Causes and quick ways to treat diarrhea in an adult. Diarrhea and vomiting - causes and treatment What is considered diarrhea in an adult

Diarrhea (it is called the usual word "diarrhea") is an unpleasant symptom of many pathologies that have a completely different genesis and causative factor. Diarrhea is considered to be a condition characterized by frequent defecation with a change in stool parameters. With diarrhea in parallel, patients often complain of concomitant unpleasant symptoms: colic, abdominal pain, vomiting,. The greatest danger is diarrhea for children, since with diarrhea they quickly become dehydrated, which carries very serious complications, even death.

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There are a number of factors that can cause diarrhea in both adults and children. These include:

  • Problems with intestinal motility.
  • Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which become a source of toxins in the intestines. Such diseases include: enteroviruses, cholera, food poisoning,.
  • Violations in the intestinal microflora against the background of taking anticancer drugs, with HIV disease.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome, which is formed with disorders of a neuropsychic nature.
  • Enzyme deficiency and fermentopathy.
  • Pathologies of an autoimmune nature: nonspecific ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease.
  • Hereditary pathologies, which are based on intolerance to certain foods or substances. Such congenital conditions include: celiac disease, pancreatitis (chronic and acute), lactose deficiency, cirrhosis of the liver.

Causes of diarrhea with blood in an adult

Diarrhea with blood can occur as a result of various factors. The admixture of blood in the feces in itself already causes anxiety in a person. The reasons for its appearance in the stool can be the following:

  • Diverticulitis- inflammation in the lower intestine. This cause is most common in people after 45-50 years.
  • Hypodynamia- an inert lifestyle, constantly sedentary work, when a person moves little and there is a lack of movement, sedentary work.
  • Ulcerative-erosive processes in the gastrointestinal tract in the upper sections, they can also provoke the appearance of blood impurities in the feces (ulcerative and in the stage of exacerbation or chronicity).
  • Haemorrhoids,. In this case, the blood in the feces will be in the form of clots or streaks, and always scarlet in color, since the source of bleeding is close (the blood simply does not have time to clot). In parallel with this symptom, the patient feels discomfort, pain in anus, itching, burning, etc., but diarrhea will be a sign of concomitant pathology, but the appearance of blood is evidence of hemorrhoids.
  • . It can provoke both the appearance of diarrhea in the patient, and the presence of blood in the stool.
  • Bleeding. Bloody diarrhea in an adult may indicate internal bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, duodenum. In this case, the chair will be dark in color, "tarry". The cause of bleeding can be: cirrhosis of the liver, peptic ulcer, stomach cancer, varicose veins of the esophagus.
  • Chronic pathologies in the form of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis often provoke the appearance of blood streaks (bright) and clots in the stool.
  • Infectious diseases. If diarrhea with blood is accompanied by fever, colic, abdominal pain, then you should definitely seek medical help. This clinic can be observed with dangerous diseases that require immediate treatment: salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.

Types of diarrhea

Regarding the course of diarrhea, it happens:

  • chronic, when diarrhea persists for a three-week period;
  • acute, in which diarrhea disappears up to 3 weeks.

Based on the mechanism of development, diarrhea is classified as follows:

  • hypokinetic- with it, the feces are mushy or liquid, there are few of them, there is a fetid odor - all this is the result of a reduced speed of food moving through the intestines;
  • hypersecretory - diarrhea is watery and profuse, which is the result of increased excretion of salts and water into the intestines;
  • hyperkinetic - loose stools or loose stools mushy, formed with an increase in the speed of movement of digested food through the intestines;
  • hyperexudative- it is formed when liquid seeps into the intestinal lumen, which in most cases is already inflamed, such diarrhea is characterized by watery, but not abundant stools, in which blood and mucus may be present.
  • osmolar - this is diarrhea as a result of a decrease in the absorption of salts and water by the intestinal walls, in which there can be a lot of bowel movements, they are fatty and contain the remains of undigested food.

diarrhea symptoms

Diarrhea can be accompanied by a number of other signs, which ultimately allows the doctor to differentiate the patient's illness from a number of others based on the current clinical picture. In particular, diarrhea can be:

  • quickened stool;
  • fecal incontinence;
  • foul-smelling stools;
  • color change;
  • liquid watery or mushy consistency of stools;
  • the presence in the stool of the remnants of semi-digested food;
  • admixture of blood;
  • the presence of mucus.

