How does acute diarrhea manifest and what causes it? Acute diarrhea: treatment and symptoms, recovery from illness Diarrhea syndrome.

Diarrhea is the occurrence of excessively frequent bowel movements in the form of loose stools, in quantities much greater than normal (two hundred grams) within one day, with very low content fibers in feces plant origin. This condition is often called irritable bowel syndrome.

Acute diarrhea is diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and epidemiological history. Clinical picture depends on the symptoms of the infectious process: headache, rash, fever, myalgia and Reiter's syndrome; weakness, cramps and dryness are observed skin; a special place is occupied by intoxication (lack of appetite, vomiting, nausea and disturbances of consciousness); At acute form diarrhea, significant blood loss is observed. Required condition correct diagnosis It is considered to be an examination of loose stool for its consistency, appearance and smell, as well as for the presence of blood. A characteristic sign of the acute course of the disease is repeated vomiting over several days in combination with incessant diarrhea.

Diarrhea always begins in an acute form, along with intoxication, the body temperature rapidly rises, the patient often complains of a feeling of weakness, weakness and loss of appetite. This is usually an infectious disease that is similar to other similar ailments.

Acute viral diarrhea usually occurs due to direct infection in the digestive organs. The acute course lasts about three days and is very rarely accompanied by symptoms of dehydration (weakness, lethargy, dry skin and sometimes convulsions).

Bacterial diarrhea very rarely occurs in single cases; it is usually observed in several people living together at the same time. And it is associated with the ingestion of toxins directly from food. This is usually dysentery or salmonellosis.

If we talk about non-specific intestinal diseases inflammatory in nature, then they fully correspond to the same symptoms that are observed in both viral and bacterial infections. This disease progresses rather slowly and is accompanied by symptoms systemic diseases stomach, liver, intestines and bile ducts.

Acute diarrhea may also result from drug therapy synthetic and herbal preparations, in particular, these are digitalis preparations, ergot alkaloids, cholinergics, laxatives, antacids, antibacterial agents: nitrofuran derivatives, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones and cytostatics. Acute diarrhea can also be caused by antibiotics. different groups, for example, penicillins, macrolides, betalactams with clauvic acid, and, of course, cephalosporins. Acute diarrhea also occurs due to long-term use antifungal drugs (ketoconazole, terbinafine, fluconazole).

Acute diarrhea is a disease common throughout the world, fortunately, when treated, it rarely causes death in humans. Acute diarrhea is the discharge of liquid or semi-liquid feces more than 3 times a day. If diarrhea continues for more than 3 weeks, then it is already considered chronic.

Acute diarrhea in children and adults

Signs of acute diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea is much more dangerous for children than for adults because... all systems in the body are not yet regulated. With diarrhea, dehydration of the body and loss of electrolytes occurs, this leads to metabolic disorders and in the future can lead to malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, and the nervous system can also be affected. Therefore, parents should not consider diarrhea common occurrence, and take immediate action if signs of acute diarrhea appear. Normal in children, especially early age, the stool does not have a dense consistency, it has a mushy mass yellow without foreign inclusions. If the stool becomes watery with foreign inclusions, occurs more often than usual and is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, then these are signs of acute diarrhea. It is dangerous if a child shows signs of dehydration: lethargy and drowsiness, thirst, dry mucous membranes, a decrease in the amount of urine produced and a change in its color to a darker one.

Symptoms of acute diarrhea in an adult

Symptoms of acute diarrhea vary depending on the body. But there is mandatory signs which are always present: sudden onset, frequency of stools up to several times per hour, itching and irritation in the area anus, weakness and lethargy, development of signs of dehydration, loss of appetite.

Optional signs include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fever, pain in the upper abdomen.

