Diarrhea

Diarrhea refers to the frequent passage of loose or watery unformed stools. The most common causes are food poisoning, a bad water supply, the flu, overeating, food allergies, parasites, and colitis. In infants, it can also be associated with teething. Stress or emotional upset, antibiotic use, or even ingesting a high dose of vitamin C are other causes of diarrhea.

Jump to - symptoms, causes , Treatment, Other suggestions

Symptoms of Diarrhea

Diarrhea Symptoms * Watery, liquid stool: The stool may be any color. The passage of red stool suggests intestinal bleeding and could mean a more severe infection. The passage of thick, tarry black stool suggests significant bleeding in the stomach or upper portions of the intestine and is not usually caused by acute infections. * Abdominal cramps: Occasionally you may have mild-to-moderate abdominal pain. Severe abdominal pain is not common and, if present, suggests more severe disease. * Fever: A high fever is not common. If present, you may have a more severe illness than acute diarrhea. * Dehydration: If diarrhea leads to dehydration, this is a sign of potentially serious disease. o Dehydrated adults may be very thirsty or appear to have dry mouths. o The skin of older people may appear to be loose. Elderly may also become very sleepy or have behavior changes and confusion when dehydrated. o Dehydrated infants and children may have sunken eyes and dry mouths. They may appear very sleepy or may refuse to eat or drink from a bottle.

Causes of Diarrhea

* Viral infections, which cause most cases of diarrhea, typically bring mild-to-moderate symptoms with frequent, watery bowel movements, abdominal cramps, and low-grade fevers. Diarrhea generally lasts from 3-7 days. o Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in infants. o Norwalk virus is the most common cause of epidemics of diarrhea among adults and schoolage children. o Adenovirus infections are common in all age groups. * Bacterial infections cause the more serious cases of diarrhea. You typically get bacteria from contaminated foods or drinks (food poisoning). Bacterial infections also cause severe symptoms with vomiting, fever, and severe abdominal cramps or abdominal pain. Diarrhea is very frequent and may be watery. o In more serious cases, the stool may contain mucus, pus, or bright red blood. Most of these infections are associated with local outbreaks of disease. Family members or others eating the same food may have similar illnesses. Foreign travel is a common way to contract traveler's diarrhea. + Campylobacter, salmonellae, and shigella organisms are the most common causes of bacterial diarrhea. + Less common causes are Escherichia coli (commonly called E coli) and yersinial, listerial, and cryptosporidial bacteria.

Treatment Of Diarrhea

Buttermilk: Buttermilk is one of the most effective home remedies in the treatment of diarrhoea. Buttermilk is the residual milk left after the fat has been removed from curd by churning. It helps overcome harmful intestinal flora. The acid in the buttermilk also fights germs and bacteria. Buttermilk may be taken with a pinch of salt three or four times a day for controlling this disease.

Carrot Soup: Carrot soup is another effective home remedy for diarrhoea. It supplies water to combat dehydration; replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, and magnesium; supplies pectin; and coats the intestine to allay inflammation. It also checks the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria and prevents vomiting. Half a kilogram of carrots may be cooked in 150 ml of water until they become soft. The pulp should be strained and enough boiled water added to it to make a liter. Three-quarters of a tablespoon of salt may be added. This soup should be given in small amounts to the patient every half an hour.

Fenugreek: Fenugreek leaves are useful in diarrhoea. One teaspoon of seeds, which have been boiled and fried in butter, should be taken with a cup of buttermilk twice daily. They are valuable in allaying biliousness. The seeds are also beneficial in the treatment of this disease.

Ginger: In case of diarrhoea caused by indigestion, dry or fresh ginger is very useful. A piece of dry ginger should be powdered along with a crystal of rock salt, and quarter of a teaspoon of this powder should be taken with a small piece of jaggery. It will bring quick relief as ginger, being carminative, aids digestion by stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.