In parallel, the patient may experience additional symptoms of diarrhea:

  • rise in body temperature (from 37 to 40C);
  • (may have a spasmodic, dull, pulling, cutting character).

With profuse diarrhea, dehydration often occurs, the symptoms of which will be:

  • weakness in the body;
  • thirst;
  • dry mucous membranes;
  • decrease in blood pressure numbers;
  • dizziness;
  • tachycardia;
  • fainting state;
  • "flies" before the eyes;
  • cachexia is an extreme degree of dehydration.

IN childhood causes of diarrhea are slightly different than in adults. Very often they are associated with malnutrition and intestinal infections. Diarrhea in children can occur as a result of such reasons:


Important: often in children, diarrhea is the result of indigestion of certain types of foods or their quantities. The inability of the child's gastrointestinal tract to digest and assimilate this or that food is manifested by diarrhea after taking it. In this case, the rejection of this food is the treatment of the disease.

Diarrhea in infants may have several other causes due to the characteristics of its nutrition (breast or artificial feeding). These include:

  • untimely introduction of complementary foods (very early);
  • artificial feeding;
  • the introduction of the wrong products in the form of complementary foods;
  • non-compliance with the required interval between the introduction of a new product;
  • infection with intestinal infections;
  • large portions of complementary foods;
  • intolerance to the introduced products;
  • the use of some food by the nursing mother;
  • lactase deficiency, in which diarrhea in those who are charmed is observed from the first days of life;
  • cystic fibrosis - characterized by profuse diarrhea (liquid) with an unpleasant odor and greasy sheen;
  • ARI, in addition to catarrhal phenomena in the nasopharynx, also often provokes diarrhea in infants.

The causative factors of diarrhea during pregnancy are the same as in adults. The only difference is the expression clinical picture, since during this period of a woman's life, any illnesses, infections, poisonings are much more difficult.

note: diarrhea during pregnancy can have negative consequences, so it is very important to seek medical help as soon as the first symptoms appear.

In this case, the duration of pregnancy and the cause of diarrhea are of paramount importance. Diarrhea during early pregnancy can be the result of toxicosis, which is quite common. It does not pose a danger to the fetus, because the bacteria that provoke it do not leave the intestines. Severe poisoning can become a threat to the fetus if there is severe intoxication of the mother's body and toxins penetrate the placenta into the fetus.

Especially dangerous is poisoning by the poisons of fungi, which bypass the placental barrier and cause various kinds of defects in the development of the embryo. Diarrhea during early pregnancy is dangerous if the frequency of defecation becomes more than 5 times in 24 hours. If there is diarrhea and vomiting, then this further complicates the situation and requires immediate medical attention. The consequences of severe diarrhea in a pregnant woman can be:

  • spontaneous miscarriage;
  • decrease in blood pressure in the mother;
  • accession kidney failure in a pregnant woman;
  • the formation of congenital anomalies in the fetus.

note: after the 30th week, diarrhea most often causes a virus or late toxicosis. Complications of this situation can be premature birth and thrombosis, so if you have symptoms of diarrhea, you should see a doctor. Sometimes diarrhea from 38 to 40 weeks of gestation is a sign of a natural cleansing of the body and an early birth.

The disease can have very different causes and be a manifestation of many pathologies. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a routine examination and be sure to tell the doctor about the accompanying symptoms. Diagnosis of diarrhea includes:


If necessary or if indicated, the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

The most informative may be such instrumental studies as:

  • colonoscopy - optical examination of the mucous membrane of the large intestine;
  • EGDS - endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum;
  • taking material from the stomach for the presence of bacteria Helicobacter pylori;
  • - examination of the colon by X-ray method;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - allows you to evaluate the work of the digestive tract;
  • Sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon.