Possible forms of acute diarrhea

Depending on the occurrence and course of the disease, there are several forms of diarrhea:

1. Secretory form. It is caused by increased secretion of water and electrolytes in the intestines due to the effect of pathogenic microbes on the mucous membrane. The result is a painless loose stool volume more than 1 liter. per day. This form of diarrhea is not dependent on nutrition and does not go away with fasting.
2. Osmolar form. Caused by impaired digestion and absorption of food due to the presence of osmotically in the intestine active ingredients, Characterized by an increase in the total amount of stool containing undigested remains food. Occurs when taking laxatives or enzymatic deficiency. After stopping laxatives and fasting, diarrhea stops.
3. Exudative form. Arises due to inflammatory processes in the intestines and is characterized by loose stools with inclusions of blood and mucus.
4. Hyperkinetic form. Occurs against the background of neurotic and hormonal disorders. It is characterized by liquid or mushy stool, the amount of which does not exceed 300 g per day.
5. Hypokinetic form. Occurs when the transit of intestinal contents is disrupted due to excessive growth of bacteria. Characterized by loose, foul-smelling stools with the presence of undigested fats.

Treatment of acute diarrhea

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease. Therefore, it is important to determine what causes the disorder in the gastrointestinal tract in order to begin treatment in a timely manner. For this purpose, upon the direction of a doctor, they take necessary tests and after diagnosis, treatment is carried out in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations.

Whatever the cause of diarrhea, it is necessary first of all to restore fluid loss and minerals To do this, drink more water and juices. If diarrhea continues for several hours, then table salt should be added to drinking water to restore the salt balance.

If diarrhea is also accompanied by nausea and vomiting, then it is better to do gastric lavage. To do this, the patient drinks 1-2 liters of salted solution and induces vomiting.

Medicines

To bind and remove toxic substances, sorbents are used: activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel. These drugs help well with diarrhea, are not absorbed in the intestines and are excreted in the feces.

Acute diarrhea is considered dangerous disease, which leads not only to complications, but also to death. Children, adults and others are at risk of developing the disorder. In most cases, when a minor cause becomes a factor, no special treatment is required. However, if there are serious additional symptoms, it is necessary urgent help doctor

Types of damage and upset stomach

Diarrhea is classified according to blood, mucus or inclusions. foreign bodies. Depending on this factor, further manifestations of intestinal disorder vary. There are pathogens that infect small intestine. This manifestation includes:

• bacteria;
• viruses;
• helminthic infestations.

With such factors of intestinal infection, indigestion occurs. The process of defecation is characterized by watery stools. Blood impurities in feces are rarely found during infectious lesions.

However, there are factors that affect the colon. In most cases, pathogens are classified as this type. Microorganisms penetrate the mucous epithelium of the intestine. In this case, the stool contains admixtures of mucus and blood. In this case, the diagnosis finds a large number of leukocytes.

In addition to damage to certain parts of the intestine, some pathogens disrupt the function of all parts. In this case, the stools are watery, and the patient feels manifestations of colitis.

Why does acute diarrhea occur?

In addition to lesions of the upper or lower intestine, the main causes of acute diarrhea are identified. In this case, the digestive organ is often exposed to substances, microorganisms, viruses and inflammation. This leads to indigestion, which causes loose stools.

Viral and bacterial infections

When pathogens enter the intestines, toxins are released. This helps to enhance the contractility of the organ. Such infections affect the small or large intestine. With cholera, the disease occurs in an acute form. The infection affects only the small intestine.

There is salmonellosis, which occurs in an acute form. The infection strikes digestive tract. Microorganisms cause a state of severe intoxication. Because of this, the entire body suffers.

The cause of acute diarrhea in adults is dysentery. In this case, general intoxication of the body is noted. Damage occurs to the distal colon. The infection destroys the intestinal lining.

Enterovirus infection is similar in its damaging effect to dysentery. However, the disease destroys not only the intestinal epithelium, but also other internal organs are at risk.

If found stomach flu, then loose stools rarely occur in adults. Diarrhea occurs with additional dysbacteriosis. Sometimes patients present with acute diarrhea, which is caused by a foodborne illness. This happens due to the consumption of products containing substances and elements unacceptable to the body. In products this occurs due to the activity of pathogenic bacteria.

Microflora disturbance

Dysbacteriosis is characterized as a change in the balance of positive and negative pathogenic organisms. The process develops due to long-term use of antibacterial agents. Otherwise, the patient has reduced immunity. Especially when combining treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

If the baby experiences intestinal upset, acute pain in the stomach and diarrhea, parents should immediately call an ambulance. In most cases, a child experiences diarrhea due to dysbiosis. However, there is a high risk of intestinal infections. Before the doctor arrives, you can provide first aid and maintain fluid balance.

