It is the presence of watery stool, loose and frequent, and is considered a chronic (long) where the person has had this kind of loose or frequent stools for more than 4 weeks.
Alternative Names
Watery stools, frequent stools, bowel movements, loose stools
General considerations
Diarrhea in adults is usually mild and goes away quickly without complications, whereas in infants and children (especially under age 3), diarrhea can cause dehydration very quickly.
Common Causes
The most common cause of diarrhea is viral gastroenteritis, a mild viral infection that resolves spontaneously within a few days and it is often called “stomach flu”. Viral gastroenteritis often occurs in epidemics in schools, neighborhoods and families.
Food poisoning and traveler’s diarrhea are two other common causes of diarrhea that occur from the consumption of food or water contaminated with bacteria and parasites.
Medications, especially antibiotics, laxatives containing magnesium, and chemotherapy for cancer treatment, can also cause diarrhea.
The following conditions also can lead to diarrhea:
* Malabsorption syndromes such as lactose intolerance
* Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Celiac disease
Other less common causes of diarrhea include:
* Zollinger-Ellison
* Nerve disorders like autonomic neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy
* Carcinoid syndrome
* Gastrectomy (partial removal of stomach)
* High dose radiation therapy
Home Care
* Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Start with sips of any fluid other than caffeinated beverages. Milk may prolong loose stools, but also provides needed fluids and nourishment. Milk consumption may be fine for a mild diarrhea, but in case of moderate to profuse diarrhea, electrolyte solutions available in drugstores are usually best.
* Active cultures of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) make diarrhea less severe and shorten its duration. Probiotics can be found in yogurt with live active cultures and in supplements.
* Foods like rice, dry toast and bananas can sometimes help with diarrhea.
* Avoid the-counter antidiarrheal medication unless your doctor has specifically instructed to use one, because some infections can worsen with their use. When you have diarrhea, your body is trying to get rid of whatever food, virus or other bug is causing it and medicines interfere with this.
* Rest
If you have a chronic form of diarrhea, such as that caused by irritable bowel syndrome, try adding bulk to your diet to thicken the stool and regulate bowel movements. Such foods include rice, bananas, and fiber from whole grain wheat and bran. In addition, psilium containing products such as Metamucil or similar products can be used to add bulk to the stool.
Call your doctor if
The Call your doctor if:
* We present black stools, bloody or pus.
* Abdominal pain is not relieved by a bowel movement.
* Symptoms of dehydration
* Have a fever above 38.3 º C (101 ° F) or the child above 38 º C (100.4 ° F) with diarrhea.
* We present foul-smelling or oily.
* You have recently traveled to a foreign country.
* Other people who ate the same also have diarrhea.
* Has started a new medication.
* The diarrhea does not improve within 5 days (two days for an infant or child), or worsens before that time.
* Your child has been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in case of a newborn under 3 months, call your doctor as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins).
What to Expect at Your Office
The doctor will take a complete history and perform a physical examination, paying particular attention to the abdomen.
The questions the doctor may ask include the following:
* When did the diarrhea?
* How long have you had diarrhea?
* What is the color and consistency of stool?
* Is there blood in your stool?
* Do you have large amounts of mucus in your stool?
* What other symptoms?
* Is abdominal pain or cramping with the diarrhea?
* Do you have fever or chills?
* Are other family members sick?
* Have you recently traveled outside the country?
* What makes your pain worse? Stress? “Specific foods?
* Have you had abdominal surgery?
* What medications are you taking? Have there been any recent change in medication?
* Do you drink coffee? How much?
* Do you drink alcohol? How much? How often?
* Do you smoke? How many cigarettes per day?
* Are you on a special diet?
The clinician should obtain one or more stool samples in special containers for signs of inflammation and infection and to identify the organism causing the infection.
If there are signs of dehydration in addition to diarrhea, your doctor may order:
* Blood chemistries (to check electrolytes)
* Specific gravity of urine
* BUN and creatinine
Prevention
* Wash hands frequently, especially after using the toilet or before eating.
* Teach children not to put objects in their mouth
* When taking antibiotics, try eating food with Lactobacillus acidophilus, a healthy bacteria. This helps replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics can kill. Yogurt with active or live cultures is a good source of these bacteria.
* Use alcohol hand rub for alcohol-based hand frequently
When traveling to underdeveloped areas, we recommend you follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:
* Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice
* DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or peeled fruits
* DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked beef
* NOT consume dairy products
Digestive Consultation
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