infectious processes

Diarrhea in an adult occurs due to the development of pathogenic microorganisms or their products (exotoxins) in the intestines. The process is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and body temperature rises.

Fluid loss can amount to several liters in a relatively short period of time, which has an extremely negative effect on a person’s general condition.

The appearance of the stool changes. For example, with amoebic dysentery - a scanty mucous character, with cholera - a type of rice water.

The condition of a sick person can become very serious at any time. Indeed, in addition to dehydration against the background of increased fluid excretion, the microbe itself has a negative effect. The severity of the effect depends on the type of pathogen - these can be microbes from different groups.

Therefore, treatment should be started under the supervision of doctors, and not ask the pharmacy for “something for diarrhea.” Therapeutic measures begin with identifying the pathogen and choosing the most effective antimicrobial drug. It is impossible to carry out such events on your own.

The lack of effective treatment leads to rapid deterioration of health. This is caused by dehydration and the toxic effect of microorganisms. In the absence of specific treatment for cholera, a person can die within 24 hours.

Dysbacteriosis

This pathology has become widespread due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics. Normally, the human intestine contains microorganisms that do not cause pathological processes. They are actively involved in digestion and the synthesis of some important B vitamins, which the human body itself is not capable of producing.

Independent use of antibiotics with or without cause causes the death of beneficial microbes along with pathogenic ones. Result: microorganisms that are not affected by antibiotics - fungi and yeast - actively multiply in the intestines.

Normal digestion and absorption of liquid food components are disrupted. The processes of fermentation and putrefaction begin in the digestive tract. Peristalsis accelerates and diarrhea appears. Body temperature may rise.

Another extremely dangerous cause of dysbiosis is immunodeficiency. Unfortunately, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues to spread today.

Disorders of internal organ function

First of all, these are disturbances in the functioning of the digestive glands (liver, pancreas).

Congenital deficiency in the synthesis of digestive enzymes (enzymopathy) is detected in childhood. But in an adult, it also doesn’t go away, and if there is an error in the diet, diarrhea can occur.

Regarding acquired pathology, diarrhea can appear with:

• gastritis and duodenitis;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• hepatocholecystitis;
• colitis

Acute conditions such as pancreatitis and appendicitis are also accompanied by loose stools. In such cases, abdominal symptoms are also observed: pain, nausea, vomiting, appetite disturbances (dyspeptic disorders).

In 99% of cases, frequent diarrhea in an adult, accompanied by pain, has a serious cause and often requires surgical treatment. This situation is typical for pancreatitis and cholecystitis.

Chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines are also a common cause of diarrhea in adults. Diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcers, chronic colitis and duodenitis can cause disturbances in the functioning of the intestines.

Chronic pancreatitis, if not treated and compensated, sooner or later leads to insufficient fat digestion (malabsorption syndrome) and the appearance of loose stools. Feces contain undigested fats, so they are difficult to wash off, shiny, and have a disgusting smell.

Exposure to chemicals

Adults may complain of diarrhea after taking laxative medications, especially if the dosage and regimen are not followed.

Liquid stool appears as a result of poisoning by various poisons, both in a summer resident after spraying beetles, and in a chemical plant employee.

The degree of poisoning directly determines the intensity, frequency and duration of diarrhea. Without professional medical help, only diarrhea from laxatives will go away on its own and without harm. But even in this case, the doctor can adjust the regimen and dosage of laxative drugs so that they do not lead to uncomfortable conditions.

Frequent loose stools force a person to visit the restroom many times a day, which negatively affects the quality of life. Pharmacy offers several remedies that can stop the pathology. But under no circumstances should they be abused.

Remember that diarrhea causes changes in the composition of the blood, which negatively affect health and can provoke extremely unpleasant consequences. It is beyond the power of an ordinary person to determine how dangerous this condition is to health. Consult your doctor. The help of a specialist should never be neglected.

