Vomiting and watery diarrhea. Loose stools like water, diarrhea with water, causes and treatment of diarrhea, what to do? Diarrhea in an adult. What to do

Diarrhea is a fairly common symptom that occurs during the development of many diseases. Liquid stool may indicate an eating disorder or indicate serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers. Why does the problem most often occur in adult patients, and what treatment methods will be relevant here? Let's talk.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Human feces are approximately 75% water. Everything else is particles of processed food, enzymes, fiber and some mucus released from the body. The consistency of feces is usually hard, but diarrhea also occurs frequently.

Usually the problem appears due to the body’s reaction to not the most healthy food, which has difficulty digesting. However, if liquid stool appears all the time, it’s time to sound the alarm. Here are the most common reasons for the frequent occurrence of this disorder:

intolerance to certain components in the diet that cause allergies;
pancreatic diseases;
the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract;
ulcerative colitis;
intolerance to certain dairy products or consumption of large amounts of fatty foods;
cancerous formations;
problems with fluid absorption.

Regular problems with stool consistency should raise certain questions in a person. Such disorders do not arise just like that, and usually this problem indicates the early stages of the development of very serious diseases.

Often the symptom is combined with others that are no less alarming. For example, diarrhea often occurs against the background of increased flatulence or severe abdominal pain. You should see a doctor because the range of potential problems is too wide to diagnose on your own.

Types of liquid stool and diagnosis

antispasmodics that help relieve pain by weakening the smooth muscles of the intestines;
absorbents - drugs effectively and quickly compact feces, absorbing substances that cause intoxication, removing them from the body.

The doctor may also prescribe a complex of beneficial probiotics that restore beneficial intestinal microflora, contributing to the full restoration of its function.

Reasons for the development of the disease

intolerance to certain components in the diet that cause allergies;
pancreatic diseases;
the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract;
ulcerative colitis;
intolerance to certain dairy products or consumption of large amounts of fatty foods;
cancerous formations;
problems with fluid absorption.

Types of liquid stool and diagnosis

antispasmodics that help relieve pain by weakening the smooth muscles of the intestines;
absorbents - drugs effectively and quickly compact feces, absorbing substances that cause intoxication, removing them from the body.

The doctor may also prescribe a complex of beneficial probiotics that restore beneficial intestinal microflora, contributing to the full restoration of its function.

Don’t blindly trust TV advertisements that promise that diarrhea will go away with just one pill. Advertised remedies will slow down intestinal motility, but will not have a therapeutic effect on the disease that caused loose stools.

Diarrhea like water in an adult: causes

Diarrhea with water and fever in an adult

The combination of loose stools and high temperature are signs of severe food poisoning, inflammation of the pancreas or rotavirus infection.

Bacterial infections can also cause fever. If they are present, the stool becomes greenish in color and may contain blood.

Yellow diarrhea with water in an adult

The drugs Loperamide and Imodium will help to quickly slow down intestinal motility.

To restore the balance of fluids and salts, you need to drink solutions with Regidron, Gastrolit and Citroglucosolan. If you don’t have these drugs on hand, just dilute a third of a glass of sugar, one teaspoon of salt and lemon or orange juice in half a liter of water. This composition is drunk in small portions throughout the day.

Important in the treatment of loose diarrhea - application

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Instead of feces, water is observed with diarrhea. The condition is a deviation from the norm and requires diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes the sign poses a serious danger. The condition can cause dehydration. The result is a deterioration in health or, in extreme cases, death. Water instead of feces is a disorder that occurs in both adults and children. There may be blood or foreign matter in the feces. In most cases, the condition is accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Diarrhea in adults and children can occur for various reasons.

In this article you will learn:

Disorders accompanied by watery diarrhea

Normally, stool consists of about 70% water. Everything else is mucus, enzymes and other components. In most cases, water during bowel movements is a violation indicating damage to the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract. Another equally common root cause is the presence of a large number of pathogens.

Watery diarrhea is usually accompanied by an excessively frequent urge to defecate. The patient may experience additional symptoms. The main causes of pathological changes in stool are described in the table.

