Diarrhea

Description

Diarrhea is a very common disorder, characterized by the passage of loose or watery stools or increased frequency of stools. It can happen at any age but there is an increased frequency of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age. It very commonly results in dehydration. Diarrhea has three types:

Acute watery diarrhea
Acute bloody diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea.

Causes

The following factors can cause diarrhea:

Bacterial infections: These can spread through food or water that is contaminated or poor personal hygiene (not keeping hands clean). This can cause food poisoning or typhoid.
Food allergies, or lactose intolerance.
Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s Disease
Viral Infections
Certain medicines may cause diarrhea as a side effect
Diabetes, or other hormonal imbalances such as hyperthyroidism
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: In this condition, diarrhea and constipation occur alternatively.

Risk factors

Following are the risk factors for developing diarrhea:

Poor personal hygiene
Improper handling of food and water
Usage of untreated water
Children under 5 year of age
Male gender
Weak immunity.

Symptoms

Pain or cramps in the abdomen or stomach.
The urge to pass stools frequently.
Weakness, dehydration and bloating.
Loose or watery stools

Symptoms that may occur alongside diarrhea include:

Fever
Bloody stools
Nausea, vomiting

Diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis your doctor will ask for your complete medical history and perform a simple physical exam. Diarrhea is usually diagnosed by signs and symptoms. To find the cause of diarrhea, your doctor may recommend some of the following tests:

Blood tests
Stool culture
Colonoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy

Management

The goal of management is to treat the underlying cause and alleviate the symptoms. It includes:

Management of dehydration: Diarrhea is usually associated with loss of fluids from the body which can have serious effects on the body. Rehydration can be acquired using ORS, and other home-based drinks. Intravenous fluid supply is indicated if dehydration is severe.