What is diarrhea and what could be its causes, watch the video:

The situation when stomach pain and diarrhea occurs is not so rare. There are many reasons why this condition develops. Diarrhea is accompanied by stools that are supersaturated with water, sometimes mixed with blood. In the first case, everything is not so scary, since the treatment process is short and is aimed at replenishing lost microelements and fluid. If defecation is accompanied by bloody inclusions in the stool, this signals the development of a serious disease in the patient’s body.

This article will talk about the reasons that provoke loose stools in an adult (occurring constantly), types of chronic diarrhea, symptoms of the pathological condition, treatment features and prevention of persistent diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea and its types

Chronic diarrhea is a dangerous pathology that causes dehydration of the body. Intestinal dysfunction develops for various reasons, causing it to be divided into several types. According to the duration of the course, they are distinguished:

• acute diarrhea lasting up to 14 days;
• frequent diarrhea that has become chronic, lasting 4 weeks or more.

Loose stools are accompanied by unpleasant sensations, pain, discomfort near the rectum, and fecal incontinence.

Constant diarrhea in an adult also has its own classification, and it happens:

• secretory;
• fatty;
• osmotic;
• inflammatory.

Frequent loose stools in an adult develop under the influence of psycho-emotional factors (for example, chronic stress, depression, neuroses), gastrointestinal diseases, and intoxications. Frequent diarrhea that occurs in adults also occurs due to prolonged use of potent antibiotics.

The development of secretory diarrhea in adults is caused by exposure to potent drugs, fatty and bile acids, and toxic substances. Chronic loose stools are caused by stimulant laxatives (eg Aloe or Bisacodyl). Daily diarrhea and abdominal pain occur due to regular alcohol consumption. The reason why chronic diarrhea occurs in an adult may be poor absorption of bile acids.

A condition when a person’s stomach is seething and liquid stool appears, occurs due to the accumulation of bacteria in the intestines, inflammation in the ileum, its complete or partial removal. It rarely happens that frequent diarrhea occurs due to cancer:

• gastrinomas;
• carcinoid tumors;
• oncological diseases of the thyroid gland.

If diarrhea appears against the background of cancerous pathologies, it is usually accompanied by additional symptoms. However, a patient with persistent diarrhea should not immediately suspect the presence of cancer. It is better to visit a specialist and undergo the necessary tests that will confirm or refute your fears.

Frequent osmotic diarrhea occurs due to an increased amount of osmolar components located in the lumen of the rectum. A peculiarity of this type of diarrhea is that liquid stool appears even with complete fasting.

Causes of frequent osmotic-type diarrhea:

• products containing mannitol or sorbitol components;
• taking medications with Lactulose, Magnesium sulfate, Oristat or constant use of Neomycin or Cholestyramine;
• short bowel syndrome;
• fistulas in the intestines;
• lack of lactase in the body (this condition can be either congenital or acquired due to inflammation in the intestines).

Inflammatory diarrhea develops against the background of intestinal inflammation resulting from:

Constantly loose stools in an adult can be a consequence of increased activity of the pancreas, irritable bowel syndrome, or taking prokinetic drugs (Citapride, Metoclopramide). All these problems accelerate the contraction of the intestinal walls, and as a result, a disorder of its functions occurs.

Fatty diarrhea

Fatty diarrhea is one of the most common disorders that develops as a result of a malfunction in the digestive system and malabsorption of food. Such conditions are often provoked by diseases of the pancreas. The diseased organ is unable to fully perform its excretory functions or, conversely, produces pancreatic juice in large quantities. Because of this, individual components (for example, fats) are not absorbed in the intestines. A similar problem arises as a result of certain liver diseases, prolonged hunger, and bacterial infections.

Symptoms of the disease

Frequent loose stools are not the only symptom that occurs with chronic diarrhea. This pathology is one of the main signs of gastrointestinal disorder. Expanded symptoms will allow you to determine exactly why diarrhea appeared and how to treat the disorder.

It is important! Dangerous signs of intestinal disorders are blood in the stool, severe pain on the right side, and an increase in temperature to 38–39 °C.

Causes of pathology

Chronic diarrhea in adults develops due to impaired microflora of the intestinal mucosa (in medicine this is called dysbiosis). Pathology manifests itself as a result of long-term use of antibiotic drugs and drugs with bactericidal properties.