Diarrhea: treatment and prevention of dehydration

Water diarrhea in an adult involves treatment, which consists of an integrated approach. It is important not only to eliminate the symptoms, but also the cause that caused diarrhea. Diarrhea treatment includes:


MEANS FOR ELIMINATION OF INFECTION

The treatment of diarrhea should be comprehensive: first of all, it is necessary to get rid of the cause of the ailment and, in parallel, start the process of restoring the disturbed intestinal microflora. The drug "Ekofuril" will help to cope with both tasks. Active substance"Ekofurila" - nifuroxazide. Ecofuril is not absorbed and acts on the cause of diarrhea - microbes, only in the intestines, reduces the amount of toxins produced by pathogenic microorganisms, this improves the general condition of a person with diarrhea. The prebiotic lactulose, an excipient of the drug, creates a breeding ground for the growth of its own beneficial bacteria in the intestine. It is recommended to take Ecofuril capsules or suspension for 5-7 days, but even after the end of taking the drug, the action of the prebiotic continues and therefore does not require additional courses of pro- and prebiotics in the recovery period. Ecofuril® for children over 3 years old and adults is available in capsules, and for children aged 1 month to 3 years - in the form of a suspension with a banana flavor. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy and you should consult your doctor.

To avoid dehydration, it is important to follow these rules:

  1. Drinking plenty of water is the basis of the treatment of diarrhea, because without it, all other drugs will be ineffective.
  2. Drink more fluids immediately after the onset of diarrhea.
  3. It is allowed to drink such drinks with diarrhea: ready-made saline pharmaceutical solutions (Rehydron), rosehip broth, raisin compote, chamomile decoction.
  4. It is forbidden to drink juice, milk, soda, sweet tea with diarrhea.
  5. It is necessary to drink after each act of defecation.
  6. The amount of liquid you drink should be approximately 150 to 300 ml at a time.
  7. If there is vomiting and diarrhea, then you should drink in small sips, otherwise heavy drinking in one gulp can provoke a vomiting attack.
  8. It is not necessary to eat during diarrhea, it is important to drink a lot, but if the patient wants to eat, then you should not refuse him.
  9. BRYAS - the optimal diet on the first day of diarrhea - banana - rice - apple (baked) - crackers.

note: when there is relief in the patient's condition, then from the 2nd or 3rd day it is already possible to introduce meat and yogurt into the diet, but low-fat, as well as cereals and pasta.

What to do at home with diarrhea

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If diarrhea occurs, general medical prescriptions should be followed, which will alleviate the patient's condition, improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They include:

  1. Refusal to eat certain foods (fatty meat, eggs in any form, milk, hot spices, soda, cabbage, cucumbers, radishes).

It is quite common to encounter a situation where general state a good person, but suddenly appears diarrhea while the temperature remains within the normal range. What is the cause of this condition in this case?

Often causes diarrhea without temperature is a neurotic state. In severe stressful situations, the body can thus react. If the cause of diarrhea is a stressful situation, then it is usually accompanied by a headache. Sometimes a similar situation arises in certain cases, for example, before going to the store. If this situation continues for a long time, then you need to contact a neurologist, who will refer you for an appropriate examination.

Another reason for the appearance diarrhea without temperature is a disease of the gastrointestinal system. For example, diseases such as stomach ulcers, gastritis may be accompanied by diarrhea, while the temperature will remain normal. Bloating, which appears after eating, will help determine this cause. Also, these diseases are accompanied by pain in the abdomen and heartburn. If there are suspicions of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then it is imperative to be examined by a gastroenterologist. It is impossible to ignore everything related to diseases of the digestive system.

Sometimes a similar reaction organism when taking various medications. If medications are the cause of diarrhea without fever, then you should immediately inform your doctor about this and stop taking them. Instead of these drugs, the doctor should prescribe more gentle methods of treatment.

Regardless of the cause diarrhea, which is not accompanied by an increase in temperature, it is necessary to start treatment. Otherwise, the body quickly dehydrates, which has a detrimental effect. To restore the water balance in the body, it is necessary to give the patient warm non-carbonated water or dried fruit compote.

Treatment of diarrhea without fever

After establishing causes of loose stools the question arises - how to treat diarrhea?

