What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a disease characterized by defecation that is soft or runny, or needs to go back and forth to the toilet. Diarrhea can occur in anyone, both adults and children.
Depending on how long diarrhea lasts, there are 3 types of diarrhea:
- Acute diarrhea lasting several days to a week.
- Diarrhea that lasts for 3 weeks.
- Chronic diarrhea lasting more than 4 weeks.
How common is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is very common. The average adult experiences it 4 times a year. Everyone, regardless of age and sex, can experience diarrhea. Diarrhea is also one of the most common causes in which people seek medical help, because it can range from mild and temporary conditions, to life-threatening conditions.
If diarrhea lasts too long without being treated, diarrhea can be a sign of serious disorders, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome.
Signs & symptoms diarrhea
What are the characteristics and symptoms of diarrhea?
Symptoms and characteristics of diarrhea are:
- Soft and liquid stool
- Stomach ache
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Thirst continuously
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Blood in the stool
- A lot of stool is produced
- Continue to the toilet
There may be signs and symptoms not mentioned above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.
When should I see a doctor?
Diarrhea in infants and small children
Diarrhea is a serious disease if it occurs in your baby and child. Diarrhea can cause serious dehydration and result in life-threatening conditions in a short time. You need to contact a doctor if you see these symptoms in your child:
- Urine production decreases
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dry skin
- Sleepy.
Seek medical treatment immediately if the following symptoms occur in your child:
- Symptoms of dehydration, such as cold hands and feet, pale skin, rarely urinating, irritability, or drowsiness
- High fever
- Stool contains blood and pus
- Black stool.
Diarrhea in adults
You need to contact your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Dark stool which indicates the presence of blood in the stool
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lack of sleep
- Weight loss.
Cause diarrhea
What causes diarrhea?
The following are things that can trigger or cause diarrhea:
- Intolerance to food, such as lactose
- Food allergy
- Side effects of certain drugs
- Bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections
- Bowel disease.
Risk factors diarrhea
Who is at risk for diarrhea?
In addition to medical ailments, the following habits can also make a person more susceptible to diarrhea, namely:
- Rarely wash your hands after going to the toilet
- Storage and preparation of food that is not clean
- Rarely clean the kitchen and toilet
- Source of water that is not clean
- Eat leftovers that are already cold
- Do not wash hands with soap.
Medicine & Medicine Diarrhea
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
How to diagnose diarrhea?
The doctor will do several physical examinations and look at your medical history in identifying the causes of diarrhea. The doctor can ask several things, such as:
- What do you feel?
- How often do you go to the toilet?
- What foods do you consume before you experience diarrhea?
- Have you been taking certain drugs lately?
- What other symptoms do you experience?
In some cases, your doctor may ask you to take additional tests to find out more about your condition, such as:
- Blood test
- Test urine and feces
- Rectal examination.
What is the usual diarrhea medication used?
The cure for mild diarrhea is simply consuming lots of fluids to replace fluid loss. This means you need to drink more water or electrolyte drinks, such as energy drinks.
For more serious diarrhea, the medication may be infusion. If diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will give antibiotics.
Doctors or pharmacists can provide oral rehydration fluids (a type of fluid replacement to prevent or treat dehydration, especially those caused by bacteria) to prevent dehydration. Rehydration fluids can give the body glucose, other important salts and minerals that are lost during dehydration. Oral rehydration fluids are suitable for diarrhea in children and the elderly, and are sold in pharmacies without prescriptions.
Treatment at home diarrhea
What are the lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat diarrhea?
According to nutritionists from Stanford Health Care, the following lifestyle and home remedies can help you deal with diarrhea:
- Drink additional sugarless fruit juice
- Consumption of foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes
- Consumption of foods and beverages rich in sodium, such as broth, soup, energy drinks, and salted biscuits
- Consumption of foods rich in fiber, such as bananas, oatmeal, rice
- Limit food with cream, fried foods, and sweet foods, which can worsen diarrhea
- Avoid caffeine, tea and soft drinks
- Avoid dairy products and foods that are rich in magnesium.