Diarrhea can be nutritional, and develops due to erratic, improper food intake. The pathological condition occurs as a result of a sudden change in diet (for example, when switching to complex animal proteins or foods of plant origin). Such adverse consequences result from drinking carbonated drinks or alcohol along with meals.

Note! The cause of intestinal dysfunction is often poor quality, missing food, poisonous plants, chemical components, and mushrooms.

When poisoning occurs in the stomach, vomiting, hallucinations (up to loss of consciousness), and sometimes fever appear. Severe poisoning is accompanied by diarrhea with severe symptoms. There are several reasons that cause intestinal upset.

If diarrhea continues for a long time, you should pay attention to the color and consistency of the stool. Using them, you can find out the true cause of the disease.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of the suspected pathology is carried out by a doctor after a preliminary conversation with the patient. The specialist finds out the nature of the disorder (acute or chronic), then takes stool for analysis and checks whether the problem remains if the person completely refuses food. A set of diagnostic procedures allows you to find out the exact cause of persistent diarrhea.

If the disorder is chronic, you must quickly undergo the required blood tests:

• general;
• detection of vitamin B12 concentration;
• Ca concentration level;
• folic acid level;
• checking the correctness and completeness of the functioning of the thyroid gland and liver;
• Fe concentration;
• study of biomaterial for celiac disease.

The causes of chronic diarrhea necessitate additional tests that will help confirm the diagnosis and prescribe adequate, effective treatment. Taking into account the patient’s complaints, the doctor prescribes special examinations:

1. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
2. Colonoscopy, during which a biopsy of the intestinal mucosa is taken for further histopathological examination.
3. X-ray of the abdominal cavity.

Features of treatment

Treatment of chronic diarrhea is based on changes in the diet plan and the use of irrigation. The use of probiotics and drugs that help maintain intestinal motility is also recommended. Antibacterial medications also have a good effect. If medications are the cause of diarrhea in adults, then it is better to stop using them.

Treatment of chronic diarrhea is not an easy procedure. Sometimes it is provoked by nonspecific inflammatory processes in the intestines caused by ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. In this case, the doctor prescribes symptomatic therapy, which helps reduce the severity of negative symptoms. It is mandatory to take medications that compensate for the lack of microelements.

If diarrhea continues for a long time, its therapy is carried out with medication or using traditional recipes. Remember that persistent diarrhea can be cured only after receiving medical advice. The specialist conducts diagnostics, finds out the causes of chronic diarrhea, and then develops a suitable treatment regimen.

Drug therapy

The recovery course for persistent and persistent diarrhea is based on the use of a complex of medications.

1. Medicinal compounds that reduce the level of mucus secretion in the intestines. They are recommended to be taken in the first days after the onset of abdominal pain and loose stools (to prevent the pathology from becoming chronic). Anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Sulfasalosin) effectively fight Crohn's disease.
2. Sorbents (Smecta, De-Nol) are the basis of the therapeutic course for those patients who often have diarrhea. They reduce the formation of gases in the intestines, reduce bloating, and remove harmful bacteria and viruses.
3. Medicines to reduce intestinal motility will help stop diarrhea (Imodium, Loperamide, Octreotide), but they are not prescribed if diarrhea is caused by an infection.
4. Fermented drugs are prescribed when chronic diarrhea develops as a result of gastrointestinal diseases, and its treatment is based on the use of Mezim, Festal or Creon.

Folk piggy bank recipes against diarrhea

Traditional medicines can help cure abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea in men and women. In the first days of deterioration, they help normalize intestinal function. We bring to the attention of readers several popular recipes from the people's piggy bank.

