What is diarrhea?
Going
to the bathroom, having a bowel movement, pooping – no matter what you call it,
stool is a regular part of your life. However, sometimes this process of
getting waste out of your body changes. When you have loose or watery stool,
it’s called diarrhea. This is a very common condition and usually resolves
without intervention.online medicine
Diarrhea
can happen for a wide variety of reasons and it usually goes away on its own in
one to three days. When you have diarrhea, you may need to quickly run to the
bathroom with urgency and this may happen more frequently than normal. You may
also feel bloated, have lower abdominal cramping and sometimes experience
nausea.
Although
most cases of diarrhea are self-limited (happening for a fixed amount of time
and steady level of severity), sometimes diarrhea can lead to serious
complications. Diarrhea can cause dehydration (when your body loses large
amounts of water), electrolyte imbalance (loss of sodium, potassium and
magnesium that play a key role in vital bodily functions) and kidney failure
(not enough blood/fluid is supplied to the kidneys). When you have diarrhea,
you lose water and electrolytes along with stool. You need to drink plenty of
fluids to replace what’s lost. Dehydration can become serious if it fails to
resolve (get better), worsens and is not addressed adequately.
What’s the difference between normal diarrhea
and severe diarrhea?
There
are actually several different ways to classify diarrhea. These types of
diarrhea include:
- Acute diarrhea: The most common, acute diarrhea is loose watery
diarrhea that lasts one to two days. This type doesn’t need treatment and
it usually goes away after a few days.
- Persistent diarrhea: This type of diarrhea generally persists for several
weeks – two to four weeks
- Chronic diarrhea: Diarrhea that lasts for more than four weeks or comes
and goes regularly over a long period of time is called chronic diarrhea.
Who can get diarrhea?
Anyone
can get diarrhea. It’s not uncommon for many people to have diarrhea several
times a year. It’s very common and usually not a major concern for most people.
However,
diarrhea can be serious in certain groups of people, including:
- Young children.
- Older adults (the elderly).
- Those with medical conditions.
For
each of these people, diarrhea can cause other health problems.
Can diarrhea harm your health?
In
general, diarrhea is self-limited and goes away (resolves) without
intervention. If your diarrhea fails to improve and resolve completely, you can
be at risk of complications (dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure
and organ damage).
Call
your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that fails to get better or go
away, or if you experience symptoms of dehydration. These symptoms can include:
- Dark urine and small amounts of
urine or loss of urine production.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Headaches.
- Flushed, dry skin.
- Irritability and confusion.
- Light-headedness and dizziness.
- Severe nausea and vomiting, the
inability to tolerate or keep anything down by mouth.
What causes diarrhea?
The
cause of most self-limited diarrhea is generally not identified. The most
common cause of diarrhea is a virus that infects your bowel (“viral gastroenteritis”). The infection usually lasts a couple of days and is sometimes
called “intestinal flu.”
Other
possible causes of diarrhea can include:
- Infection by bacteria.
- Infections by other organisms
and pre-formed toxins
- Eating foods that upset the
digestive system.
- Allergies and intolerances to
certain foods (Celiac disease or lactose intolerance).
- Medications.
- Radiation therapy.
- Malabsorption of food (poor
absorption).
Can antibiotics cause diarrhea?
Most
antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycins and broad spectrum antibiotics) can
cause diarrhea. Antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria normally found
in the intestines, allowing certain types of bacteria like C. difficile to
thrive. When this happens, your colon can become overrun by bad (pathologic)
bacteria that causes colitis (inflammation of your colon lining).
Antibiotic-associated
diarrhea can begin any time while you’re taking the antibiotic or shortly
thereafter. If you experience this side effect, call your healthcare provider
to talk about the diarrhea and discuss the best option to relieve this side
effect.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
The
symptoms you can experience when you have diarrhea can vary depending on if
it’s mild or severe and what the cause of the diarrhea happens to be. There’s a
link between severe cases of diarrhea and a medical condition that needs to be
treated.
When
you have diarrhea, you may experience all of these symptoms or only a few. The
main symptom of diarrhea is loose or watery stool.
Other
symptoms of mild diarrhea can include:
- Bloating or cramps in the
abdomen.
- A strong and urgent need to
have a bowel movement.
- Nausea (upset stomach).
If
you have severe diarrhea, you may experience symptoms like:
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Dehydration.
