Diarrhea is the name given to the condition of abnormally loose stools. The increase in going to the toilet due to the problem in bowel movements is also one of the complaints seen together with loose stools.
Diarrhea is defined as having watery stools more than three times a day. In very severe diarrhea cases, 13 to 14 liters of fluid can be lost during the day.
Diarrhea, which can occur due to quite different reasons, often occurs with environmental factors. There are levels of diarrhea, if it is mild, it may be possible to control the problem with foods that are good against the disease.
Summer diarrhea, which is common in the summer, mostly affects children aged 0-5. In the case of frequent toileting, if the stool is not watery, this picture is not generally considered as diarrhea.
What Will We Learn?
What are the Symptoms of Diarrhea?
Diarrhea symptoms are ranked according to the severity of the disease. If the patient has lost a small amount of fluid, there may be complaints that manifest themselves mostly as thirst.
In moderate fluid loss, symptoms such as dry mouth, restlessness and decreased urination may occur. If there is a loss of fluid in a part of the body, the symptoms will manifest themselves more severely. Accordingly, the most common diarrhea symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Liquid defecation
- The urgent urge to defecate
- Difficulty holding stool
- Excess defecation
- Thirst
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fire
- Weakness
- Stomach pain and gas
Symptoms of bacterial infections that manifest themselves in the summer are usually as follows:
- Fire
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach ache
In some cases, the fever in the body can rise to over 39 degrees. In this case, the most dangerous situation for children is diarrhea and vomiting complaints. Vomiting with diarrhea causes severe fluid loss in the body.
For this reason, it is extremely important for families to pay attention to how severe the diarrhea and vomiting in their children is. In cases where vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, it becomes difficult to balance the fluid ratio in the body, as the patient cannot eat enough and cannot consume liquid.
If precautions are not taken, severe symptoms that can cause acute kidney failure occur with excessive fluid loss from the body.
For this reason, children should be provided with beverages such as water and fruit juice to ensure that the lost fluid is regained as much as possible.
Diarrhea germ can easily be transmitted from person to person, especially from one child to another. Often, diarrhea can spread quickly among young children who have not learned to toilet train.
Why Does Diarrhea Occur?
With the increase in air temperatures, bacterial infections can also reproduce easily and rapidly in foods. Depending on the storage conditions of food, an increase in microbes and the toxins they cause is observed.
Individuals who consume infected foods may encounter diarrhea, which is generally known as gastroenteritis. For this, it is important not to consume foods that have been waiting outside for a long time.
Diarrhea can occur due to problems such as bacterial infections or intestinal diseases. The most common causes of diarrhea are:
- Intestinal microbial diseases caused by water and food
- Inability to tolerate foods such as milk and dairy products
- Parasites
- Laxative use
- Drug-related side effects
- Diseases that damage the intestinal structure such as inflammatory
- Diseases that damage the function of the bowel, such as irritable
There are many different microbes that cause diarrhea:
- Rotavirus
- Norwalk
- Astro
The above viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics.
The viruses listed below can be treated using antibiotics:
- Campylobacter,
- Salmonella,
- Shigella
What Are The Types of Diarrhea?
1. Acute Diarrhea
It usually takes 1 to 2 days and gets better on its own. It is a common ailment.
2. Continuous Diarrhea
It lasts between 2 and 4 weeks.
3. Chronic Diarrhea
It takes at least 1 month. Symptoms may be persistent or may improve and reappear over time.
What are Diarrhea Diagnostic Methods?
For the diagnosis of diarrhea, people who consult a doctor are asked about their medical history and the drugs they use, if any, are examined. By performing a physical examination, the problem causing diarrhea is determined by the physician.
For this, some tests are carried out. These tests are listed below:
- Complete blood count test,
- Stool test to check for the presence of bacteria or parasites
- Sigmoidoscopy,
- Colonoscopy tests
In these tests, the physician can observe the inside of the intestines with the help of a thin and lighted tube inserted into the rectum of the patient.
When he deems it necessary, he can take a small tissue sample and provide a biopsy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy provides an image of the lower regions of the colon, while colonoscopy allows the physician to observe the entire colon.
What Is Good For Diarrhea?
For people who have a good general course of diarrhea and do not have complaints of nausea and vomiting, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda are added to 1 liter of boiled and cooled water. This prepared mixture is consumed at frequent intervals.
In more severe cases, if the patient cannot be fed orally, if there is fever and long-standing diarrhea (more than 1 day), fluid and electrolyte supplements should be taken intravenously under hospital conditions.
In addition to this, stool examination should be performed and treatment planning of the disease should be adjusted.
Proper nutrition during diarrhea is extremely important. During this period, consuming fatty and fibrous foods should be avoided. Among the foods that are good for diarrhea, potatoes and bananas are among the most important foods to prevent potassium loss.
The most critical issues in the treatment of diarrhea are to ensure that the individual takes back the fluid and salts lost due to diarrhea by the oral route as much as possible.
Another important point is to continue the diet and consult a doctor without losing time. The majority of diarrhea cases in children are mild or moderate diarrhea cases.
These cases can often be treated at home. The first precautions to be taken are:
Mild Diarrhea
In mild diarrhea cases without persistent vomiting and fever, drinking plenty of water is good against diarrhea. If the person with diarrhea is an infant, care should be taken to feed them with breast milk. The baby should be monitored for signs of thirst in a controlled manner.
Moderate Diarrhea
In moderate diarrhea cases, feeling restless and thirsty begin to show themselves more. If the child who has the disease is older than 6 months, diarrhea kits available from the pharmacy can be used.
Advanced Diarrhea
In case of persistent and chronic diarrhea, a doctor should be consulted and necessary diagnoses should be made.
What Foods Are Good For Diarrhea?
Other foods that are good for diarrhea can be listed as follows:
- Apple
- Carrot
- Banana
- Boiled potato
- Porridge of rice
- Roasted chickpea
We can list the teas that are good for diarrhea as follows:
- Sage
- Mint
- Daisy
- Acorn bark
- Golden head grass
- Vine leaf
- Fig leaf
- Rosemary
- Clove root
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