1. Herbal decoctions prepared from chamomile, bird cherry, oak bark. They can be taken throughout the day, and the raw materials for them are sold at the pharmacy.
2. Herbal mixture of immortelle (4 tbsp), sage (2 tbsp), St. John's wort (2 tbsp), rhubarb root (1 tbsp). All ingredients are mixed, the resulting composition is taken in the amount of 2 tbsp. l. and steam with a glass of boiling water. Then the product is infused in a water bath for 10 minutes, and then another half hour in a dark place. When the infusion is prepared, filter it and take 1/3 cup three times a day until bowel movements normalize.
3. Collection of herbs from calendula, chamomile, blueberry and plantain leaves, calamus rhizomes, activated carbon tablets and caraway seeds. Each of these components is taken 1 tbsp. l., pour 1 glass of boiling water and leave in a water bath for 15–20 minutes. Then the infusion is cooled, decanted, and the missing volume of liquid is topped up with boiling water. Take anti-diarrhea medication 1/3 cup three times a day.
4. A good remedy for constant loose stools are dill seeds. They are ground to a powdery state, then take ½ tsp. the resulting product and pour 1 glass of milk. The mixture of components is boiled for 3 minutes, then cooled and drunk 4 times a day.
5. For intestinal disorders, a collection prepared from agrimony, Chernobyl, chicory, plantain, mint, oregano, yellow bedstraw, city gravilat, geranium, chamomile, and burnet helps. This fee is taken in the amount of 2 tbsp. l., pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, wrap warmly and leave for 1 hour. The infusion should be drunk warm, 0.5 cups, half an hour before meals. It is consumed 4 times a day, the last time being before bed. The composition is also suitable for the treatment of diarrhea in children. Babies under 1 year old should be given 1 tbsp. l. 4 times a day, for children 1–2 years old, take 2 tbsp. l., 3–6 years old – ¼ cup each, and 7–12 years old – 1/3 cup each.
6. A mixture of dogwood juice, blackberries and grapes has good effectiveness in combating indigestion. The active components of the berries help get rid of dysentery microbes in the intestines. Half a glass of juice daily will help improve intestinal microflora and normalize the bowel movement process. If intoxication develops during use of the drug, it is better to stop treatment with it.

Diet food

When the causes are determined and treatment is prescribed, it is worth taking another important step on the path to recovery, namely, reviewing your diet. You should drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Doctors recommend giving up physical activity and following a diet. In addition to water, you can drink tea, compotes, and fruit drinks. To make things easier on your stomach, you should take your food with a small amount of liquid.

Natural pectins must be present in food. They are found in large quantities in yogurt, banana pulp and applesauce. Foods that contain a lot of potassium (milk and dairy products, boiled potatoes, fresh fruits) help normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Remember to salt your food and use enough salt. This component will help retain water in the body. The diet should contain protein foods. Eat boiled eggs, boiled chicken, fried turkey meat.

It is better to exclude raw vegetables from the menu, because fresh plant fibers can cause a deterioration in the condition. Before use, they are blanched or doused with boiling water. Firm vegetables (zucchini, asparagus, celery) are immersed in boiling water for several minutes.

You should know what aggravates the condition of chronic diarrhea. Prohibited products include caffeine, which is found in large quantities in carbonated drinks, cocoa and coffee. They should be completely removed from the diet. It is also recommended to avoid heavy and fatty foods (for example, those cooked with a lot of fat or oil). Fresh milk and unfermented dairy products should not be included in the menu of a patient suffering from chronic diarrhea. To avoid irritation of the intestines, solid foods: nuts, seeds, hard-ground bread and raw carrots should also be excluded.

Preventive measures

In order to feel comfortable and not look for an answer to the question of what to do if you have an upset stomach or intestines, you should take preventive measures against diarrhea in a timely manner.

1. Maintain personal hygiene.
2. Eat only fresh food.
3. Wash vegetables and fruits in hot water.
4. Drink only purified or boiled water.
5. Try to use antibiotics in minimal quantities, or even better, avoid using them altogether.
6. Eat right.
7. Do not eat in public places during epidemics of intestinal infections.

Remember that paying attention to your health can help you avoid serious and adverse health consequences. You won’t have to spend a lot of money on treating diarrhea if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle, constantly work to strengthen your immune system, drink herbal teas and herbal infusions.

If an adult has constant diarrhea, the reasons can be very different. Diarrhea is loose, frequent stools. This is only a clinical symptom, not a separate disease. Despite this, prolonged diarrhea indicates a serious pathology or poisoning.

