A common stomach ailment, diarrhoea, can be caused by various factors, including infections, bacteria, or specific foods. It is a condition that often results in free and watery solid discharges. Due to its common occurrence, having the correct information about diarrhoea is necessary to ensure quick treatment.
What is Diarrhoea?
A common digestive condition, diarrhoea is characterised by frequent, watery, and loose bowel movements. It happens when the stomach-related framework can't ingest water as expected or when abundant water is discharged into the digestion tracts. Diarrhoea can prompt side effects like stomach agony, drying out, and earnestness to use the bathroom. Treatment includes overseeing side effects, remaining hydrated, and tending to the primary reason.
Diarrhoea can have causes that aren't due to a certain disease. Examples include a liquid diet, food intolerance, stress, anxiety, or the use of laxatives.
Clinically, there are three types of diarrhoea:
- Acute watery diarrhoea that lasts several hours or days and includes cholera
- Acute bloody diarrhoea, also called dysentery
- Persistent diarrhoea that may continue for up to 14 days or longer
What Causes Diarrhoea?
In India, diarrhoea ranks third in terms of causes of childhood death, accounting for 13% of all fatalities in children under the age of five each year. Several conditions and diseases can cause diarrhoea, including:
Medicines
Some medications can cause diarrhoea as a side effect. For example, antibiotics can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the digestive tract, leading to diarrhoea. This interruption can prompt diarrhoea or conditions like C. difficile. Different prescriptions, including antiviral medications and magnesium-containing stomach-settling agents, can cause the runs.
Food allergies
These are often the result of consuming specific allergenic foods, like dairy, gluten, shellfish, and certain fruits and vegetables. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, cramping, and bloating may occur. Identifying and avoiding these trigger foods is crucial to managing and preventing allergic diarrhoea.
Digestive disorders
Digestive disorders, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, can cause inflammation and damage in the intestines. This condition leads to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and rectal bleeding. These conditions are chronic and can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes. In some cases, surgical interventions may be needed.
Surgery
Undergoing surgery to remove part of the intestine or the gallbladder can occasionally cause diarrhoea.
Symptoms of Diarrhoea
The main sign of diarrhoea is a loose or watery stool. Other common symptoms include:
Diarrhoea can result from infections from pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis-related diarrhoea in adults. The rotavirus is the leading cause of acute diarrhoea in children.
- Diseases affecting your bowels:
Diarrhoea is a common symptom of bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These conditions cause irritation and inflammation in the intestines. Stress and anxiety can further worsen symptoms in cases of IBS.
- Foods that upset your digestive system:
Lactose intolerance can result in diarrhoea due to difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar in dairy products. Similarly, trouble digesting fructose, a sugar in honey and fruits, can lead to diarrhoea. With celiac disease, diarrhoea occurs because the body struggles to break down gluten, a protein in wheat.
When to Consult a Doctor?
Proper diagnosis and treatment depend on the underlying cause of diarrhoea, so working with a healthcare provider to determine the best course of action is essential. Check with your doctor if:
- Diarrhoea continues for over two days or becomes severe with dry mouth, excessive thirst, and dark urine, indicating dehydration.
- High fever (above 101°F or 38.3°C) going with the runs and dark stools.
- Severe stomach torment or squeezing. Relentless heavying or failure to hold liquids down.
- Recent travel or openness to debased food or water.
- Weakened immune systems or chronic health conditions.
- You are dehydrated with symptoms like decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, dizziness, or light-headedness.
Diagnosis of Diarrhoea
Medical services experts use different techniques to analyse the reasons for the runs. Proper diagnosis starts with a careful clinical history assessment, including inquiries regarding side effects, late travel, and previous medications.
Diagnostic tests include stool analysis to look for infections, blood tests for inflammatory markers or nutrient deficiencies, and imaging studies like endoscopies or ultrasounds to look at the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes, doctors may suggest a dietary assessment or elimination diet to identify potential food intolerances.
It is essential to consult a doctor who can give precise findings and customised suggestions for reasons to settle the bowels' looseness.
Treatment of Diarrhoea
For diarrhoea treatment, there are a couple of things you can do. First, it's critical to remain hydrated. Drink a lot of liquids like water and electrolytes. Avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine. Avoid foods that may support diarrhoea, such as fatty, spicy, or dairy-rich foods.
Curious about what to eat with diarrhoea?
We suggest you follow the BRAT food system, the acronym for bananas, rice, apples, and toast. You can also consume other bland food items like boiled potatoes, crackers, or hot cereals like oatmeal and porridge during your bout of diarrhoea.
Be careful, and you will feel relatively better soon!
Symptoms That Your Diarrhoea is Healing
- Reduction in frequency of bowel movements: As the body starts to recover from diarrhoea, you may notice a decrease in the number of times you need to visit the washroom.
- Decreased severity of abdominal cramping: If the underlying cause of your diarrhoea is gastrointestinal irritation, infection, or inflammation, you might notice a reduction in the severity of abdominal cramping as your body heals.
- Return to a regular diet: When you can tolerate a regular diet without intensifying symptoms, it's a sign that your digestive system is repairing.
Conclusion
Treating bowel diarrhoea includes checking with your doctor when essential and utilising some common DIY treatments. When covering the costs of medical care for various health conditions, health insurance can be handy. Health care coverage gives monetary support for general well-being. Selecting a health insurance plan that meets individual needs and provides comprehensive coverage is important.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.