Dyspeptic deviation	It is a consequence of disruption of the production and regulation of the gastric glands. This leads to difficulty digesting food. The body is not able to properly absorb vitamin and mineral complexes.
Infection	The most common problem. In this case, the patient may be diagnosed with the presence of a virus or pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Nutritional disorder	It is a consequence of the body’s reaction to any component present in the consumed food product.
Presence of toxic substances	Water instead of feces appears when toxic or poisonous substances enter the body.
Drug intoxication	The symptom is a consequence of the use of any medicine. Typically, the disorder appears after the use of antibacterial medications. Such drugs destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also normal representatives of microflora. Signs of dysbacteriosis appear.
Nervous overstrain	In this case, feces that have the consistency of water are a consequence of frequent exposure to stressful situations.
Poor nutrition	Proper nutrition is the key to good health. Watery consistency of stool is a disorder indicating the presence of fatty, fried, and alcoholic foods in the diet. To eliminate the deviation, you just need to reconsider your eating habits.
Cancer	Sometimes water instead of feces is the first symptom of the formation of malignant tumors in the body. The patient needs to visit a doctor immediately.
Intake of dairy products	An unpleasant symptom occurs in a patient with lactose intolerance. Dairy products are contraindicated for such people.
Metabolic disorders	The patient is unable to digest food normally.

Having noticed water instead of dense feces, the patient should consult a doctor for diagnosis.

Possible complications

When water is passed instead of stool, patients often experience signs of dehydration. This is the main complication of the disorder. The deviation is caused by a lack of fluid in the body and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

paleness of the skin;
hair loss;

Diarrhea from dehydration may make you feel dizzy

fragility of the nail plate;
dizziness;
sudden loss of strength;
drowsiness;
pre-fainting state.

If left untreated, dehydration can be fatal.

To prevent sudden death, therapy should be started as early as possible. Diarrhea may also be accompanied by a strong increase in body temperature. When complications such as dehydration occur, the electrolyte and salt balance in the body is disrupted. The body loses a large amount of water. Nutrients do not have time to be absorbed.

Possible increase in temperature

Diagnostic methods

Treatment can begin only after a comprehensive examination of the body. Diagnostics will help, taking into account individual characteristics, to choose safe and effective therapeutic methods. First of all, the doctor conducts an external examination of the patient. The doctor pays attention to the condition of hair, nails and skin.

The doctor palpates the abdomen to determine the location of the painful sensation, if such a symptom is present. The doctor will find out additional symptoms in order to collect a complete clinical picture. The patient may be prescribed:

endoscopy;
radiography;
blood analysis;
examination of urine and feces.

Diagnostic methods are selected individually depending on the present clinical picture. Ignoring the violation is strictly prohibited.

One of the main methods for determining the causes of gastrointestinal pathology is endoscopy.

The doctor learns in advance about the individual sensitivity of the body. If necessary, one drug is replaced by another. This is required to prevent allergies. A proctological examination is also performed to detect damage in the anal area.

After a comprehensive examination, the doctor confirms or denies the need for hospitalization. Self-medication is contraindicated.

Treatment of watery diarrhea

Treatment should be started urgently if:

diarrhea with water is accompanied by severe pain in the abdominal cavity;
there is frequent vomiting;
there is an increase in body temperature;
the stomach is swollen;
Pathological changes in stool are present for several days.

Loss of consciousness requires immediate hospitalization

With these symptoms, the patient may require urgent hospitalization. Until the ambulance arrives, the sick person should be in a ventilated area. The patient is shown complete rest.

The patient should not make sudden movements. Uncontrolled use of medications is contraindicated. It is important to limit the contact of the sick person with healthy people.

Treatment of diarrhea with water includes:

diet;
gastric lavage if necessary;
taking antibacterial drugs;
replenishment of lost fluid volume.

What to do if you have constant diarrhea, watch this video:

food intolerance;

unhealthy diet;

lack of vitamins;

traveler's diarrhea.

Intestinal infections

There is a wide variety of all kinds of intestinal infections that are potentially dangerous to humans and can cause diarrhea if ingested. Most often they enter the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth, along with poor-quality food, contaminated water, etc.
In medicine, such infections are usually divided into:
1. Parasitic.
2. Viral.
3. Bacterial.