Diarrhea can be dyspeptic, nutritional, neurogenic, medicinal and toxic. In the first case, frequent loose stools are observed due to a lack of enzymes. The cause of nutritional diarrhea is poor nutrition, alcoholism and food allergies. The cause of diarrhea may lie in nervous tension (stress).

In this situation, the nervous regulation of the intestines is disrupted. Very often, diarrhea is a consequence that develops while taking medications. Toxic diarrhea is the most severe. It develops from poisoning with food, chemicals, poisons of mushrooms and plants. The following are the causes of loose stools in adults:

When a person consults a doctor, the nature of the bowel movements should be determined. There is diarrhea, which is combined with other symptoms (nausea, fever, abdominal pain, flatulence). Loose stools may be green, yellow, black, or whitish. Sometimes there is diarrhea with water. Detection of blood, mucus or pus in stool may indicate colon pathology, including cancer.

Intestinal dysbiosis

A common cause of diarrhea in adults is dysbacteriosis. Feces in the intestines are formed as chyme moves through. At the same time, nutrients are digested, as well as various electrolytes and water are absorbed. The digestion process occurs with the participation of microflora. The normal composition of bacteria in the intestinal cavity is represented by bifidobacteria, bacteroides, lactobacilli, E. coli, peptococci and other microbes.

The causes of dysbiosis include oral administration of antibacterial drugs, radiation, lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet, the presence of chronic intestinal pathology, and immunodeficiency. Loose stools are most often observed with dysbacteriosis of degrees 3 and 4. The development of diarrhea is based on the following processes:

• impaired water absorption;
• increased intestinal motility;
• formation of a large volume of bile acids.

Often such patients are worried about nausea, allergies in the form of a rash, bloating, pain, loss of appetite, and belching. Long-term dysbacteriosis causes the development of chronic enterocolitis and weight loss for the patient.

Symptom of pancreatitis

For diarrhea, causes include pancreatic disease. This organ takes an active part in the digestive process. Diarrhea is common. With this disease, organ function decreases and insufficient enzyme production is observed. The causes of pancreatitis include chronic alcoholism, domestic drunkenness, cholelithiasis, inflammation of the small intestine, peptic ulcer, acute inflammatory process, exposure to toxic substances, unhealthy diet (overeating, consuming large amounts of fat).

Frequent and loose stools against the background of pancreatitis are observed due to the entry of poorly digested food into the large intestine. A large amount of nutrients leads to the activation of bacteria. This intensifies fermentation and putrefactive processes, which ultimately leads to stool disturbances such as diarrhea, frequent urge to go to the toilet and bloating.

The stool is often mushy. It contains many pieces of undigested food. With inflammation of the pancreas, diarrhea is not the only symptom. It is combined with pain in the left side or lower back and dyspeptic syndrome. Stool analysis for suspected chronic pancreatitis plays an important role in making a diagnosis.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

The causes of diarrhea are often associated with diseases of the large intestine.

Loose stools are a manifestation of ulcerative colitis.

With this disease, inflammation of the mucous membrane and the formation of ulcers are observed. Mostly young people aged 20 to 40 years are affected. There are several theories for the development of this pathology (autoimmune, genetic, infectious). Ulcerative colitis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• bowel dysfunction;
• the presence of blood and mucus in the stool;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• bloating.

During exacerbation, body temperature rises. Patients lose weight. They experience weakness and muscle pain. The function of the organ of vision is often impaired. Diarrhea is one of the most persistent symptoms. 95% of patients complain about it.

The frequency of bowel movements is on average 3-4 times a day. With exacerbation, the urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent. Blood and large amounts of mucus are found in the stool. Diarrhea in ulcerative colitis is sometimes combined with constipation.

Crohn's disease

One of the most severe inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract is Crohn's disease. It affects all layers (mucosal, muscular and submucosal). Areas of inflamed tissue alternate with healthy ones. The process can affect the upper and lower parts of the digestive tube. The small intestine is most often affected. There are 3 degrees of severity of the disease.

