Diarrhea: Causes
Diarrhea occurs when liquids ingested or
produced in the gastrointestinal tract do not absorb properly. Normally, the
intestine absorbs water from food. When the food bowl moves through the
intestine too quickly (accelerated intestinal transit), water is no longer
absorbed and soft, non-legged stools appear.
Diarrhea may also occur when there is an excess
of water introduced from the body into the intestine.
Diseases that can cause diarrhea include:
l infections
l inflammations
l malignancies
l abdominal trauma
l obstructions
l certain medications such as antibiotics, purgatives, and laxatives
Diarrhea can occur in many gastrointestinal or
digestive conditions. The most common cause is viral gastroenteritis (digestive
virosis). Other causes that frequently cause diarrhea are inflammatory bowel
diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and irritable bowel syndrome.
Gastrointestinal Causes:
l Appendicitis.
l Bacterial infection (with Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli,
Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter).
l Parasitic infections (Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba hystolytica, Cryptosporidium)
l Candida of the gastrointestinal tract.
l Viral gastroenteritis (digestive viral disease caused by rotavirus,
Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis viruses.
l Surgery in the digestive tract.
l Diverticulitis.
l Intolerance to certain foods (eg lactose, fructose) or allergies.
l Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
l Bowel obstruction.
l Irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea alternating with constipation).
l Use or abuse of laxatives.
l Pancreatitis or gall bladder diseases.
l Traveler's Diarrhea - Many people suffer from this type of diarrhea that
occurs when traveling in foreign countries, and it is caused by a bacterial
infection or a parasiticv infection and is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
l Low absorption syndromes (celiac disease, tropical disease, short bowel
syndrome, intestinal lymphangiectasis).
Other causes of diarrhea can be:
l Alcohol abuse
l Liver disorders
l Antibiotics
l Bulimia
l Diabetes
l Hyperthyroidism
l Addison's disease
l Vitamin B3 deficiency (niacin)
l Side effects of drugs (magnesium antacids, some antihypertensives,
chemotherapy, quinine)
l Radiotherapy
l Slerodermia
l Amyloidosis
l AIDS
l Colon cancer
l Stress or anxiety
In some situations, diarrhea can accompany very
serious conditions, such as:
l Dehydration
l Food poisoning
l Bowel obstruction
l Perforated ulcer
l Higher digestive hemorrhage by breaking esophageal varicose vein
l Severe abdominal trauma
Diarrhea: Symptoms
Symptoms of diarrhea include:
l Cramps
l Abdominal pain
l Bloating
l Nausea
l Decreased appetite
l Urgent urge of defecation
l Blood stools
l Mucus or undigested foods in stool
l Dehydration
l Fecal incontinence (involuntary loss of feces)
l Pain or rectal burns
l Flatulence
l Fever
l Chills
l Dizziness
l Syncope (fainting)
l Flu-like symptoms
l Muscle aches
l Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
l Shortness of breath or increased breathing rat
l Weakness and weight loss
One of the most serious complications of
diarrhea is dehydration. This is manifested by:
l thirst
l rare urination
l dry skin and mucous membranes
l fatigue
l headache
l confusion
l increased heart rate
l depression of the fountains in infants
Other complications include anemia (if the
stools have blood), electrolyte imbalance, and malnutrition.
Diarrhea: Treatment
Treatment of diarrhea is not hard and can be
applied by everyone, at home without previously consulting a doctor.
There are dozens of medicines that combat
diarrhea and that can be bought from pharmacies without a prescription for your
doctor.
Also, natural therapy is beneficial to combat
diarrhea. Lots of plants and fruits combat diarrhea, and some of them are
dealing this situation even faster than the medicines from the pharmacies. Some
of these natural remedies are:
l Wormwood (Artemisa absinthium)
l Horse tail (Equisetum arvense)
l Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
l Ginger
l Bananas
l Boiled rice
Diarrhea: When you have to go to the doctor
Urgently go to the doctor if diarrhea is
accompanied by:
l Blood or melamine stools (black stools containing digested blood)
l Confusion and disorientation
l Difficulty in moving
l Dizziness
l Syncope (fainting), change in consciousness or lethargy
l High fever (more than 39 ° C)
l Tachycardia or tachypnoea
l Rectal bleeding
l Rigid abdomen
l Haematemesis (vomiting with red blood, or vomiting formations like
'coffee grounds' - partially digested blood)
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