Diarrhea is a condition wherein you suffer from loose, watery bowel movements on a frequent basis, generally 3-4 times a day. This lasts for a few days and due to the frequency of fluid loss, it results in dehydration. Dehydrations signs begin to show up with the loss of ability to stretch the skin and frequent irritations in behaviour. Passing of less urine, loss of skin, heart rates getting faster and slow responses are some of the other signs. You can easily sense the occurrence of diarrhea by following certain symptoms. We take a look at some of the signs and symptoms typically associated with the problem of diarrhea.

Signs and symptoms of diarrhea

As mentioned earlier, one of the most common symptoms of diarrhea is watery bowel movements on a frequent basis, occurring minimum 3 to 4 times a day for a few days.

Some other symptoms are as follows:

Cramps in the abdomen followed by pain

Fever

Blood in the stool

Bloating, a situation, arising when stomach gets swollen due to gas.

Nausea

You feel an urgency to have a bowel movement.

When you come across these symptoms and feel as if they are slowly turning into severe ones, consult your doctor. Diarrhea persisting for more than two days seek for an immediate appointment with the doctor.

You need to be extra cautious if your children seems to have either of these symptoms, as diarrhea can very easily lead to dehydration for them.

Causes behind diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused as result of a number of diseases and conditions. They include:

Viruses: Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis are some of the viruses, that can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea among children are caused due to Rotavirus.

Bacteria and parasites: Another cause behind diarrhea is contaminated food or water, which has the potential to transmit bacteria and parasites to the body. Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium are the two parasites which cause diarrhea.

Medications: Some antibiotics can also cause diarrhea as they destroy both good and bad bacteria, thereby causing disturbance to the natural balance of bacteria in our intestines.

Dairy Products: Dairy products like milk, curd etc have lactose in them. Lactose is a sugar found in these products. Now people, who face difficulty in digesting lactose suffer from diarrhea after eating dairy products.

Artificial Sweeteners: Sorbitol and Mannitol are some of the artificial sweeteners, generally found in chewing gum and many other sugar-free products, cause diarrhea.

Treatment for Diarrhea

In majority of the cases involving diarrhea, they get resolved without treatment. Still, some of the treatment options which people go for to get relief from diarrhea are:

Rehydration: As diarrhea results in loss of fluid during to frequent bowel movements, so drinking enough water to stay hydrated is a must. ORS can help replenish the water and salt in the system.

Eat Bland Diet: Only drink water for one whole day. Then gradually limit your diet to only bananas, rice, toast and tea.

Antidiarrheal Medication: Medicines like Loperamide and Imodium, which restricts stool passage are both available over-the-counter.

Can Consuming Artificial Sweeteners Cause Diarhhea?

Common Signs of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a very common condition, which is associated with the passage of the ingested fluids and foods through your colon more frequently than usual or in huge amounts. This condition is mostly caused by the action of viruses, parasites, bacteria, medications like antibiotics, certain digestive disorders, abdominal surgery, lactose intolerance, and consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol etc. Here are some of the common symptoms, which indicate that you are suffering from diarrhea:

Passing watery and loose stools
Frequent bowel movements
Pain or cramps in the abdomen
Feeling of nausea
Vomiting
Bloating in the stomach

If you are suffering from a more serious form of diarrhea, you might also experience symptoms like:

Presence of mucus, blood and traces of undigested food in your stool
Fever

Diarrhea mostly gets cured even without consuming any medicines within a couple of days. However, you need to consult a doctor and get proper treatment for diarrhea in the following cases:

If you are continuously experiencing the condition for more than two days
Your stools contain blood or are black
Severe pain in the rectum or abdomen is bothering you
You experience signs of dehydration like excessive thirst, weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, urine of dark color or reduced frequency and amount of urination
Your body temperature exceeds 102 F (39 C)



Common Signs of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a disorder that affects people of all age groups. Medically speaking, Diarrhea is a mechanism that the body uses to eliminate germs from the body. Usually this disorder lasts for a few days to a week. It is usually accompanied by nausea, fever and dehydration.

