What is diarrhea?
Normal stool is usually a formed pile, while diarrhea is defined as too much water and too frequent bowel movements. In medical terms, diarrhea is defined as having three or more loose or watery stools per day, or more frequent than the normal number of bowel movements. It is important to note that the nature of the stool is more important than the number of times it is passed.
Why does diarrhea occur?
The immediate cause of diarrhea is that the fluid in the intestine becomes too much. This may be a problem caused by the osmotic pressure of the intestinal contents, or it may be caused by increased secretion of intestinal cells stimulated by some factor.
There are various causes of diarrhea, with infectious factors predominating, including viral infections, bacterial infections, and parasitic infections. Viral infections are the most common, for example, rotavirus is the most common pathogen of diarrhea in infants and children.
Intolerance to food ingredients can also cause diarrhea, for example, lactose intolerance, which plagues many Asians, is a typical example. Diarrhea may also occur after taking certain medications (e.g., antibiotics) or after surgery.
And if the diarrhea is prolonged (at least 4 weeks), there may also be other problems with the intestines, such as Crohn’s disease and intestinal stress syndrome.
What should I do if I have diarrhea?
Diarrhea encountered in daily life is usually acute diarrhea (less than 2-3 weeks in duration), and in many cases, the duration of diarrhea is shorter (1-2 days), so it is not really necessary to bother with tests to find the cause at this time.
There is no need to run to the hospital immediately after the occurrence of diarrhea. The most important thing is to make sure that water and electrolytes are replenished. The biggest problem with diarrhea is that the body loses a lot of water and electrolytes with the diarrhea, and dehydration and electrolyte disorders can have serious consequences.
The best choice for rehydration is tri-generation oral rehydration salts. It should be noted that self-administered saline, sports drinks and juices are not a substitute for it.
When to see a doctor?
For general acute diarrhea, treatment at home is sufficient, but prompt medical attention is needed in the following cases.
Adults.
1. signs of dehydration
2. Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
3. Pain in the abdomen or rectum
4. Temperature 38.9°C or higher
5.Blood stool or pus stool
6, black stool or tarry stool
Infants and children.
1.Signs of dehydration
2.Blood stool
3.Infant refuses to eat or drink for several hours
4.Recurrent severe abdominal pain
5. Altered behavioral awareness such as fatigue, poor response, etc.
Warning signs of dehydration include
Early dehydration: no signs or symptoms
Moderate dehydration: thirst, irritability, lack of skin elasticity, sunken eyes
Severe dehydration: increased symptoms, shock, reduced consciousness, low urine output, cool body, moist extremities, rapid and weak pulse, low or undetectable blood pressure, pale skin
You can record the number of times you have diarrhea and the nature of your stool, and this information can give your doctor a basis for his or her judgment. When you go to the hospital, your doctor will perform a series of physical examinations, ask about your medical history and medication history, and prescribe relevant tests such as stool or blood tests. If the diarrhea is chronic, other tests may be ordered to identify the cause.
Do I need to take medication?
The main focus of diarrhea treatment is rehydration, beyond which antidiarrheal medications are usually not necessary. Antidiarrheal medication is generally not recommended for infants and children, although the World Health Organization recommends that children with diarrhea may be treated with zinc supplementation (10-20 mg/day).
However, when you have diarrhea, you should not immediately turn out these drugs to eat.
The “diarrhea stop”, “dysentery” such drugs is actually the treatment of bacterial infections, their active ingredients are antibacterial drugs. As mentioned earlier, the majority of daily diarrhea is actually a viral infection, and these drugs are not effective against viruses. Antibacterial drugs are best taken only after a clear diagnosis by a doctor as prescribed by the doctor. In fact, most of the running belly diarrhea do not need to take antibacterial drugs.
Fasting to rest the intestines?
Not necessary. There is a belief that you should fast temporarily when you have diarrhea to lighten the load on your intestines, but this doesn’t really make sense. There is no need to deliberately fast or eat only fluids during acute diarrhea, as this may lead to insufficient nutrient intake.
Carbohydrates (rice, wheat, potatoes, bread), lean meats, yogurt, fruits and vegetables are all suitable foods, but high fat content, spicy foods, sports drinks, and high sugar drinks are best avoided.
How to prevent diarrhea?
Many pathogens that cause diarrhea can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route, so washing hands regularly and paying attention to food hygiene are good ways to prevent it.
Parents and children with diarrhea should be careful to avoid spreading the disease among family and friends. Wash hands regularly before meals, after stools, and after diaper changes, and isolate children with diarrhea at home until the diarrhea is cured. For rotavirus, there is now an international vaccine available.