Enzymopathy

With this disease, the production of certain enzymes is disrupted. In most cases, only those involved in digesting food. This becomes a factor in the development of acute diarrhea in adults. However, diseases of the digestive tract and nearby organs are isolated.

The process of fermentopathy is caused by:

• pancreatitis;
• gallstone;
• lactose deficiency.

Diseases due to impaired immunity

This manifestation of acute diarrhea includes pathologies in which lesions of the epithelium of the colon occur, depending on the failure of immune system. In this case, Crohn's disease is isolated when a substance absorption disorder occurs. The pathology is accompanied by increased secretion of water. This leads to rapid passage of stool through the intestines.

In an adult, the appearance of acute diarrhea with reduced immunity is referred to as ulcerative colitis. This pathology occurs in chronic form, and changes occur in the mucosal epithelium digestive organ. Enteritis and enterocolitis are also considered factors in the occurrence of acute diarrhea due to impaired immunity.

Nervous and mental disorders

When a disturbance occurs in the nervous system, such disruptions lead to digestive problems. In this case, irritable bowel syndrome is isolated. This diagnosis of acute diarrhea is the absence of other signs and factors for the appearance of loose stools. The disorder continues for several months.

Other reasons

In some cases, acute diarrhea occurs due to poisoning with toxic substances. These elements include:

• nitrates;
• heavy metals;
• pesticide;
• antibiotics.

Toxic substances have a negative effect on the intestinal microflora. Antibacterial agents do not belong to toxic chemicals. However, due to frequent use, cell growth is impaired. At the same time, the number of positive microorganisms in the intestines decreases. This leads to dysbiosis.

Sometimes found cancerous tumors in the digestive organ. In this case, diarrhea appears along with blood and mucus in the stool. This disorder occurs due to intolerance to fatty foods. Besides this, great influence provide pathological changes epithelium of the digestive organ. In other cases, the appearance of loose stools is associated with the manifestation chronic diseases internal organs.

Symptoms of acute diarrhea

Additional signs of diarrhea depend on the cause or individual characteristics body. In most cases, when acute diarrhea occurs in adults, the following symptoms occur:

• diarrhea at the most inopportune moment;
• frequent bowel movements;
• general malaise;
• state of lethargy and drowsiness;
• burning and itching in the anal area;
• pallor;
• decrease in urine volume;
• unpleasant odor;
• no appetite.

For any reason for indigestion, such symptoms may intensify. It depends on the degree and severity of the pathology. When weakness and general malaise begin to appear, the patient needs to replenish the water balance. If primary symptoms of dehydration occur, immediately seek medical help.

However, if the main symptoms occur, you need to pay attention to dizziness or fever. The pain syndrome can be located in the navel or hypochondrium. Treatment additional symptoms separately prohibited. Especially not to be taken independent decisions for the treatment of the disease. This will lead to complications. Otherwise, death will occur.

Treatment methods for loose stools

Diagnosis of acute diarrhea takes place in the form of a survey, examination and laboratory research. Based on dry skin, vomiting, fever and pain, the disease is determined by a proctologist or infectious disease specialist. Patients who experience indigestion more than 4 times a day are diagnosed.

Used as laboratory tests general tests blood and feces. If a large number of leukocytes and erythrocytes are found in the feces, a microbiological examination of the masses is prescribed. Otherwise, diagnostics is continued using colonoscopy. This helps to identify inflammatory processes on the intestinal mucosa. A detailed picture of the disease of the digestive organ is carried out using radiography. After this, an accurate diagnosis is established. The doctor, based on the research results, prescribes complex treatment acute diarrhea from medicines and dietary nutrition.

Drug therapy

If it is diagnosed that acute diarrhea is due to infection, then antibiotics are prescribed. The following medications are prescribed:

• Furazolidone;
• Enterofuril.

If poisoning occurs, then sorbents are taken for acute diarrhea. Such medications reduce the manifestation of intoxication and help remove harmful substances. The products are used after meals.

