Diarrhea What Is Diarrhea?
 Increased frequency and looseness of bowel movement, involving the passage of unusually soft feces. Although this condition lasts for normally 2-3 days, and may be treated with medicines and diet, sometimes it may be chronic. Diarrhea is usually characterized by frequency of passing stools which is more than three to four times daily than is normal. Also the fluidity of the stools is more than normal and can vary all the way from slightly soft to watery -- is caused by increased water in the stool. There are two types of Diarrhea, depending upon the severity of the case and the number of days that the condition lasts:
i. Acute Diarrhea: This condition lasts for a few days to almost a week.
ii. Chronic Diarrhea: Chronic Diarrhea lasts for more than one week and can be caused due to chronic Irritable Bowel Syndrome or any other chronic digestive tract diseases. Common causes include ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, microscopic colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome and bile acid malabsorption.
Medically diarrhea can be classified as:
a. Osmotic Diarrhea: This is caused due to the presence of osmotically active non-absorbable solutes, e.g magnesium sulfate, in the intestine which draws water from the body into the bowel resulting in diarrhea.
b. Secretory Diarrhea: In this condition, the body releases water into the bowel due to an infection, or drugs.
c. Exudative Diarrhea: This diarrhea is due to the presence of blood or pus in the stools due to ulcers or other infections. Causes Of Diarrhea:
Infectious diarrhea is caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. Diarrhea can be caused by food poisoning, colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, dysentery, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Malabsorption of food, and food contamination. Some medicines such as Blood pressure medications, cancer drugs, and antacids may also trigger diarrhea. Food allergies and food intolerances may also trigger diarrhea, in such cases avoidance of diarrhea inducing foods are the best option. People with medical conditions such as Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Hyperthyroidism also are susceptible to diarrhea. Symptoms Of Diarrhea:
Diarrhea is characterized by frequent trips to the bathroom, more than 3-4 times daily and abdominal pain and loose stools. Other symptoms include, dehydration, fever, cramps, vomiting, nausea. Usually the condition improves and goes away within 24 hours without treatment. However if it worsens or continues more than 3 days and are characterized by severe abdominal pain, fever, signs of dehydration, bouts of vomiting, bloody, black oily looking loose stools, it is time for medication. Treatment Of Diarrhea:
Diarrhea is best left untreated if it is normal and lasts for 2-3 days. It is actually the body's mechanism of getting rid of toxins or bad bacteria from the body. However if it persists and worsens it is best to seek advice from a doctor.
- Avoid dehydration by taking broths and clear soups and ORS (Oral Re-hydration Solutions). Avoid caffeine and lactose-containing dairy products.
- Antibiotics are used to treat diarrhea, but only when
- Diarrhea is acute and persistent.
- Patients have additional debilitating diseases such as heart failure, lung disease, and AIDS.
- Suffering from traveler's diarrhea.
- When stool tests reveal the presence of parasites or serious bacterial infections.
- Bismuth compounds are prescribed in case of traveler's diarrhea. Pepto-Bismol is well-tolerated. Minor side effects include darkening of the stool and tongue. Since it contains aspirin, patients who are allergic to aspirin should not take Pepto-Bismol.
- Anti motility agents like loperamide are effective at reducing the duration of diarrhea.
General At Home Treatment Of Diarrhea:
 Have clear soups, broths, plain stews, juices, herbal drinks and ORS and clear water.- Avoid having caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, milk and other lactose containing dairy products, too hot or too cold foods, fats and concentrated sweets.
- In case of mild to severe diarrhea, use an electrolyte solution like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
- Have curd, specially the pro-biotic variety, which contains digestion-friendly bacteria.
- Take green coconut water, if available, 2-3 times a day for a few days to neutralize hyper-acidity.
- Mint and Black pepper are effective digestive aids. Add a few mint leaves to curd or to drinking water.
- Take plenty of bed rest so that your body can regain its strength.
- Follow a light BRAT diet as specified below, which is easy on the digestive system.
- Avoid diarrhea medication if you have normal diarrhea. Do not pop in antibiotics as soon as possible. Antibiotics can kill friendly flora in the stomach, making digestion difficult.
Aromatherapy For Treating Diarrhea:
The most effective way to treat diarrhea with essential oils is by ingestion. Ideally you should consult a qualified aromatologist. If you decide to treat yourself, it is imperative to use only genuine essential oils from a reputable supplier and to carefully follow the directions. Application of recommended essential oils can also give good results. The oils can be mixed in a carrier lotion and rubbed gently on to the abdomen in a clockwise direction, or applied on a compress and left on the abdomen overnight.
| Essential Oils For Diarrhea | | Essential Oils | Treatment | | Geranium Pelargonium graveolens | anti-inflammatory (colitis), anti-spasmodic (colic, gastroenteritis), astringent | | Lemon Citrus limon | antispasmodic, astringent, stomach (gastritis, stomach ulcers) | | Marjoram (sweet) Origanum majorana | analgesic, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic (coloc), stomachic (enteritis) | | Niaouli Melaleuca viridflora | anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral (viral enteritis), digestive (gastritis) | | Peppermint Mentha x piperita | anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory (colitis, enteritis, gastritis), antispasmodic (gastric spasm), digestive |
BRAT Diet For Diarrhea:
 BRAT Diet refers to the consumption of bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast, as the staples of your diet. You could extend it by having yogurt and coconut water also. Oral rehydrations, and liquids also should be incorporated in the diet. Medical attention is required when on the BRAT diet if there is any blood or mucus present in the diarrhea, if the diarrhea is severe or if it lasts longer than 3 days. An alternate is the CRAM Diet involving Cereals, Rice, applesauce and milk. This is not very popular as milk induces gas, bloating and abdominal pain. However it may be introduced once you have reduced the number of trips to the bathroom and have considerably improved so as to regain your strength back. ********************************************* Index Of Medical Terms |