With a mild course of the disease, the frequency of stools is up to 4 times a day. Blood is rarely present in stool. With moderate severity, diarrhea bothers patients up to 6 times a day. The presence of blood in stool is noticeable to the naked eye. Diarrhea with a frequency of up to 10 times indicates a severe course of the disease. In the latter case, complications develop (fistulas, abscesses, bleeding).

Develops in humans for unknown reasons. Young people under 35 years of age are most often affected. Additional symptoms of this pathology are cutting or aching pain in the abdomen, myalgia, weakness, malaise, and eye damage. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease can only be made after a thorough examination of the sick person.

Other reasons

Enterobiasis is manifested by the following symptoms:

• anal itching;
• cramping pain in the abdomen;
• loose stools;
• nausea;
• tenesmus;
• bloating and rumbling in the stomach.

In such patients, the stool becomes mushy. Diarrhea may alternate with constipation. Loose stools in adults are observed when protozoa (giardia) enter the intestines. Giardiasis can be contracted by eating unwashed vegetables and fruits. Diarrhea is the main symptom of this disease. The stool has a foul odor.

There are no pathological impurities (mucus and blood). This is a valuable diagnostic criterion. Bloody diarrhea in an adult is possible due to acute intestinal infections (dysentery). You can get sick by drinking unboiled water infected with Shigella, as well as poor-quality food products. With dysentery, the frequency of stools can reach 10 times a day. There is blood and mucus in the stool.

The presence of green liquid stool, reminiscent of swamp mud, indicates the development of salmonellosis. This disease is more severe. It occurs less frequently in adults than in children. Liquid stool that is gray in color, with a shiny and oily surface is a sign of enzymatic pancreatic insufficiency. Thus, the appearance of diarrhea in an adult may be a sign of intestinal or pancreatic diseases.

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, then, 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. For 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.

In medicine, the term diarrhea, or as it is called in everyday life, diarrhea, means frequent or single bowel movements with the release of liquid feces.

The causes of this disorder are so varied that almost everyone can suffer from it at least once. In medicine, there are 4 types of diarrhea, differing in the mechanism of development of this disease. Depending on the causes of diarrhea, diarrhea can be acute or chronic.

Read about diarrhea during pregnancy.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is called acute when bowel movements occur more than twice a day, the stool is liquid and it lasts no more than 2-3 weeks. At the same time, there is no recurrence of such phenomena in the medical history.

Causes of acute diarrhea

There are a huge number of factors that cause diarrhea. The main ones are the following:

• inflammatory processes in the intestines
• intestinal diseases
• , eating poor quality food
• taking medications
• travel (tourist diarrhea).

Infectious diarrhea

Acute infectious diarrhea is characterized by the following symptoms:

• general malaise
• fever
• lack of appetite
• vomit.

Vomiting mainly occurs with foodborne infections caused by staphylococci. For patients with salmonellosis and dysentery, its appearance is not typical.

The most common causative agents of acute diarrhea are and. They are contagious and are transmitted both from person to person and through household items and dirty products.

If blood appears in loose stools, this may indicate damage to the intestinal mucosa by pathogenic microbes such as Shigella, with enteropathogenic properties. The possibility of venereal disease of the rectum should be kept in mind.

Acute bloody diarrhea may be the first manifestation and. In this case, severe abdominal pain and a serious clinical condition occur.

Diarrhea from antibiotics

Diarrhea when taking antibiotics is caused by a disturbance in the bacterial flora of the intestines. As a rule, it does not worsen a person’s general condition and stops after stopping the medication. However, sometimes during antibiotic therapy it can develop, which is characterized by sudden severe watery diarrhea with high fever, and possibly blood in the stool.

Traveler's diarrhea

Most often, travelers' diarrhea is detected in people visiting countries with unfavorable epidemiological conditions.

The disease is caused by consuming food and water contaminated with feces. The causative agents are most often Escherichia coli, enteroviruses, and less often - Shigella, amoeba and Giardia.

The disease is not transmitted directly from one person to another. Sources of infection are meat, eggs, milk, culinary products, and water.

