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Diarrhea means that you have a
change in your bowel movements and pass unusually loose stools.
Stool is what is left after your digestive system (stomach, small
intestine, and colon) absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat
and drink. Stool passes out of the body through the rectum. If
fluids are not absorbed, or if your digestive system produces extra
fluids, stools will be loose and watery. Loose stools are larger
than usual. People with diarrhea often have frequent bowel movements
and may pass more than a quart of watery stool a day.
People who have diarrhea may also
have
- crampy pain in the abdomen, the
area between the chest and the hips
- swelling in the abdomen
- an uncomfortable feeling around
the anus
- an urgent need to have a bowel
movement
- an inability to control their
bowels (fecal incontinence)
- chills
- fever
Also, people with diarrhea may feel
sick to their stomach or be dehydrated.
Dehydration means that your body
does not have enough fluid to work properly. Every time you breathe
out, sweat, urinate, or have a bowel movement, you lose fluid.
Diarrhea increases the amount of fluid lost in bowel movements.
Along with the fluid, you lose salts-chemicals that your body needs
to work properly. The loss of fluids and salts can be serious,
especially for babies and young children and for older people.
The signs of dehydration in adults
are
- being thirsty
- urinating less often than usual
- having dark-colored urine
- having dry skin
- feeling tired or dizzy
- fainting
In addition, the kidneys could stop
working.
The signs of dehydration in babies
and young children are
- having a dry mouth and tongue
- crying without tears
- having no wet diapers for 3
hours or more
- having a high fever
- being unusually sleepy or drowsy
Also, when children have diarrhea,
their skin seems to lose its elasticity. It does not flatten back to
normal when pinched and released.
Anyone can get diarrhea. This
common problem can last a day or two or for months or years,
depending on the cause. Most people get better on their own, but
diarrhea can be serious for babies and older people if lost fluids
are not replaced. Many people throughout the world die from diarrhea
because of the large volume of water lost and the accompanying loss
of salts.
Diarrhea can be caused by
- bacteria, viruses, or parasites
(tiny organisms that live inside a larger organism)
- medicines such as antibiotics
- foods such as milk
- diseases that affect the
stomach, small intestine, or colon, such as Crohn's disease and
irritable bowel syndrome
Sometimes no cause for diarrhea can
be found.
Diarrhea often goes away by itself,
but it can be a sign of a more serious problem. You should talk to
your doctor if your diarrhea lasts for more than 3 days. You should
also call your doctor if you have
- signs of dehydration (see page
3)
- a severe pain in your abdomen or
rectum
- a fever of 102°F or higher
- stools that are bloody or black
and tarry
Children younger than 12 become
dehydrated much more easily than adults. If your child does not
improve after 24 hours or has any of the following symptoms along
with diarrhea, call the doctor. (This is especially important if
your child is 6 months old or younger.)
- stools containing blood or pus
- black stools
- a fever above 101.4°F
- signs of dehydration (see page
4)
Your doctor may want to perform
tests to find the cause of the diarrhea:
- a physical exam
- stool or blood tests to look for
bacteria, parasites, or other signs of disease or infection
- fasting tests to see whether
diarrhea goes away when you stop eating a particular food
- a sigmoidoscopy, an examination
of the inside of the rectum and part of the colon
- a colonoscopy, an examination of
the inside of the whole colon
For a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy,
the doctor uses a thin, flexible, lighted tube with a lens on the
end.
In many cases of diarrhea,
replacing lost fluid and salts is the only treatment needed.
- Adults should consume broth,
soup, fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables.
- Children should drink a special
liquid that has all the nutrients they need. These solutions are
sold without a prescription in grocery stores or drugstores.
Pedialyte, Ceralyte, or Infalyte are some examples.
Taking medicine to stop diarrhea
can be helpful in some cases. Medicines that are available without a
doctor's prescription include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth
subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate). Stop taking these
medicines if symptoms get worse or if diarrhea lasts more than 2
days.
If a particular food or medicine is
the cause, you should avoid it.
Also, while you are waiting for the
diarrhea to end, you should avoid foods that can make it worse:
- milk and milk products, such as
ice cream or cheese
- high-fat or greasy foods, such
as fried foods
- foods that have a lot of fiber,
such as citrus fruits
- very sweet foods, such as cakes
and cookies
As you feel better, begin eating
soft, bland food, such as bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes,
toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin
or fat. Children can eat bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast
(sometimes called the BRAT diet).
Traveler's Diarrhea
People who are visiting other
countries and eat food or drink water contaminated by bacteria,
viruses, or parasites can develop traveler's diarrhea.
You can prevent it by being
careful:
- Avoid drinking tap water or
using ice cubes made from tap water.
- Avoid drinking unpasteurized
milk or eating dairy products made from it.
- Avoid eating raw fruits and
vegetables unless they can be peeled and you peel them yourself.
- Do not eat raw or rare meat or
fish.
- Do not eat meat or shellfish
that is not hot when served to you.
- Do not eat food sold by street
vendors.
You can safely drink bottled
water, carbonated soft drinks, and hot drinks like coffee or tea.
- Diarrhea is a common problem.
- Diarrhea is caused by bacteria,
viruses, parasites, some foods or medicines, or diseases that
affect the digestive system.
- Diarrhea is dangerous if you
become dehydrated.
- Replacing lost fluids is the
main treatment for diarrhea.
- Talk to a doctor if you have
strong pain in the abdomen or rectum, a fever, blood in your
stool, signs of dehydration, or severe diarrhea for more than 3
days (1 day in the case of children).
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