Children can be affected by diarrhea in a number of ways, some of them are:
1. Infections: Various infections, such as the ones caused by rotavirus and salmonella bacteria can lead to diarrhea. Usually diarrhea in children is caused by viruses; if it is viral in nature, then it can also cause stomach cramps, headache and vomiting. It also leads to loss of fluid from the body. Hence, the child's fluid intake should be compensated accordingly. Usually oral rehydration solution that contains nutrient such as potassium and sodium are preferred.

2. Medications: Intake of certain medications, such as antibiotics and laxatives can cause diarrhea in children. If the cause is due to antibiotic intake, then you should consult a doctor. The doctor may alter the dosage or ask to increase the child's water intake. Yoghurt may also help ease the symptoms of diarrhea if it is caused by antibiotics.

3. Food poisoning: Diarrhea may also result from food poisoning; symptoms of this type usually disappear quickly. Along with loose and watery stools, the child may vomit frequently.
The major complication that results from diarrhea is dehydration. Severe dehydration may lead to severe brain damage and seizures. It may also cause symptoms of dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness and dark yellow urine.

Certain preventive measures are:
1. Use your good judgment while eating outside. Do not consume food from places which use unhygienic modes of preparation.

2. Make sure your child does not drink contaminated water and there is access to clean and filtered water all the time.

3. Your child should be eating a balanced diet that primarily consists of vegetable and fruits. They also help in adding fiber to the diet that keeps your bowels healthy.

All About Diarrhea in Children

Diarrhea is not usually a serious condition but can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing. This can be caused by a number of factors including bacterial or viral infections, food poisoning, contaminated water etc. Thankfully, it is easy to treat and does not require medication unless it is very severe. Let us take a look some of the most effective ways to treat diarrhoea:

Drink Plenty of Water: Keeping your body hydrated when dealing with diarrhoea is very important. This is because your body loses a lot of water while passing stool. To hydrate your body, drink lots of water. You could also add oral rehydration salts to the water. Avoid drinking sodas, packaged juices and caffeinated drinks such as coffee as they can further dehydrate the body.
Probiotics: To function optimally, your digestion system requires good bacteria. Diarrhea is usually a sign that the bad bacteria levels have overtaken the good bacteria levels. Thus, you need to balance this equation. Probiotics are a source of good bacteria and are available in powder or pill form. It is also available naturally in foods like yoghurt, pickles and kimchi.
Eat the Right Food: When suffering from an upset stomach, eat food that is easy to digest. Food items such as bananas, rice, apples and dry toast are easy to digest and can help bulk up your stool. This is also known as the BRAT diet. You could also include a simple chicken soup, baked skinless chicken and oatmeal in your diet.
Drink a Little Tea: Tannins in black tea are good for the digestive system. They help calm inflammation in the intestines and help the body absorb fluids. Raspberry and blackberry leaf tea are ideal for diarrhoea. You could also try sipping caraway tea. Other teas such as chamomile tea help reduce spasms and calm the stomach. When looking for such teas, ensure that they are made from the leaf and not powdered. Also, do not drink any form of caffeinated tea.
Avoid Spicy Foods: Do not eat anything that is spicy or fried when you have an upset stomach. Also, avoid eating foods rich in fibre as they can make you feel bloated. Alcohol and milk are best left aside until your stomach has healed. Other foods you should avoid include chewing gums with artificial sweeteners, berries, beans, peas, prunes, peppers and ice cream.
If your diarrhoea does not improve, consult a doctor. If it lasts for more than 2 weeks, it could be a symptom of another underlying condition. 

Diarrhea - 5 Ways It Can Be Treated Effectively!

Chronic Diarrhoea is a condition that results in watery or loose stools. While most diarrhoea subsides within a few days time, the chronic ones persist up to a couple of weeks. Some common symptoms that can help to identify chronic diarrhoea include bloating, nausea, fever, blood in the stool, abdominal cramps etc. Here is a brief look at the possible causes of chronic diarrhoea:

What are the possible causes of chronic diarrhoea?
Parasites and bacteria: Parasites and bacteria are often transmitted from contaminated food and water. Certain parasites such as the cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia can lead to chronic diarrhoea. Some common bacteria include Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Salmonella. In the more developed countries, diarrhoea is often referred to as the traveller s syndrome. Diarrhoea can also result from a course of antibiotics due to an infection from Clostridium difficile.