- Severe pain.
- Vomiting.
- Blood.
Severe
diarrhea can lead to significant complications. If you have these symptoms,
call your healthcare provider and seek medical attention.
Is there a color of diarrhea that I should be
worried about?
The
color of your poop (stool) can vary. Stool color can be influenced by the color
of the food you eat. Usually, this isn’t something you need to worry about. But
if you ever see red (blood) in your stool or have a bowel movement that is
black, that could be something more serious. Keep a record of any bowel
movements that:
- Are black and tarry.
- Have blood or pus in them.
- Are consistently greasy or oily
despite non-fatty meals.
- Are very foul-smelling.
How do you diagnose diarrhea?
For
the majority of mild diarrhea cases, you won’t need medical attention. These
cases are self-limited (only lasts for a fixed amount of time) and get better
without medical intervention. The key to mild diarrhea is supportive therapy –
staying hydrated and eating a bland diet.
More
serious cases of diarrhea may require medical attention. In these situations,
there are a few diagnostic tests that your provider may order. These tests can
include:
- Discussing a detailed family
history, as well as physical and medical conditions, your travel history,
and any sick contacts you may have.
- Doing a stool test on a
collected stool sample to check for blood, bacterial infections, parasite
and inflammatory markers.
- Doing a breath test to check for lactose or
fructose intolerance, and
bacterial overgrowth.
- Doing blood work to rule out
medical causes of diarrhea such as a thyroid disorder, celiac sprue and
pancreatic disorders.
- Doing endoscopic evaluations of
your upper and lower digestive tract to rule out organic abnormalities
(ulcers, infections, neoplastic process).
How is diarrhea treated?
In
most cases, you can treat mild and uncomplicated diarrhea at home. By using an
over-the-counter product like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol® or
Kaopectate®) you’ll usually feel better very quickly.
However,
over-the-counter medications aren’t always the solution. If your diarrhea is
caused by an infection or parasite, you’ll need to see a healthcare provider
for treatment. A general rule is not to use over-the-counter medications for
diarrhea if you also have a fever or blood in your stool. In those cases, call
your healthcare provider.
When
diarrhea lasts for a long period of time (several weeks), your healthcare
provider will base your treatment on the cause. This could involve a few
different treatment options, including:
- Antibiotics: Your healthcare provider might prescribe an
antibiotic or other medication to treat an infection or parasite that’s
causing the diarrhea.
- Medication for a specific
condition: Diarrhea can be a sign of
several other medical conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, or bacterial overgrowth. Once the
cause of the diarrhea is identified, diarrhea can usually be managed.
- Probiotics: Groupings of good bacteria, probiotics are sometimes
used to re-establish a healthy biome to combat diarrhea. Introducing
probiotics can be helpful in some cases and some healthcare providers feel
that it’s worth a try. Always talk to your provider before starting a
probiotic or any kind of supplement.
How should I take over-the-counter medications for diarrhea?
It’s
important to always follow the instructions on the packaging when you take an
over-the-counter medication for diarrhea. The rules for managing diarrhea in an
adult are different than in children. Always call your child’s healthcare
provider before giving your child any type of medication for diarrhea.
A
tip for managing diarrhea in an adult with over-the-counter medication
includes:
- Taking two tablespoons of
Kaopectate® or two tablespoons of Pepto-Bismol® after each loose stool. Do
not take more than eight doses in 24 hours.
Can I manage diarrhea without taking any
medication?
When
you have an acute case of diarrhea, you can often take care of it without
needing any medication. Several things you can do to care for diarrhea include:
- Drinking plenty of water and
other electrolyte balanced fluids (like diluted and pulp-free fruit
juices, broths, sports drinks (Gatorade®) and caffeine-free sodas). Make
sure to hydrate throughout day. Your body loses water each time you have
diarrhea. By drinking plenty of extra fluids, you are protecting your body
from dehydration.
- Changing your diet. Instead of
picking greasy, fatty or fried foods, go for the BRAT diet:
- B: Bananas.
- R: Rice (white rice).
- A: Applesauce.
- T: Toast (white bread).
- Cutting back on caffeine. Foods
and drinks that have caffeine can have a mild laxative effect, which can
make your diarrhea worse. Foods and drinks with caffeine include coffee,
diet sodas, strong tea/green tea, and even chocolate.