Mint: Mint juice is also beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea. One teaspoon of fresh mint juice, mixed with a teaspoon each of limejuice and honey, can be given thrice daily with excellent results in the treatment of this disease.

Bottle Gourd: The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable medicine for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhoea. A glass of plain juice with a pinch of salt should be taken every day in treating this condition.

Drumstick Leaves: The juice of fresh leaves of drumstick is also valuable in diarrhoea. A teaspoon of this juice, mixed with a teaspoon of honey and a glass of tender coconut water, can be given two to three times as an herbal medicine in the treatment of diarrhoea.

Pomegranate: The pomegranate has proved beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea on account of its astringent properties. If the patient develops weakness due to profuse and continuous purging, he should repeatedly be given about 50 ml of pomegranate juice to drink. This will control the diarrhoea.

Mango Seeds: Mango seeds are valuable in diarrhoea. The seeds should be collected during the mango season, dried in the shade and powdered, and kept stored for use as a medicine when required. A dose of about one and half to two grams with or without honey should be administered twice daily.

Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds are helpful in the treatment of this condition. Two tablespoons of the seeds should be lightly roasted in a frying pan. They should then be ground into a fine powder and mixed with one tablespoon of cow's ghee. The mass should be divided into three parts and each part should be taken with half a cup of boiled goat's milk thrice daily for six days by the patients. It acts as an excellent medicine in this condition.

Turmeric: Turmeric has proved to be another valuable home remedy for diarrhoea. It is a very useful intestinal antiseptic. It is also a gastric stimulant and tonic. One teaspoon of fresh turmeric rhizome juice or one teaspoon of dry rhizome powder may be taken in one cup of buttermilk or plain water.

Rice: Rice is useful in treating diarrhoea in children. A teaspoon of powder of charred parboiled rice, mixed with a glass of buttermilk, should be given in doses of thirty grams every half an hour. This will bring excellent results.

Other effective Remedies for Diarrhea

Cooked or baked apples are good for diarrhoea. The cooking process softens the cellulose. Much of its value as a regulating material thus lost and it is effective in looseness of the bowels.

A glass of fresh tomato juice, mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper, taken in the morning, also proves beneficial.

Other starchy liquids such as arrowroot water, barley water, and coconut water are also useful in the treatment of diarrhoea. They not only replace the fluid lost but also bind the stools. Other home remedies include bananas and garlic. Bananas contain pectin and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria. Garlic is a powerful, effective, and harmless germ killer. It aids digestion and removes intestinal worms.

Dietary Considerations

1. The BRAT diet. This diet can help control short-term diarrhea. BRAT
stands for:
B – bananas
R – white rice
A – peeled apples
T – toasted white bread

2. It is essential to replace fluids and minerals. For that purpose, you can drink water, vegetable juices, broths, and herbal teas.

3. Sauerkraut and tomato juice are also used to replenish lost minerals. Drink 1 to 2 tablespoons every hour. The following mixture can be used as well:

To 1 quart of water add:
4 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Add lemon, lime, or carrot juice to taste.
Drink 1 cup every hour or two.

4. A mixture of apple sauce and bananas sprinkled with carob powder can be helpful and is well-liked by children.

Other Measures

Other useful methods for the treatment of diarrhoea are the application of cold compress at 15.6 degrees C on the abdomen and a cold hip bath at 4.5 degreesC-10 degrees C. The procedure for cold compresses is to wring a folded cloth from cold water and apply it on the abdomen. The wringing should be just sufficient to prevent dripping. The compress should be renewed every fifteen to twenty minutes. For a cold hipbath, a special type of bathtub is used. It is filled with cold water so that it covers the hop and reaches up tot he level where the patient's navel is covered in a sitting position. The duration of the bath is usual ten to fifteen minutes. The patient should rub the abdomen from the naval downwards in brisk anticlockwise movements across the body with a moderately coarse, wet cloth. The legs, feet, and upper part of the body should remain completely dry during and after the bath.

Comments

Add New