Probiotic preparations are aimed at restoring intestinal microflora. In most cases, such therapy is prescribed for dysbiosis, and the drugs are aimed at maintaining immunity in good shape. At the same time they write out enzyme agents. Medicines are used for pancreatitis and exacerbation of pathology. Sometimes opioid drugs are used, which affect the contractility of the digestive organ.

To eliminate discomfort, prescribe antispasmodic drugs. In this case, the patient can combine some drugs that eliminate not only sharp pain in the stomach, but also relieve cramps. Otherwise, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. These drugs are used for chronic diarrhea.

Diet therapy

If you take any food during acute diarrhea, this will lead to a worsening of the condition. During the diet, fermented milk products should be excluded from the diet. Lactose becomes an intolerant component for the patient. At the same time, you should not consume products with caffeine and alcohol.

When using drugs that slow down intestinal motility, do not take them during an exacerbation of colitis. Medicines cause the development of intoxication.

For acute diarrhea, you can eat cottage cheese, porridge with water, boiled dietary meat and bread crackers.

Drinks allowed include unsweetened black tea, green apple juice and jelly.

The occurrence of loose stools is associated with many factors. Therefore, the causes of acute diarrhea affect treatment methods and diagnostic methods. In most cases, development factors are associated with stomach diseases. If the abdominal pain intensifies, you need to seek help from a doctor. The prescribed treatment will help stop the development of the disease or infection.

The information on our website is provided by qualified doctors and is for informational purposes only. Don't self-medicate! Be sure to consult a specialist!

Gastroenterologist, professor, doctor of medical sciences. Prescribes diagnostics and carries out treatment. Expert of the group for the study of inflammatory diseases. Author of more than 300 scientific papers.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is pathological condition, which is accompanied by frequent defecation of very thin, almost watery, feces. In this case, bowel movements can be single or multiple.

If diarrhea continues for 2-3 weeks, they speak of an acute form of diarrhea. If severe diarrhea lasts longer than 3 weeks, then we're talking about about the chronic form of diarrhea.

Diarrhea is the body's defense against viruses, bacteria and unfavorable microorganisms. However, for diarrhea, together with processed food products Large amounts of salts, water and useful substances, which inevitably leads to dehydration.

Types and causes of diarrhea

The occurrence of diarrhea in adults is due to a number of reasons. Depending on them, there are several types of diarrhea:

• infectious diarrhea is caused by food toxic infections, viral diarrhea, dysentery.
• nutritional diarrhea is caused allergic reactions to various products.
• dyspeptic diarrhea appears due to improper digestion of foods, dysfunction of the liver glands, lack of secretions in the stomach, excretion small intestine negative enzymes.
• drug-induced diarrhea is the result of using an excessive amount of medicines and their negative effects on the body.
• toxic diarrhea occurs after arsenic or mercury poisoning.
• neurogenic diarrhea is caused by strong emotional experiences, fears, fear of various phenomena and circumstances.

An adult can easily, without any special consequences, suffer from diarrhea that does not have long term. Diarrhea, which continues over a long period of time, causes exhaustion of the body, heartburn, constant rumbling in the stomach, and tenesmus.

Treating diarrhea in adults at home

Regardless of the causes of diarrhea, there are a number of general rules that get rid of it.

In the first hours after the appearance of loose stools, the patient should completely refuse food. And only then, when it becomes unbearable to endure hunger, is it recommended to drink in case of diarrhea? large quantities herbal or black tea, bird cherry infusion or blueberry jelly with dry cookies or white bread croutons.

A little later, the diet is replenished with slimy porridges cooked in water without oil and salt, vegetable purees, boiled and pureed meat and low-fat fish. A decoction of white rice has a good astringent effect.

During the treatment of diarrhea, it is necessary to exclude from the patient's diet raw vegetables and fruits, fried and fatty foods, spices, dairy products, alcohol, coffee, sweets, as well as anything that can cause irritation gastrointestinal tract body.