- Avoiding foods and drinks that
give you gas. If you experience cramping in your stomach with diarrhea, it
could help to cut back on things that cause gas. These can include beans,
cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beer and carbonated beverages.
Sometimes,
diarrhea can also make you lactose intolerant. This is usually temporary and it
means that you need to avoid items with lactose (dairy products) until your
diarrhea is gone.
Are there any foods that can help my diarrhea
go away?
You
actually can help your diarrhea by changing your diet. Certain low-fiber foods
can help make your stool more solid.
If
you have diarrhea, try adding these foods into your diet:
- Potatoes.
- Rice (white).
- Noodles.
- Bananas.
- Applesauce.
- White bread.
- Chicken or turkey without the
skin.
- Lean ground beef.
- Fish.
What do I do if my baby or young child has
diarrhea?
If
your child has severe diarrhea, call your healthcare provider. Young children
are at a higher risk of dehydration than adults. You also can’t treat a child’s
diarrhea the same way you would an adult case. Over-the-counter medications can
be dangerous in young children and all treatments of diarrhea in children
should be guided by their healthcare provider. It’s important to keep your
child hydrated. Your provider will help you determine the best way to do this,
but options often include:
- Breast milk.
- Formula.
- Electrolyte drinks (Pedialyte®)
for older children – this is not recommended for babies.
The
best option to keep your child hydrated might change as the child ages. Always
check with your provider before giving your child a new liquid or treatment of
any kind.
If
you have any questions or concerns about your child’s diarrhea, don’t hesitate
to call your provider.
How can I relieve discomfort in the rectal
area caused by diarrhea?
Diarrhea
often means frequent trips to the bathroom. This can cause discomforts like:
- Itching.
- Burning.
- Pain during bowel movements.
If
you’re experiencing any of these discomforts, there are a few things you can do
to help, including:
- Sitting in a few inches of
lukewarm water in a bathtub.
- Patting your rectal area dry
with a clean soft towel after getting out of the tub or shower. Don’t rub
the area dry because that will only make the irritation worse.
- Applying petroleum jelly or a
hemorrhoid cream to your anus.
Can diarrhea be prevented?
There
are a few ways you can decrease your chances of having diarrhea, including:
- Avoiding infections with good
hygiene habits: Washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, as
well as cooking, handling, and eating, is an important way to prevent
diarrhea. Washing your hands thoroughly can really help keep you and those
around you stay healthy.
- Getting your vaccinations: Rotavirus, one of the causes of diarrhea, can be prevented with
the rotavirus vaccine. This is given to infants in several stages during
the first year of life.
- Storing food properly: By keeping your food stored at the right
temperatures, not eating things that have gone bad, cooking food to the
recommended temperature and handling all foods safely, you can prevent
diarrhea.
- Watching what you drink when
you travel: Traveler’s diarrhea can
happen when you drink water or other drinks that haven’t been treated
correctly. This is most likely to happen in developing countries. To avoid
getting diarrhea there are a few tips to follow. Watch what you drink.
Don’t drink tap water, use ice cubes, brush your teeth with tap water, or
consume unpasteurized milk, milk products or unpasteurized juices. You
should also be careful when trying local foods from street vendors, eating
raw or undercooked meats (and shellfish), as well as raw fruits and
vegetables. When in doubt, drink bottled water or something that’s been
boiled first (coffee or tea).
·
Is diarrhea fatal?
·
Diarrhea is extremely common, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be
dangerous. In extreme cases of diarrhea, you can become very dehydrated and
this can lead to serious complications. Dehydration is one of the most
dangerous side effects of diarrhea. In the very young (infants and small
children) and the very old, this can have serious consequences. It’s important
to drink plenty of fluids with electrolytes when you have diarrhea. This allows
your body to replace the fluid and electrolytes that are lost with the
diarrhea.
·
In some parts of the world, diarrhea is a life-threatening
condition because of dehydration and electrolyte loss.
·
When should I call my doctor about diarrhea?
·
If you have diarrhea that fails to improve or resolve
completely, you should call your healthcare provider. Keep track of any other
symptoms you may be experiencing – this includes fever, vomiting, rash,
weakness, numbness, lightheadedness, dizziness, weight loss and blood in your
stool. If you have any concerns, it’s always best to call your healthcare
provider.