Traveler's diarrhea begins acutely. Symptoms such as:

• nausea
• vomit
• rumbling
• transfusion
• stomach ache
• diarrhea.

In the case of a viral infection, the disease is accompanied by headache and muscle pain.

Treatment requires a gentle diet with the exception, first of all, of raw vegetables and fruits. Intestinal antiseptics should be taken. It is important to skillfully determine the dose of drugs so as not to cause irritable bowel syndrome.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash food thoroughly, do not buy food from hand, and do not drink raw water.

What to do if you have stomach pain and diarrhea?

If diarrhea is not accompanied by fever and a noticeable deterioration in condition, then it is often enough to change your diet, drink herbal astringent decoctions or take an antidiarrheal drug. Nutrition and will be described in the article later.

But it is important not to miss the onset of a serious illness, therefore, in case of diarrhea with high fever or the presence of blood in the stool, bacteriological examinations of stool and stool are necessary. This will determine whether the cause of diarrhea is dysentery, ulcerative colitis, or pseudomembranous colitis, which is a complication when taking antibacterial drugs.

Chronic form

Diarrhea is chronic if it lasts more than 3 weeks. They talk about the chronic form and in the case of too much stool, more than 300 g per day. Although if a person consumes a lot of plant fiber, then this weight may be normal.

With chronic diarrhea, the body constantly loses fluids, electrolytes and other nutrients. Therefore, at the same time, many people suffer from insufficient weight, deficiency of vitamins and microelements and related complications. It is very important to quickly find the cause of diarrhea and begin treatment. It is especially important to make a quick diagnosis in children, since chronic diarrhea in children can cause developmental delays.

Causes

The main causes of chronic diarrhea are not only diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, but also a number of other factors.

Diarrhea accompanies diseases such as diabetes, endocrine disorders, and scleroderma. It is associated with impaired motor function. Sometimes diarrhea is the first clearly visible sign of these diseases. Therefore, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis. For example, with hyperthyroidism, the main manifestation of the disease in the first stages can also be prolonged diarrhea, while the main signs of the disease (a constant feeling of heat, irritability or weight loss with a good appetite) may recede into the background and not be taken into account by the patient.

Surgical interventions

The cause of chronic diarrhea in patients who have undergone gastric or intestinal resection may be bacterial contamination of the small intestine and disruption of its motor function.

After removal of the pancreas, diarrhea occurs, as with chronic alcoholism and frequent exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis. This is due to a deficiency of all pancreatic enzymes.

Gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea

Diarrhea accompanies Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Loose stools in such patients are usually profuse, foul-smelling, with floating fat. If you previously had or, then it is possible to assume Crohn's disease. These diseases may have extraintestinal manifestations such as arthritis or skin lesions.

Diarrhea can also be accompanied by diseases such as chronic gastritis of the stomach, diseases of the pancreas, hepatobiliary system, endocrine glands, as well as allergic reactions and hypo- and avitaminosis. Inflammation of diverticula can also be the cause.

Tumors and diarrhea

Tumors of the rectum and colon may also present with diarrhea. The absence of other causes of this disorder in older patients and the presence of blood in the stool support this assumption.

In patients with carcinoid syndrome, the disease may be accompanied by episodes of profuse watery diarrhea. If the tumor is large enough and there are no liver metastases, this may be the only symptom of the disease.

Survey

In case of chronic diarrhea, it is necessary to conduct an examination to determine the degree of dehydration of the body and identify the connection with systemic diseases. Moreover, both a comprehensive diagnosis of organs and macro- and microscopic examinations of feces are necessary. In modern medicine, there are clear diagnostic algorithms for acute and chronic diarrhea.

Functional diarrhea

There are also functional intestinal disorders, which are manifested by chronic diarrhea without organic and biochemical lesions. It is believed that heredity and psycho-emotional stress play a significant role in the occurrence of functional diarrhea.

The main signs to establish functional diarrhea:

• no diarrhea at night
• morning stool (usually after breakfast)
• strong uncontrollable urge to defecate.