If the cause of the appearance diarrhea is taking medications, it is necessary to stop treatment and start taking drugs that improve the functioning of the pancreas (pancreatin, mezim). The course of treatment must be prescribed by a doctor and, as a rule, cannot last more than 14 days. If, after discontinuation of the drugs, a relapse is observed after a certain time, then you should not start taking the same medications on your own. It is necessary to consult a doctor who should combine a new method of treatment.

If the appearance diarrhea is not associated with an infection and medications, then treatment can be carried out at home. To do this, you should follow a light diet, exclude spicy and fatty foods, coffee, dairy products, and alcohol from the diet. It is necessary to consume a large amount of water per day to restore the water-salt balance. You can also try decoctions of herbs (oak bark, chamomile, St. John's wort and others). Among the drugs in the fight against loose stools, loperamide, also known as imodium, will help. It should be understood that loperamide is a treatment only for irritable bowel syndromes due to neuroses, in most cases it simply eliminates liquid stool, but does not eliminate its cause.

The basic rule that necessary remember - treatment should be started immediately to avoid dehydration. In order to restore the salt balance in the body, it is necessary to purchase special mixtures at the pharmacy that contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals to restore those lost during diarrhea.

In a mandatory case need to see a doctor if diarrhea without fever occurs in or in a child under the age of three. This is due to the fact that the reasons can be quite severe. In some cases, for example, diarrhea with blood requires an emergency call for an ambulance.

Chronic diarrhea: causes and treatment

Chronic is considered diarrhea when loose stools last more than three weeks. This diagnosis is made by a doctor after the necessary examination. As a rule, chronic diarrhea is a sign of a disease, or its consequence. After a complete examination, the doctor can confidently make a diagnosis.

Cause of chronic diarrhea are disorders of the colon or small intestine. Any professional after examining feces can determine what is causing frequent diarrhea.

The patient can independently determine in thick or thin intestines a malfunction has occurred. As a rule, disruption of the large intestine is accompanied by severe spasmodic pain. The urge to go to the toilet becomes quite frequent, but not every trip to the restroom is accompanied by emptying.

Causes of all of the above may be the following violations in the body:
1. Improper nutrition;
2. The presence of dysbacteriosis;
3. Allergic reaction;
4. chronic diseases digestive organs;
5. Violations nervous system;
6. The action of a viral infection.

Frequent loose stools in adults can be due to many different reasons, the most common of which are various infectious lesions of the gastrointestinal system. They can be caused by adenoviruses, rotaviruses, salmonella, E. coli, staphylococci, protozoa, such as Giardia, and other types of bacteria or viruses.

In addition to the above factors, the cause of diarrhea in adults can be:

  1. Certain foods and drinks, and foods that are too hot or too cold.
  2. Pathologies of the digestive system associated with disruption of the normal production of gastric juice and enzymes, such as pancreatitis, gastritis, cholecystitis and others.
  3. Exposure to certain substances to which a person is hypersensitive.
  4. Hormonal disruptions.
  5. The period after the operation on the digestive organs.
  6. Side effects of certain drugs.
  7. Non-infectious bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and others.
  8. Mental or emotional factors, such as stress, severe fear, nervous strain, and the like.

In most cases, when diarrhea occurs, adults do not seek medical help, but cope with the problem on their own, with the exception of a strong and sharp deterioration and fever that accompany diarrhea. In addition, it is worth contacting a doctor for advice when impurities appear in the stool: blood, mucus, foam, and also when the color of the feces changes, signs of dehydration appear: the lips and tongue are very dry, urination becomes rare, thirst is constantly felt . Be sure to visit a doctor if diarrhea in adults appears after visiting the countries of the African continent, Asia or other distant areas.

One of the causes of diarrhea in adults is the use of certain medications. Such side effect often accompanies treatment with antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants.

Prevention of diarrhea is quite simple, it consists in elementary actions:

  • strict observance of the rules of personal hygiene;
  • control of the expiration date and method of food storage;
  • drinking only boiled water;
  • obligatory heat treatment of products whose origin cannot be precisely determined, for example, those bought in a store, especially for eggs, fish, dairy and meat products.

