Diarrhea: Common causes, symptoms, and treatment
When your digestive system is not functioning properly, you might end up having loose and watery stools, and an increase in bowel movements. This is known as diarrhea and almost everyone experiences this condition in their lives. While it is a common and not a very harmful condition, things can become serious in extreme cases. Moreover, the need to visit the bathroom every few minutes can be embarrassing.
Diarrhea makes you feel tired and weak, and because a lot of fluids are being passed out with the stools, it makes you dehydrated.
Symptoms of diarrhea
The symptoms of diarrhea include:
- Bloating in your stomach or the feeling of excessive bloating in the abdomen.
What are the common diarrhea causes?
Diarrhea can occur due to many factors. Some of the common diarrhea causes are:
- Bacteria and parasites
When you consume food and water that is contaminated, it can transmit bacteria and parasites in your body.
Common bacteria that can cause diarrhea are campylobacter, salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Shigella. Parasites that cause diarrhea are cryptosporidium and giardia lamblia. Viruses
Norwalk virus, viral hepatitis, and cytomegalovirus are some of the common viruses that cause diarrhea. Children are mostly affected by a virus called as Rotavirus. People who travel a lot, especially in underdeveloped countries can come in contact with viruses that cause diarrhea, also referred to as traveler’s diarrhea. Lactose intolerance
People who are lactose intolerant, when consuming lactose, which is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products, usually find it difficult to digest the lactose. Normally, your body has an enzyme that helps digest lactose. But for people who are lactose intolerant, the level of this enzyme tends to drop rapidly. This is one of the common diarrhea causes in lactose intolerant people. Fructose
Fructose is a kind of sugar found in sugar and honey. It is also added to a few beverages as a sweetener. People who can’t digest fructose easily might end up having diarrhea. Medications
Some medications, especially antibiotics can cause diarrhea. This is because antibiotics don’t just destroy bad bacteria, they end up destroying good bacteria sometimes too. This disturbs the natural balance of bacteria in your stomach and intestines and leads to diarrhea. Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like mannitol and sorbitol found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products can cause diarrhea if these sweeteners don’t agree with your system. Surgery
People who undergo surgery like abdominal surgery or gall bladder removal surgery might have diarrhea post this surgery. Other common diarrhea causes
A few other common diarrhea causes are ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Norwalk virus, viral hepatitis, and cytomegalovirus are some of the common viruses that cause diarrhea. Children are mostly affected by a virus called as Rotavirus. People who travel a lot, especially in underdeveloped countries can come in contact with viruses that cause diarrhea, also referred to as traveler’s diarrhea.
People who are lactose intolerant, when consuming lactose, which is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products, usually find it difficult to digest the lactose. Normally, your body has an enzyme that helps digest lactose. But for people who are lactose intolerant, the level of this enzyme tends to drop rapidly. This is one of the common diarrhea causes in lactose intolerant people.
Fructose is a kind of sugar found in sugar and honey. It is also added to a few beverages as a sweetener. People who can’t digest fructose easily might end up having diarrhea.
Some medications, especially antibiotics can cause diarrhea. This is because antibiotics don’t just destroy bad bacteria, they end up destroying good bacteria sometimes too. This disturbs the natural balance of bacteria in your stomach and intestines and leads to diarrhea.
Artificial sweeteners like mannitol and sorbitol found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products can cause diarrhea if these sweeteners don’t agree with your system.
People who undergo surgery like abdominal surgery or gall bladder removal surgery might have diarrhea post this surgery.
A few other common diarrhea causes are ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
How to treat diarrhea
- Make sure you increase your fluid intake. Your stools are most likely to be watery. With the constant passage of stools and increased frequency of bowel movements, you are at a high risk of getting dehydrated. Try to take rehydration drinks and keep yourself hydrated.
- Avoid spicy foods. This can disturb your stomach and irritate your bowels, causing your diarrhea to worsen.
- Most chewing gums contain sorbitol, so avoid these chewing gums as it can trigger diarrhea, especially if your system does not agree with these artificial sweeteners.
- Don’t consume milk for at least three days when symptoms of diarrhea occur.
- Try eating only a bland diet. Include bland foods like rice, banana, applesauce, and toast.
- OTC or over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, and Kaopectate can help relieve diarrhea.
Home remedies for treating diarrhea
The best part about home remedies is that they are inexpensive and easily available. Some of these remedies help effectively treat diarrhea.
- Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea can provide relief from diarrhea and abdominal pains and cramps thanks to the antispasmodic properties. Chamomile tea is also an excellent antioxidant that will help in reducing intestinal inflammation. - Bananas
Bananas have a high pectin content. Eat ripe bananas if you are suffering from diarrhea. Pectin is a water-soluble fiber that can help relieve diarrhea, and the potassium found in bananas works as an electrolyte, which supports a huge number of vital functions in your body. - Yogurt
Yogurt is filled with live cultures that can kill the bad bacteria that cause diarrhea and restore the good bacteria in your intestines and stomach. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium are a few live bacterial cultures that are great in treating diarrhea.
These simple steps can help reduce the symptoms of diarrhea. However, if the symptoms persist, visit a doctor to get a proper treatment.
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