Diarrhoea – causes, symptoms,treatment and prevention

Diarrhoea or loose motions have troubled all of us atleast a few times in our lives, mostly due to infections which are totally avoidable. However, there are other causes that can cause it too. In thi

By: Pavitra Sampath | | Updated: July 15, 2014 4:27 pm

Tags: Food borne infections Water borne diseases

Diarrhoea or loose motions have troubled all of us atleast a few times in our lives, mostly due to infections which are totally avoidable. However, there are other causes that can cause it too. In this post, we attempt to shed more light on the very common problem and also tell you how it can be prevented.

Do you really have diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea is a condition where a person passes 3 or more loose watery stools per day, or that is more than normal for that person. It may be accompanied with fever or stomach pain. Usually the patient will feel weak and may experience a loss of appetite, may have vomiting, pain and cramps in the stomach or abdominal region and in severe,chronic cases even drastic weight loss.

What’s causing the diarrhoea?

Most commonly, diarrhoea is caused due to an infection, either by eating contaminated food (food poisoning), drinking unclean water or through transmission from a person who is suffering from the condition. Apart from this there are certain non-infectious conditions that can be the cause of diarrhoea. Inflammation in the stomach lining, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis (a condition where a pouch forms in the wall of the stomach and gets infected), lactose intolerance (allergy to milk), allergies to certain foods, certain medications, side effect of certain surgeries (gallbladder removal or the removal of some part of the intestine) could also cause diarrhoea.

Treatment and self-care of diarrhoea:

Keep yourself well hydrated: According to the WHO 760,000 children under the age of five die globally every year due to diarrhoea. And most of these deaths are due to dehydration. During a bout of diarrhoea one loses a lot of essential electrolytes from the body very quickly, dehydration can set in if these electrolytes are not replaced adequately. So, it is a good idea to have water with either an electrolyte solution available at any chemist shop or with salt and sugar at regular intervals. If one suffers from vomiting along with diarrhoea, it is important to have a few sips of water every twenty to thirty minutes.

Avoid fatty and spicy foods: These kind of foods are difficult to digest and can lead to further inflammation of an already troubled stomach. So, stick to easily digestible foods like khichdi or curd rice.

Get enough rest: A number of people tend to continue with their normal daily routine even when they are sick. This is not such a good idea for people with diarrhoea as it will not only deplete their abilities to heal faster, will expose their already low immunity to a variety of infections and make them prone to spreading the infection to other individuals. So, get enough rest during this time.

Visit a doctor: No matter how mild the condition is, it is best to visit a doctor. This will help the physician catch any serious condition in the early stages or treat one specifically for the type of infection and help relieve the symptoms associated with diarrhoea.

When should you take it more seriously

While a simple infectious diarrhoea may heal on its own, there are some conditions that need further medical attention. You should visit a doctor if you see blood in your stools, if the diarrhoea is very frequent, if you notice stools that are black in colour (usually a symptom of blood in the stools), if there is severe abdominal pain or cramps, pain in the anal region, fever or dehydration. A doctor will first do a physical exam and ask the patient about his/her symptoms. If further investigations are required he/she may need the patient to give a blood test and stool sample. This is usually done to find out the exact cause of the diarrhoea.

Prevention is better than cure

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after you eat something, after you visit the bathroom and have been to a crowded place. This will help wash away any bacteria that may be on your hands and prevent it from entering your gastrointestinal tract. (Read: Wash hands the right way; prevent diseases like cholera, typhoid and gastroenteritis)

Do not eat food from unsanitary or unknown places – especially street food. This is because no matter how clean the area looks, you never know where the cook gets his/her water supply from, if they are clean and have washed their hands or if the food has been prepared under sanitary conditions. Also, there is a common belief, that if the food is hot it will not cause any harm – this is nothing but a myth. Along with the hot food, usually comes cold bread, salad or pav, which could still carry germs. More importantly if the plates and spoons have been washed in unsanitary water, have not been cleaned properly or the cleaner is ill, then it is highly likely that you might get infected.

Boil the water you drink. It is essential to boil the water you drink for several minutes before you use it for any purpose. If you have a filter then make sure you get it serviced regularly and change the filter candles (the main structure helps filter water) regularly. All these methods help kill harmful bacteria and beats the possibility of you contracting a water borne disease.

If someone in your house is suffering from diarrhoea, make sure you disinfect the toilet, the flush handle, door handle and faucet of the taps. This is because the germs that caused diarrhoea in that person could be deposited on these objects and can infect another person. Preventing the transmission of bacteria is the best way to prevent the condition.

In the case of children it is especially important to wash their hands regularly, clean the things that they commonly put in their mouths thoroughly and that they are taken to the doctor soon.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cholera.

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Published: October 29, 2013 10:57 am | Updated:July 15, 2014 4:27 pm

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