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Have you been experiencing watery stools? If yes, then it indicates diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is one of the most common health issues that can be faced by anyone. It can occur a few times for some people every year. People having diarrhoea usually come across symptoms like loose and watery stools. In most cases, the cause is not known and the problem goes away on its own after some time.
The diarrhoea symptoms might vary from person to person, however, the most common symptoms are:
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
- Fever
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Abdominal pain
Chronic or persistent diarrhoea can be perilous causing dehydration, imbalance of electrolytes and in severe cases, kidney failure. You must consult your doctor if you experience the following issues:
Dehydration
Elder patients with multiple clinical issues
Fever above 39°C
Severe nausea
Vomiting
Persistent diarrhea
There are a number of diseases and conditions which causes diarrhoea such as:
- A virus
- A bacterial infection
- Food intolerance
- Food allergies like gluten allergy or celiac allergy
- Parasites enter the body through water or food
- Medicines reaction
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Functional bowel disorder
- Gallbladder surgery
- Antibiotic use
Metabolic conditions like thyroid issues
Less reasons like damage from radiation treatments or tumours producing too many hormones
DIAGNOSIS
The doctor will initiate a diarrhoea diagnosis with a physical evaluation and understanding the medical history while identifying the diarrhoea causes. They might order lab tests for examining the urine and blood tests. There are other tests which are ordered to confirm the causes and other linked conditions. So, here are these tests:
Diet elimination tests- To identify if it is due to food intolerance or food allergy
Imaging tests- To assess the inflammation and structural anomalies of the intestine
Stool culture- To look for parasites, bacteria or other disease signs
Colonoscopy- To evaluate the complete cologne for intestinal disease signs
Sigmoidoscopy- To identify the intestinal disease signs by checking the rectum and lower colon
TREATMENT
The recommended diarrhoea treatment usually is over-the-counter medication. However, OTC medications do not always prove to be the right solution. If the cause of diarrhoea is a parasite or infection, then you need to consult a healthcare provider for treatment. When someone is experiencing a fever or blood in the stool, then one must get in touch with a doctor because using OTC medications are not recommended in such cases.
If diarrhoea lasts longer than a week, then your doctor will begin the treatment depending on the cause. There are certain options which involve:
Antibiotics- Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics or medication for treating an infection or parasite that is causing diarrhoea.
Medication for a specific condition: Diarrhoea can indicate other medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohns disease, microscopic colitis, or bacterial overgrowth. Once the cause of diarrhoea is known, it can be managed easily with medication.
Probiotics- Probiotics are usually used as a treatment option for re-establishing a healthy biome for combatting diarrhoea. It helps in certain cases and healthcare providers recommend it to the patient. You must consult your doctor before starting a supplement or any form of probiotic
What are the tips for diarrhoea prevention?
There are a few tips you can follow for diarrhoea prevention such as:
- Avoiding infections with good hygiene habits
- Watching what you drink while travelling
- Getting your vaccinations like rotavirus on time
- Storing food in the refrigerator properly
Patients with diarrhoea must involve eating salty foods like soup, pretzels, and sports drinks. You should also include high-potassium food like potatoes, fruit juices, and bananas.