Differentiating due to diarrhea in adults, there are several groups of diarrhea:

  1. Diarrhea of ​​an infectious nature. They occur with food poisoning, dysentery, viral diarrhea, amoebiasis, salmonellosis and other similar diseases.
  2. Toxic diarrhea, caused by arsenic poisoning, mercury poisoning, or uremia.
  3. Neurogenic diarrhea associated with strong psychological or emotional situations (stress, fear, excitement, etc.).
  4. Diarrhea associated with a violation of the normal process of digestion of food. This condition is due to secretory insufficiency of the pancreas, liver or stomach.
  5. Alimentary diarrhea. They are caused by malnutrition or an allergic reaction.
  6. Medical diarrhea. The cause of such diarrhea in adults may be the intake of certain medicines, vitamins, as well as the development of dysbacteriosis due to improper antibiotic treatment.

Frequent diarrhea in adults causes

Frequent diarrhea in adults is also called chronic diarrhea. This condition is characterized by a frequency of stools more than twice a day and the amount of feces in excess of 250 g per day. Chronic diarrhea is considered if its duration exceeds 3-4 weeks. There are quite a few causes of such diarrhea in adults, the most common of which are the following:

  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This factor causes chronic diarrhea in 60% of cases. The main signs are flatulence, abdominal pain after defecation, frequent loose stools, false urges. Doctors classify irritable bowel syndrome as a functional pathology. This disease occurs against the background of increased irritability of the nervous system. The reasons lie in constant stress.
  2. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both of these pathologies belong to the group of autoimmune inflammatory lesions of a chronic nature. Their manifestations are pus, mucus and blood in the stool. With such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a thorough examination. Since, in the absence of timely measures, life-threatening complications can develop, such as peritonitis, intestinal perforation, hemorrhagic shock and intestinal bleeding.
  3. Malabsorption syndrome. Its development is associated with a violation of the absorption of substances from the small intestine, which leads to the appearance of osmotic diarrhea. The reasons may lie in the deficiency of enzymes in pathologies of the pancreas, gallbladder and liver. This symptom may be acquired or congenital. The treatment of the second type of disease is strict adherence to a certain diet. Often, the occurrence of malabsorption syndrome is associated with an operation to remove a portion of the small intestine.
  4. Diarrhea in adults with hyperthyroidism. This disease occurs with excessive secretion of thyroid hormones, which causes diarrhea in adults. After all, these hormones stimulate intestinal motility. Treatment of hyperthyroidism is prescribed by an endocrinologist. It is aimed at normalizing the level of thyroid hormones.

Treating causes of diarrhea in adults

To cope with diarrhea in adults, there are quite a few methods. Some of them are listed below:

  • it is necessary to soak dry black bread or crackers from it for a quarter of an hour in warm water, the resulting remedy is drunk in small doses during the day;
  • you can get rid of diarrhea in adults by first taking a large spoonful of castor oil, and then lemon juice;
  • suitable for these purposes and tincture of wormwood on vodka. Take this remedy 20 drops every 2-3 hours. If there is no such tincture, then it can be replaced with a decoction of wormwood. To prepare it, take a small spoonful of dried wormwood per 200 ml. Water and grass are put on fire and boiled. Drink the resulting remedy should be warm, without adding sugar to it.

If diarrhea does not go away for several days and there is no fever and headache, then you can try to cure it in the following ways:

  1. Prepare a decoction of oak bark. Why a pinch of raw materials is poured into 300 ml of water, brought to a boil over low heat and left for about 10 minutes. As a result, about a glass of broth should remain. Take it one spoon three times a day.
  2. You need to eat 12 apples per day, which are pre-peeled and grated, that is, they eat an apple every 2 hours. Except for apples, they do not consume any liquid and food, and do not take any drugs. In most cases, diarrhea stops completely as a result.

Preferably before starting treatment or carrying out preventive actions you need to consult a specialist.

Pharmaceutical companies today offer a wide range of drugs to combat diarrhea. Medications from diarrhea are divided into adults and children. However, it is not always necessary to immediately go to the pharmacy. In the absence of symptoms of a serious illness, it is better to first try to manage adult diarrhea folk methods. If they do not help, the patient's condition worsens, signs of dehydration or more serious pathologies appear, a doctor's consultation is necessary.

The most famous and effective means traditional medicine from diarrhea are considered the following:

  1. For him, you need 200 g of walnuts. They need to be cleaned and removed from the shell of the partition. To prepare the product, the cores are not required, only partitions are needed, which are poured with alcohol (300 ml). Insist remedy for several days. Take it 10 drops, adding to a cup of water, three times a day. It must be remembered that the alcohol tincture of partitions of nuts is a rather strong remedy, and in case of an overdose, diarrhea can be replaced by constipation.
  2. The second remedy From severe diarrhea will help dried and chopped skin from the inside of the chicken stomach. When cutting a chicken, a tough film is removed from its stomach, which is thoroughly washed and dried in the sun. After drying, it is finely crushed, sieved. When diarrhea occurs, this remedy is added in small quantities to food. You can take it again if the diarrhea doesn't stop right away.
  3. The third remedy To prepare it, you need to collect green walnuts along with the skin. They are cut into small slices and placed in a prepared container, filling it three-quarters. After that, diluted alcohol or vodka is poured there and left for several days. When the tincture is ready, it can be consumed. Drink it in small doses, no more than two teaspoons at a time. Take the tincture once or twice a day, but not more often.

Almost every person has experienced such a problem as diarrhea. But what to do if diarrhea does not go away for a week in an adult?

Description of the disease

Diarrhea is the condition of a person in which loose stools are released several times a day. This state has 2 forms:

  • acute. Diarrhea may not stop for up to two weeks;
  • chronic. Diarrhea may last more than two weeks.

Diarrhea is not considered a separate disease. Rather, it is a symptom that indicates any malfunction in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused by various reasons. It manifests itself in adults and children. The condition is unpleasant, brings a lot of discomfort if it occurs in adults. But, if it is observed in a child, parents are overwhelmed with anxiety and not in vain.

You can ignore the malaise that lasts 1 - 2 days, but if the diarrhea cannot stop on the 6th day, you need to contact a specialist. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, various complications can occur. It is very important to know for what reason there is prolonged diarrhea, how to get rid of diarrhea.

If, in the presence of diarrhea, an adult does not have pain in the stomach, then the body cleanses the gastrointestinal tract on its own from toxins, mucus, and decay products that accumulate after stagnation inside the tract. Such a functional disorder may pass on the second day after dieting. If diarrhea persists for 4 days or more, contact a specialist.

Why does diarrhea occur?

Diarrhea that lasts 1 to 2 days without pain can be caused by:

  • food poisoning;
  • alcohol poisoning.

Loose stools for 1, 2, 3 days can be observed during pregnancy, menstruation. The body is cleansed, then the work of the digestive tract is adjusted.

Diarrhea may be caused by:

  • neurosis;
  • food poisoning;
  • intolerance to certain foods;
  • acclimatization of the body;
  • long-term use of medications that provoke diarrhea (anticoagulants, laxatives, synthetic sweeteners, antiarrhythmic drugs).

Diarrhea, which has arisen for one of these reasons, passes very quickly, literally in 3-4 days. If diarrhea was caused by one of these factors, it will not be difficult for you to calculate it. If the stool disorder does not go away after 3-4 days, seek help from a specialist.

Weekly diarrhea may indicate one of the following diseases:

  • intestinal infection (rotavirus, influenza, cholera);
  • dysentery;
  • intestinal tuberculosis;
  • salmonellosis;
  • exacerbation of the existing chronic disease(dysbacteriosis, colitis);
  • enzyme deficiency.

Features of diarrhea provoked by various factors

With diarrhea, the following processes occur in the body:

  • increased excretion of salts, water into the intestinal cavity;
  • failures in the process of absorption of food (digested) from the intestinal cavity;
  • accelerated intestinal peristalsis;
  • indigestion of food.

OKI. Diarrhea caused by acute intestinal infections occurs due to the impact of various microorganisms on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Microbes produce toxins that paralyze the intestines. Usually in AII, diarrhea is sharp shape, sometimes it develops into chronic (with dysentery).

Dysbacteriosis. It is characterized by a violation of the normal intestinal microflora (there is an increase in bacteria that are not characteristic of the intestinal microflora, a decrease in the number of “beneficial” microbes. Diarrhea is characterized by a chronic course. Diarrhea can last three days or more.

Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can last all day with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

  • chronic enteritis;
  • Crohn's disease;
  • chronic colitis;
  • ulcerative colitis.

The risk of prolonged diarrhea in a child

If diarrhea is not in an adult, but in a child, you need to be careful. If diarrhea is severe and lasts 2, 3, 4 days, signs of dehydration may appear. This state is dangerous by the occurrence of dysfunction of all internal organs. When diarrhea is observed for a long time in a child, you need to carefully monitor his condition, any changes, deviations from the norm. The doctor must be called in the case when the diarrhea does not stop for several days, there are pains in the abdomen.

If diarrhea does not go away for a week, dehydration occurs, which is not safe, especially for the child's body. The child may lose about 3% of the weight. To determine the moisture balance, you should monitor the frequency, amount of urination. Warning symptoms are:

  • darkening of urine;
  • concentrated urine;
  • long breaks between urination (more than 8 hours).

In this case, the patient is observed:

  • nervousness;
  • dry mouth;
  • dizziness;
  • depression;
  • orientation disorder.

If diarrhea does not stop within a week, it can cause coma, death without timely treatment. You should not postpone going to a specialist if a child with watery diarrhea has a greenish color.

First aid for diarrhea

If you have prolonged diarrhea, you need to visit a specialist to determine the cause of its occurrence, selection suitable treatment. The duration of diarrhea should be the impetus for making a decision about diagnosis and treatment. You don't have to endure diarrhea every day. You can try to eliminate this unpleasant symptom yourself, for this you need:

  1. Take a sorbent preparation (Smecta, Activated charcoal, Filtrum-Stee).
  2. Drink plenty of water (boiled), weak weak tea. This will help avoid dehydration.
  3. To restore the supply of lost nutrients, minerals, vitamins, it is recommended to drink herbal teas. In the presence of temperature, it is useful to drink tea with currants, linden.
  4. Cleansing enema (it can be delivered 1 time). Through a cleansing enema, we remove bacteria from the intestines. Also, this procedure helps to lower the temperature due to the absorption of water into the walls of the intestine.

The need for a diet for diarrhea

Diet for diarrhea is also important. Past diarrhea can return after the substances that provoked it (poor-quality food, medicines, bacteria) enter the body. Having passed the treatment recommended by a specialist, you need to be more attentive to your body. To restore the normal functioning of the digestive tract, a diet is needed. Its experts recommend observing adult patients, children.

The diet is based on the use of a large volume of liquid. After diarrhea, the patient must follow the basic rules in nutrition:

  1. Eat liquid foods (light mashed potatoes, low-fat soups, broths).
  2. Cereals from cereals should be cooked mucous, semi-mucilaginous. It is forbidden to use large grains so as not to injure the intestinal walls.
  3. You should eat foods containing a lot of fiber (dried fruits, bananas, apples).
  4. Bread should be eaten white, bran.
  5. You can eat lean meat, fish.

From the usual products should be excluded:

  • vegetables, fruits (fresh);
  • canned food, smoked meats;
  • dried products;
  • tea (green), coffee;
  • seasonings;
  • salt, sugar in large quantities;
  • dairy products;
  • soda;
  • fatty food.

Medical treatment for diarrhea

If diarrhea does not go away on the third or fourth day, contact a specialist to find out the cause. After the diagnosis, clarification of the cause that provoked the onset of diarrhea, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Usually it consists in taking such funds:

  1. Sorbents ("Smekta", "Activated carbon").
  2. Antidiarrheals (Imodium, Loperamide).
  3. Preparations aimed at restoring the ionic balance ("Regidron"). They are needed after dehydration.
  4. Pro / prebiotics ("Lineks", "Bifiform"). They are needed to restore the microflora inside the intestines.

If diarrhea has infectious nature development, the specialist prescribes:

  1. Intestinal antiseptics ("Sulgin", "Ftalazol", "Furazolidone").
  2. Antibiotics (macrolides, tetracyclines, amoxicillins).

