The Woes of Diarrhea

 

Diarrhea infection occurs from virus, bacteria or parasitic organisms and you cannot be certain about what triggered it. However, it would help the doctor a lot if they can determine the exact cause of the infection. Various tests can help pinpoint Diarrhea causes.

It's your third trip to the bathroom in a day, and you can't take it anymore. You are feeling dreary and anything you eat is going straight out of your system. Just the thought of another bathroom trip makes you sick! Sounds familiar? It's diarrhea! Well, the first thing you can do is stop eating any solid foods and switch to fluids. Often, infection in the gastrointestinal tract is the reason behind an episode of diarrhea. It could be because of a virus, bacteria or parasitic organisms. Most common bacteria that affect our digestive system are Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella,  and Escherichia coli. These trigger a mild bout of diarrhea, whereas a severe bout can be triggered by a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another cause of a severe diarrhea bout. Commonly referred to as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Diarrhea symptoms vary from person to person. Everything depends on the infection and how an individual's digestive system responds to the problem. 

 Signs and symptoms of diarrhea 

• Stomach pain
• Abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Body aches
• Feeling bloated
• Loose or watery stools
• Dehydration

In a severe bout of diarrhea, people can also experience

• Blood or pus in stools
• Persistent vomiting

Diarrhea diagnosis 

Diarrhea infection occurs from virus, bacteria or parasitic organisms and you cannot be certain about what triggered it. However, it would help the doctor a lot if they can determine the exact cause of the infection. Various tests can help pinpoint the cause of your diarrhea, these include: 

• Blood tests  
• Colonoscopy- in rare cases  
• Stool tests

Diarrhea prevention and management 

It's hard to deal with diarrhea but with some help can be managed. Often diarrhea symptoms fade away after a couple of days, as the body fights off the triggers on its own.

The most common symptoms during diarrhea is a loss of fluids or dehydration

• It's best to consume natural solutions such as water, coconut, soups, broths.
• Chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey are also regarded as food for diarrhea.

• The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast) is one of the best options when you're dealing with diarrhea symptoms.
• As diarrhea restricts you from consuming high fiber and protein foods, BRAT diet is comparatively low in fiber and helps recover the digestive system better

• Drinking liquids in-between meals is a must.
• If your diarrhea episode lasts for more than two days, please make sure to contact your doctor for the necessary treatment.