Viruses: Some of the common viruses that can lead to chronic diarrhoea include viral hepatitis, Norwalk virus, and cytomegalovirus. A certain virus known as the Rotavirus can lead to an acute childhood diarrhoea.
Medication: Certain medication is known to be the culprit when it comes to causing diarrhoea. Antibiotics, for instance, tend to equally destroy both the good and the bad bacteria thereby disturbing the bacterial balance of the intestine leading to chronic diarrhoea. Certain other drugs related to cancer, antacids containing magnesium etc can also lead to chronic diarrhoea.
Artificial Sweeteners: Certain artificial sweeteners are known to be causing chronic diarrhoea. Compounds such as Mannitol, Fructose etc found in certain sugar-free products or chewing gum can lead to chronic diarrhoea in otherwise healthy people. It is, therefore, advised not to consume too many artificial sweeteners in excess at one go.
Intolerance of lactose: Lactose is a type of sugar that is mostly found in dairy products. People who find it difficult digesting this compound often tend to suffer from diarrhoea when they consume dairy products. Our body produces an enzyme to digest lactose. However, this enzyme tends to rapidly feds away from the body with age. Lesser the amount of this enzyme, greater is the chance of lactose intolerance leading to an increased risk of chronic diarrhoea.
Surgery: There are surgeries that can begin the onset of chronic diarrhoea. Certain procedures such as the gallbladder removal surgery and abdominal surgery run a high risk of chronic diarrhoea.
Fructose: For people who find it hard to digest fructose can suffer from chronic diarrhoea. Fructose is a naturally occurring sweetener found in honey, fruits etc and is often added to beverages to enhance the taste.
Certain digestive disorders: Certain other situations such as celiac disease, microscopic colitis, Crohn s disease, ulcerative colitis irritable bowel syndrome etc can lead to chronic diarrhoea. 

Chronic Diarrhoea - What Causes It?

Diarrhea occurs when the body is expelling germs out of it. An episode of diarrhea can last anywhere from a couple of days to a week. Dehydration, cramps, vomiting, nausea and fever often accompany diarrhea. Usually, children tend to get diarrhoea more than adults.

Diarrhea treatment according to causes behind it

Treating diarrhea due to infection: Some common causes of diarrhea include infection from rotavirus, salmonella (a type of bacteria) and rarely giardia (a type of parasite). In children, virus is a common cause of diarrhea. Besides watery or loose stools, viral gastroenteritis infection symptoms include fever, headache, stomach ache and vomiting. Gastroenteritis diarrhoea can last for 5-14 days. During this time, fluid loss must be prevented. In younger children, oral rehydration solution (ORS) or breast milk is enough. Just feeding them water won t replenish the potassium, sodium and other nutrients they lose. Older children, to prevent fluid loss, can be given ORS and popsicles to counter dehydration and vomiting.
Treating diarrhea due to medications: Antibiotics or laxatives can cause diarrhea in children. If the diarrhea is mild, make sure your child is hydrated. If the antibiotics are causing diarrhoea, you need to continue medication, but do consult your doctor immediately.
Treating diarrhea due to food poisoning: When it comes to food poisoning induced diarrhea, the same method as countering infection-induced diarrhea should be followed. Keep your child hydrated and call your doctor.
Diarrhea and children - recognising dehydration

The most serious complication of diarrhea is dehydration, especially if the diarrhea is severe. Severe dehydration is critical as it can cause brain damage, seizure, even death. Your child may need immediate medical attention, if you notice the following symptoms:

Light-headedness and dizziness
Sticky, dark mouth
Dark yellow urine
No or few tears when crying
Dry, cool skin
Loss of energy
When should you visit a doctor

Diarrhea resolves within a few days, but it can have serious complications. Call your doctor if you notice signs such as:
1. Looks very sick
2. Diarrhea has persisted for more than 3 days
3. Your child is less than 6 months old
4. Your child is vomiting bloody yellow or green fluid
5. Seems dehydrated
6. The fever reads above 105 degree Fahrenheit
7. Bloody stools
8. Rashes
9. Stomach pain persists for more than 2 hours
10. Infrequent urination

Diarrhea - How to Treat it in Children?

Don't wait any longer, manage your Diarrhoea online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Diarrhoea - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES