The intestinal walls reabsorb the fluids in the digestive tract and so the fecal matter solidifies. But if something goes wrong in the process, too much fluid is passed along with stools in a bowel movement causing diarrhea.
Diarrhea is frequent passage of unformed stools. This unformed stool is watery and loose. Excessive diarrhea is acute in nature; it is of abrupt onset and remains for short duration. Chronic diarrhea is more gradual in onset and prolongs for a longer period.
Along with excessive diarrhea you may experience vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and Fever.
Symptoms And Causes of Diarrhea
- Excessive gas formation.
- Cramp and abdominal pain.
- Nausea.
- Change in bowel habits, watery and/or frequent bowel movement.
Causes of Diarrhea
- Eating or drinking contaminated food and water can cause bacterial or viral infection leading to diarrhea.
- Bacterial infection such as E. coli, salmonella, shigella, C. difficile, v. cholera etc.
- Viruses such as Rotavirus, adenovirus etc.
- Protozoa such as G. lambia, E. histolytica, S. stercoralis etc.
- Fungus such as cyclospora, cryptosporidium etc.
- Irritable bowel syndrome, sprue, food allergies, amoebic colltis, crohn’s disease.
- Side effects of drugs: antibiotics, sorbitol, colchicines, theophyline etc.
- Other causes for excessive diarrhea include thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, malnutrition and liver diseases.
- Eating of dairy products by people who are intolerant to lactose.
- Excessive use of antacids are other factors.
Home Remedies For Diarrhea Treatment
- Due to dehydration, water and electrolytes lost from the body, should be replaced. Glucose or some other carbohydrate can be consumed. In adults with little or no dehydration, fruit juices, clear broth and other clear liquids can re-hydrate. Every hour you should drink at-least 16 ounces of fluid.
- Dehydration is aggravated if you fail to eat. A diet containing bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast is particularly helpful for nourishment.
- Eat mild food such as rice, dry toast or crackers, bananas, yogurt, apple and apple juice etc.
- Avoid spicy and fried food. Avoid meat, fish, egg and milk when you suffer from excessive diarrhea.
- Milk and dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners should be avoided.
- If diarrhea is caused by food poisoning leave it at that, so that all the irritant harmful bacteria is out of the system.
- If the cause is a drug, speak to your doctor and stop taking laxatives and antacids.
- If a child has diarrhea, or if you suffer from a severe attack of diarrhea make up your own oral re-hydration solution. In a quart of water dissolve 4tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp salt.
Prevention Of Diarrhea
- Prepare, cook and store food under healthy and hygienic conditions to avoid food poisoning.
- Unpasteurized food and beverages should not be consumed.
- Keep away from intolerant food and avoid taking large doses of Vitamin C as it can cause diarrhea.
- Related Topics
- Natural Cure for Diarrhea Prevention | Diet for Diarrhea Relief
- Intestinal Infection Diarrhea | Home Remedies for Intestinal Virus Diarrhea
- Diarrhea Home Treatment | Causes and Natural Treatment for Diarrhea
- Foods That Cause Diarrhea: List Of Food and Fruits Give You Diarrhea
- Diarrhea | Causes and Treatment of Chronic and Short Term Diarrhea
