Diarrhea means watery or loose stool in larger volume which forces the individual to visit the toilet more frequently than normal.
Causes:
There are multiple causes which lead to diarrhea, the most common causes could be as follows:
- Viruses: The different types of virus which can cause diarrhea could be cytomegalovirus, rotavirus, viral hepatitis etc
- Bacteria: Various bacteria which lead to diarrhea could be campylobacter, salmonella, Shigella
- Parasites: Parasites like Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia
- Drugs: Many of the medicines you take can lead to diarrhea. Most common among them are antibiotics
- Lactose Intolerance: Some people have difficulty in digesting lactose and they may feel uneasy after drinking dairy products and it results in diarrhea after they consume dairy products
- Artificial Sweeteners: Some of the artificial sweeteners like sorbitol and mannitol may cause diarrhea in a few individuals
- Surgery: After undergoing any of the abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal some of the individuals may suffer from diarrhea
- Digestive Disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel disease.
Symptoms:
Some of the symptoms which you might face during diarrhea could be :
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Bloating of abdomen
- Frequent/watery/loose stool
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
How is Diarrhea Treated?
- Replacement of Fluids – Due to loss of fluids and electrolytes during diarrhea you are asked to have a good amount of drinking water, fruit juices to replace them. In case if you are dehydrated badly your doctor may advise an intravenous fluid injection
- Treating underlying causes like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease.
- Medications as advised by the doctor.
When to Consult A Gastroenterologist?
It is better if you consult your doctor immediately if the symptoms are lasting for more than two days if you’re an adult and more than 24 hours in case of infants.