What causes diarrhea and how to stop it
Diarrhoea is a very common health problem that can affect everyone from babies to the elderly. Although it is usually not dangerous, it can make a person very uncomfortable. In this article, we'll look at what causes diarrhoea, how long diarrhoea lasts, what helps to stop diarrhoea and how to react in different situations - including diarrhoea in children.
What causes diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea occurs when the contents of the bowel move too quickly, preventing sufficient absorption of water and nutrients.
However, there can be many causes of diarrhoea:
-
Viral or bacterial infections - the most common reason for acute diarrhoea.
-
Parasites - improper food preparation or infected food can introduce larger organisms into the body
-
Spoiled food or water - called alimentary infections.
-
Stress and psychological strain - called nervous diarrhoea.
-
Food intolerance - for example, lactose or gluten intolerance, or other allergies.
-
Taking antibiotics, antidepressants or other drugs - they can disrupt the gut flora.
-
Chronic bowel disease - such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
-
Bowel cleansing - in some cases, people experience diarrhoea as a side effect if they try different methods to cleanse their bowels.
What to do if I have diarrhoea?
The most important thing is to prevent dehydration, which is especially a risk in children and the elderly. Therefore, in the first place, drink plenty of fluids - preferably water or unsweetened tea. You can also buy so-called ionic rehydration drinks in the pharmacy, specially designed to help with diarrhoea.
Over-the-counter medicines from pharmacies such as Imodium or Enditril, or activated charcoal adsorbents, can help with common diarrhoea. Or diosmectics, which bind toxins and may be suitable for children. Unfortunately, medications often may not be suitable for diarrhoea of infectious origin, as they usually slow down bowel movements and therefore trap harmful micro-organisms in the body. It is always best to consult your physician when considering a purchase.
Probiotics can also shorten the duration of diarrhoea, especially for viral diarrhoea in children.
What to eat to combat diarrhoea?
The main thing is that the diet should be easily digestible. Therefore, the following foods are often recommended, in smaller portions and preferably cooked, preferably lukewarm:
-
Cooked rice
-
Rusks and white bread
-
Cooked carrots and potatoes
-
Bananas
-
Apple without skin, grated or baked
-
Probiotics (available in pharmacies)
Definitely avoid fatty, fried foods, dairy products (especially milk), legumes, caffeine and alcohol. But do not interrupt breastfeeding.
How long does diarrhoea last?
Acute diarrhoea usually lasts 1 to 3 days, in some cases up to a week. If it persists for more than 7 days, or is accompanied by fever, blood in the stool, severe abdominal pain or vomiting, it is necessary to see a doctor. In children and the elderly, it is advisable to seek medical attention after 24 hours of duration. And immediately in anyone with signs of dehydration, confusion or apathy, or with blood or mucus in the stool, high fever and/or repeated vomiting.
What helps to treat diarrhoea?
Although diarrhoea usually goes away on its own after a while, there are certainly a few things you can do to speed up your recovery, or at least reduce your discomfort.
-
The main one is a stronger drinking regime.
-
Don't forget to eat, a light, gentle diet is suitable.
-
Over-the-counter medications, unless contraindicated.
-
Probiotics.
-
Resting regimen.
What helps against diarrhoea in children?
Children are more prone to dehydration, so it's even more important to watch how much fluid they drink during diarrhea. If it is diarrhea in children around 2 years, you can cook them light meals such as rice decoction, banana or give them crackers. Skip sugary juices and milk. You can ask for rehydration drinks at the pharmacy again.
You can also make a homemade rehydration drink at home with 8 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, the juice from two oranges and 1 litre of boiled water.
Diarrhoea is a particularly sensitive issue in infants. So what does diarrhoea look like in an infant? Stools tend to be thin, more frequent than usual and may contain mucus or have a different smell. However, infants usually continue to drink breast milk - breastfeeding should not be interrupted, but if you are concerned, definitely check with your paediatrician.
How to tell diarrhoea from a more serious problem
If you are unsure what to do when you have diarrhoea, you can always consult your GP about the condition. It may be that, especially if the diarrhoea lasts longer than it should, it is a symptom of a more serious problem.
When diarrhoea is mostly harmless and home treatment is sufficient
The resting regime and the above advice apply in most cases if:
-
the diarrhoea lasts 1-3 days
-
it is not accompanied by fever, blood in the stool or severe abdominal pain
-
you do not have significant dehydration (i.e. normal urination, absence of weakness, no dry mouth or dizziness)
-
there is an obvious cause (e.g. dietary error, stress, traveler's diarrhoea)
When to be alert in case of diarrhoea
In rare cases, diarrhoea may also indicate food intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance), irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) or another metabolic problem. In this case it is important to have blood tests, stool tests and ideally a colonoscopy.
You should therefore be alert in the following cases:
-
diarrhoea lasts for more than 3-5 days and does not get better
-
it is recurrent or chronic (e.g. every week, for several weeks in a row)
-
you have other symptoms - tiredness, weight loss, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea
-
you often have abdominal pain after eating or after certain foods (e.g. milk, gluten)
-
you are weak or feel sick all the time
When to immediately contact a doctor when you have diarrhoea:
-
diarrhoea lasts for more than 7 days with no signs of improvement,
-
there is blood or mucus in the stool,
-
you have a high fever (above 38.5°C),
-
you have severe abdominal pain or cramps,
-
you are vomiting, cannot keep down fluids and cannot drink,
-
you have signs of dehydration - dry mouth, no urination, weakness, confusion,
-
it is in an infant, a small child or a senior citizen - in these cases diarrhoea is always more risky.
If the diarrhoea is short-lived and mild, with no other symptoms, it is best to simply endure the diarrhoea. On the other hand, definitely contact your doctor if the condition worsens, lasts more than a few days, or is accompanied by other warning signs. Your general practicioner may then refer you for specialised tests with a gastroenterologist.
Sources:
https://www.pediatriepropraxi.cz/pdfs/ped/2008/02/12.pdf
https://www.pediatriepropraxi.cz/pdfs/ped/2004/05/06.pdf
https://www.wikiskripta.eu/w/Antidiaroika
BENEŠ, Jiří, et al. Infekční lékařství. 1. vydání. Praha: Galén, 2009. 475–477 s. ISBN 978-80-7262-644-1