So, the main distinguishing feature of this disorder is the clear dependence of the rhythm of bowel movements on the time of day. As a rule, this is repeated emptying in the morning or early afternoon. At the same time, during the first stool, feces may be more dense and voluminous, then its volume decreases and it becomes liquid. Often the act of defecation is accompanied by a feeling of incomplete bowel movement.

The diagnosis is made by excluding other causes of diarrhea. This type of diarrhea is typical for.

When should you see a doctor?

If diarrhea is not accompanied by a significant deterioration in the general condition of the body, then you can get by with home remedies. However, in some cases it is necessary to see a doctor:

• diarrhea in children under 12 years of age and elderly people over 75 years of age
• diarrhea during pregnancy
• diarrhea in people with weakened immune systems
• diarrhea as a side effect or drug intolerance
• fever
• bloody diarrhea
• complaints within three months after traveling abroad
• if diarrhea continues for more than three days.

Diet

For intestinal diseases accompanied by diarrhea, it is necessary to follow a diet that will help inhibit peristalsis and reduce the secretion of water and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen.

Peristalsis usually ensures that food entering the intestines moves forward and is digested as it goes. During the digestion process, more and more water is removed from food, and the stool takes on a normal, firm consistency. With diarrhea, the intestines are often “overactive”—they contract too much to quickly flush harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxins out of the body. At the same time, the food lump passes too quickly, the water does not have time to be absorbed, and too much water remains in the intestines. This is the cause of watery diarrhea. In addition, there is no time to absorb nutrients from food.

To restore peristalsis, mechanically and chemically gentle food is first necessary. Meets these requirements. It is prescribed during periods of exacerbation.

When the acute period ends, a diet is prescribed. This diet is similar to No. 4b, but all products are given in unground form. With this diet, baking foods in the oven is allowed. Additionally, ripe tomatoes, salad with sour cream, sweet berries and raw fruits are allowed.

How to get rid of diarrhea at home?

To restore peristalsis, you can take probiotics or medicinal charcoal. If there is a large loss of water, if there are no pharmaceutical means to retain fluid in the body, you can drink salted water.

Following simple rules will help normalize stool.

1. Proven remedies for diarrhea include finely pureed, peeled, raw apples. The pectin they contain binds water and toxins in the intestines.
2. Carrot soup: When carrots are cooked, cellular structures are destroyed and ingredients appear that prevent intestinal bacteria from entering the intestinal mucosa. In addition, the salt in the soup and the carrots contain important minerals. Carrot juice and grated raw carrots can also help.
3. Bananas are a particularly valuable home remedy for diarrhea - like apples, they contain pectin. In addition, they provide the body with minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Bananas must be thoroughly mashed before eating.
4. Black or green tea: When brewed for more than 3 minutes, the tea produces a sufficient amount of tannins, which have a calming effect on the intestines.
5. Low-fat clear broth or decoction: returns energy and minerals to the body. You can cook a small amount of pasta, rice or potatoes in it until soft. You need to drink the broth in small sips.
6. Decoctions of herbs and dried berries: pour 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried blueberries, chamomile, blackberry leaves or dill seeds into a quarter liter of boiling water and bring to a boil. They help protect the intestinal mucosa from pathogens.
7. In addition, liquids even out the hydrobalance.
8. Still water and herbal teas are best. Chilled drinks are poorly tolerated by the intestines. The liquid should be at least room temperature. But warm tea has a particularly beneficial effect on the stomach and intestines.

If you have diarrhea, it is very important to drink a lot

What should you not eat if you have diarrhea?

• raw vegetables (except carrots)
• Foods that cause gas, such as onions, beans, leeks, cabbage
• fatty sausages, such as salami
• fats, full-fat dairy products
• fried foods
• foods containing acids, such as citrus fruits, vinegar
• alcohol.

Often after answering the question: “What do you eat when you have diarrhea?”, the question follows: “When can you eat normally?”

After eliminating the infection, you can gradually switch to your usual diet, as soon as the intestines no longer create any problems (diarrhea, nausea and vomiting).

For chronic diarrhea caused by nutritional diseases, the diet is followed in the long term. This applies, for example, to lactose or fructose intolerance.