Bacterial infections
Shigellous dysentery
Bacillary dysentery is most often a sign of infection of the intestinal tract by bacteria of the genus Shigella. The incubation period in this case lasts from one day to a week. The typical form of dysentery begins acutely, and is manifested by fever, loss of appetite, headaches, decreased blood pressure, and signs of gastrointestinal damage. Abdominal pain is initially dull, spread throughout the abdomen, and constant. Then they become more acute, cramping, and are localized in the lower abdomen, often above the pubis or on the left.

Tenesmus appears - a painful false urge to empty the bowel, which is not accompanied by defecation. In addition, there is a characteristic nagging pain radiating to the sacrum in the rectal area, which occurs during defecation and continues for 10-15 minutes after it. Bowel movements become more frequent up to 10 times a day or more. Blood and mucus appear in the stool. In more severe cases, the amount of bloody mucus increases.

Salmonellosis
A separate danger is a bacterial infection of the intestines caused by salmonella. Clinical manifestations of salmonellosis are varied - from severe forms that develop into blood poisoning to asymptomatic carriage of infectious agents.

The following types of salmonellosis are distinguished:
1. Gastrointestinal form
Salmonellosis in the gastrointestinal form most often begins acutely, accompanied by diarrhea (smelly, watery, greenish stool) and profuse vomiting.
The following symptoms are also characteristic:

pain, rumbling and bloating;
weakness;
headache;
temperature rise to 38-40°C;
pain in joints and muscles;
muscle spasms of the limbs.

2. Typhoid-like form
This form of salmonellosis begins in the same way as the gastrointestinal one, but it is characterized by fever for 10-14 days, enlargement of the spleen and liver. In addition, the symptoms of general poisoning of the body are more intense: lethargy, headache, etc. A rash also sometimes appears on the skin.

3. Septic form
The septic form of salmonellosis is considered one of the most dangerous, since with it, after a short and acute initial period, a picture of general blood infection quickly develops.

Viral infection
Viral intestinal infections are the main cause of loose stools in children under two years of age. Among the adult population, this cause of diarrhea is registered less frequently, due to the higher activity of the body's immune system.

Rotavirus infection
The general course of the disease when infected with rotavirus is cyclical:
1. The incubation period is from 1 to 5 days.
2. Acute period - from 3 to 7 days (in severe cases - more than a week).
3. The recovery period lasts approximately 4-5 days.

In its acute form, this pathology is manifested by sudden pain (most often in the middle of the abdomen), vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. In severe cases, severe symptoms of general body poisoning, cardiovascular disorders, and even signs of dehydration may be observed.

With chronic enteritis, patients complain of nausea, weakness, mild pain in the umbilical region, rumbling in the intestines and periodic diarrhea.

It must be taken into account that in many cases these two diseases occur together, combining all the above-described symptoms. In such a situation, they talk about the development of gastroenteritis.

Stomach ulcer
The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is pain in the upper center of the abdomen. As a rule, such pain occurs during eating or immediately after eating. This symptom makes it possible to distinguish this pathology from a duodenal ulcer, which is characterized by so-called “hunger pains” that occur on an empty stomach and go away after eating.

Other signs of peptic ulcer disease may include the following symptoms:

heartburn and/or sour belching;
weight loss;
nausea and vomiting after eating;
loose stools caused by digestive disorders.

Duodenal ulcer
Duodenal ulcer is characterized by pain in the upper abdomen and in the epigastric region. The intensity of pain can vary: from slight severity to sharp, painful sensations. Typically, pain appears or intensifies with physical activity, long breaks in meals, consumption of spicy foods, and alcohol. In addition, digestive disorders manifested by diarrhea are observed. Exacerbations of this disease are often associated with the season, occurring mainly in the autumn-spring period.

Pancreatitis
The inflammatory process affecting the pancreas is called pancreatitis.

In the acute form of this pathology, the constant and leading symptom is abdominal pain. Most often, it is permanent (defined as cutting or dull), and increases as the disease progresses, sometimes even leading to shock. The pain is most often localized in the left or right hypochondrium - high in the stomach. When the entire gland is affected, the pain is girdling in nature.
Symptoms such as:

dry mouth;
belching;
nausea;
frequent vomiting mixed with bile, which does not bring relief.