Do not use these medicines for self-medication with diarrhea. Each of the drugs should be selected taking into account such features as: the condition of the patient, the cause of diarrhea. Medications are prescribed in a course that should be completed to the end, and not stopped after the disappearance of an unpleasant symptom (diarrhea). Also, do not forget about the diet. It is an important aspect in the treatment of disorders of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diarrhea is a common symptom in children and adults. Almost everyone has experience of indigestion. Severe diarrhea is a serious danger to the body. It is important to take action in time to prevent unwanted symptoms. What helps, how to treat, when to contact ambulance- these and other main issues are covered in the article.

Diarrhea (the medical term "diarrhea") is a disturbance in the normal functioning of the stomach. It is believed that the body in a similar way cleanses from pathogenic microorganisms. Causes of diarrhea:

  • Frequent stressful situations (neurogenic);
  • Occurs when there is a malfunction of the central nervous system;
  • Food poisoning;
  • Diarrhea (dyspepsia) occurs due to changes in climatic conditions, habitual nutrition;
  • Inflammation of the intestines;
  • Violation of the digestive tract (dyspeptic diarrhea);
  • Cancer, ;
  • diverticulosis;
  • Chronic, acute gastritis;
  • Viral;
  • Varieties of diseases associated with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract);
  • Irritable bowel syndrome.

In diseases of the digestive tract, the normal metabolic process is disrupted. This causes indigestion.

Four mechanisms are known to cause diarrhea. Occur individually or intersect with each other. Types of diarrhea:

  1. Diarrhea associated with a malfunction of the intestines;
  2. secretory;
  3. Osmotic;
  4. Exudative.

There is a clinical characteristic: diarrhea with severe dehydration, moderate, without dehydration.

Different types of bacterial diseases viral infection can cause the above mechanisms, leading to indigestion. The reason is sometimes medications: antibiotics, antacids (anti-inflammatory drugs), diuretics (decongestants), anticonvulsants.

Excessive alcohol consumption, food allergies, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid) disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive tract.

Severe diarrhea is one of the defense mechanisms. The body releases harmful substances that cause inflammation of the stomach and intestinal mucosa. Liquid stool performs the function of cleaning. Therefore, it is not recommended to immediately take pills to stop diarrhea. It is important to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration and replenish the body nutrients and micronutrients.

Diarrhea Symptoms

The main signs of diarrhea include:

  • Bloating
  • Feeling of discomfort in the stomach after eating;
  • There is increased gas formation;
  • Pain in the abdomen;
  • Frequent emptying of the stomach;
  • Watery stools (may be odorless, mixed with bile, blood clots);
  • Feeling of nausea, vomiting;
  • severe weakness, poor appetite;
  • Periodic dizziness.

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a concomitant symptom of a number of health complications. The gastrointestinal tract can not cope with the process of digestion.

  • Prolonged indigestion removes useful elements from the body along with harmful substances. It is necessary to normalize the water-salt balance of the body. To do this, it is recommended to take more liquid. The water may be slightly salty. Salt retains fluid in the body. Pharmacies sell rehydration solutions (Regidron, Reosolan). They compensate for the lost water and trace elements.
  • Observe bed rest. With a large loss of fluid, due to dehydration in a person, blackouts in the eyes, dizziness are possible. Constant feeling of thirst signals dehydration. You need to urgently call an ambulance.
  • Stick to the diet menu. After pork, nausea and indigestion are again possible. It is important to replenish the body with nutrients to prevent depletion.
  • Avoid foods that increase gas or have a laxative effect. Half an hour before meals, it is permissible to take prebiotics that restore the work of the stomach. The diet must be followed throughout the recovery period. You will need to adhere to proper nutrition, not only after the symptoms have been eliminated.

If only loose stools are observed, without other symptoms, it is allowed to try to cope on your own. An adult is able to cope with the first signs of diarrhea, but if during the day it worsens, the patient's condition worsens, seek medical help.

Preventive measures

The main prevention of diarrhea is a healthy lifestyle and hygiene. Adviсe:

  • Always wash fruits and vegetables before eating (unexpected loose stools are often caused by dirty food).
  • Watch your diet, avoid overeating, spoiled foods.
  • Lead an active lifestyle.
  • Once a year, undergo an examination for diseases of the digestive tract.

Watch your diet, well-being, lifestyle and be healthy!