In addition, patients are concerned about loose or pasty stools, in which undigested food particles are detected. Often the stool has an unpleasant odor and a foamy consistency.

In chronic forms of pancreatitis, patients (even during remission) sometimes feel dull pain, nausea, complain of constipation or, conversely, loose, copious stools of a pasty, “fatty” nature. Such feces are difficult to wash off with water, which is directly related to poor digestion of fats. The occurrence of such diarrhea usually indicates a very serious violation of the digestive function of the pancreas.

Such patients quickly lose weight, they develop signs of hypovitaminosis and metabolic disorders of varying severity.

Extraintestinal signs of Crohn's disease:

fever;
anemia;
inflammation of the oral cavity;
eye damage (uveitis, iridocyclitis, episcleritis).

Colitis

Colitis is a limited inflammatory lesion of the large intestine.
Symptoms of colitis:

frequent urge to defecate;
bloating and rumbling stomach;
loose stools, sometimes containing mucus and blood;
stomach ache.

The disease can be acute and last only a few days. But in the chronic form of colitis, the listed symptoms may bother the patient for several weeks and sometimes months.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation with the appearance of ulcerations on the inner lining of the colon and rectum.

The leading manifestation of ulcerative colitis is frequent loose stools mixed with blood, pus or mucus, as well as spontaneous bleeding from the anus. In severe cases, the frequency of bowel movements can reach 20 or more times a day, including during the night's rest.

In addition, with nonspecific ulcerative colitis, patients complain of the following symptoms:

severe cramping pain in the abdomen, which intensifies after eating;
false urge to defecate;
feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
fever with a temperature from 37°C to 39°C, depending on the severity of the disease;
decreased appetite or complete absence of it;
weight loss with severe and prolonged course;
symptoms of partial dehydration;
general weakness;
joint pain.

Irritable bowel syndrome
Signs of this pathology are pain or discomfort in the abdomen, as well as sudden changes in stool. Defecation can occur very rarely (less than three times a week) or, conversely, often (more than three times a day). The consistency of stool also becomes unstable: “sheep”, hard or unformed watery feces with mucus. In addition, there is an urgency and straining during bowel movements, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement and bloating.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome most often present with dysfunction of the esophagus and stomach, chronic fatigue, pain in skeletal muscles, headaches and back pain. Psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety or depression are also common.

Malabsorption syndrome

Malabsorption syndrome is a malabsorption of nutrients in the intestines. This pathology is characterized by the presence of loose stools, which at the onset of the disease can be irregular, and then become almost constant. Mild forms of the disease are also often encountered, in which frequent, loose stools with severe flatulence and the release of foul-smelling gases occur only temporarily.

Associated signs of malabsorption syndrome include symptoms such as:

drowsiness;
apathy;
thirst;
fast fatiguability;
weight loss;
muscle weakness;
dry skin;
phenomena of stomatitis in the oral cavity;
development of glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) with a bright red color of the tongue and smoothness of its papillae.

Rectal cancer

One of the most common and persistent symptoms of colorectal cancer is bleeding. This symptom occurs both in the early and later stages of the disease, and is observed in the vast majority of patients. The intensity of intestinal bleeding in rectal cancer is usually insignificant - most often blood is found as an impurity in the stool, or in the form of individual dark clots. In addition, its appearance is inconsistent. Unlike bleeding from hemorrhoids, bleeding from cancer either precedes stool or occurs simultaneously with defecation, mixing with feces.

The second most common symptom of colorectal cancer is various disorders of intestinal function:

changes in bowel movements;
changes in the shape of feces;
diarrhea;
constipation;
incontinence of feces and gases.

The most unpleasant and difficult for patients to tolerate are frequent false urges to defecate (tenesmus). They are often also accompanied by the discharge of small amounts of blood, pus and mucus. After defecation, such patients do not experience a feeling of relief; they are left with a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the rectum. Such false urges can occur from 3 to 15 times a day. Before use, you should consult a specialist.