A self-prepared glucose-salt solution will help to replenish the water-salt balance when treating diarrhea at home: 1 tsp per 1 liter of water. salt, 1/2 tsp. soda, ¼ tbsp. potassium chloride, 4 tbsp. Sahara. You can also use ready-made drugs - Citroglucosolan, Regidron.

At infectious diarrhea, as well as for irritable bowel syndrome, sorbents are used to reduce flatulence and remove toxins, bacteria, gas and liquid from the intestines. Drugs in this group include: Activated carbon, Kaolin, Calcium Gluconate and Carbonate, Cholestyramine, Smecta, Attapulgite, Bismuth Salts, Bilignin, Polyphepan.

However, it must be remembered that all of the above drugs also have a binding effect on medications. Therefore, the gap between taking sorbents and other medications should not be less than 2 hours.

In these cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Indomethacin) are used. Antibacterial drugs promote recovery normal condition intestinal microflora.

If diarrhea is caused by the use of too many antibiotics while already existing disease, then the attending physician must either cancel this drug, or replace it with a more secure one.

In cases where diarrhea is associated with impaired absorption and cavity digestion, the patient is prescribed enzymes. Preference is given to drugs that do not contain bile acids (Mezim-Forte, Pancreatin, Pancitrate, Creon).

Treatment of acute diarrhea in adults in the first days after its onset, especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting, is carried out with the help of drugs that reduce intestinal motility:

• antispasmodics (No-Shpa, Papaverine);
• anticholinergics (Platifillin, Atropine).

In both acute and chronic diarrhea, the obligate intestinal microflora undergoes changes that lead to the loss of its functional abilities. To restore normal digestion and absorption use:

• preparations containing obligate intestinal flora (Lactobacterin, Narine, Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Acylact);
• preparations containing particles of intestinal microorganisms (Hilak-Forte);
• drugs that contain transient microflora (Baktisubtil, Enterol).

Treatment with folk remedies

To the most popular means traditional medicine in the treatment of diarrhea in adults include:

• thick jelly cooked in water;
• black hot peppercorns;
• chamomile decoction;
• chopped chicken gizzards;
• starch diluted in water;
• oatmeal;
• decoction of oak bark;
• pomegranate peels.

The effect of using these remedies can be achieved within 2-3 hours, although in some cases the expected relief comes much later.

How to stop diarrhea in an adult at home

Diarrhea is a rather unpleasant condition that causes discomfort to everyone who has it. Elimination of the causes that caused it and consistent treatment is mandatory and urgent. However, everyone wants to instantly get rid of annoying trips to the toilet.

Stop acute intestinal disorders within half an hour medications such as Lopedium and Loperamide will help.

You can quickly stop diarrhea in an adult using decoctions medicinal herbs, which have astringent properties (painting oak) and relieve pain and cramps in the abdomen (barberry spinosa).

Self-treatment of diarrhea is quite possible. But if diarrhea lasts for a long time, high temperature, the appearance of mucus and bloody streaks in the stool, dark tarry stools, severe pain in the stomach, you simply need to seek medical help.

Contents of the article: classList.toggle()">toggle

Diarrhea is a symptom that manifests itself in the form of loose, frequent (more than 3 times a day) stools and is accompanied by flatulence and pain in the abdominal area. It is divided into acute (which lasts up to two weeks) and chronic.

With diarrhea, the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, and this leads to digestive process accelerates, stool liquefies and the number of bowel movements increases accordingly.

Types of diarrhea

Reasons

Most often, diarrhea occurs for the following reasons:

• Bacterial infections caused by E. coli, salmonella, dysentery, foodborne illnesses, cholera;
• Viral infections, which can cause rotavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus;
• Enzyme deficiency;
• Intestinal diseases;
• Tumors;

• Poisoning with nitrates, heavy metals, household chemicals;
• Taking medications: antibiotics, laxatives, cytostatics;
• Gastrointestinal bleeding;
• In pregnant women, diarrhea can be caused by hormonal changes;
• Diarrhea at 36–40 weeks of pregnancy may indicate that labor is approaching.

Associated symptoms

Diarrhea may be accompanied by:

What diseases may this indicate?

A symptom such as diarrhea may indicate the following pathologies:

• Infectious diseases: dysentery, salmonellosis;
• Endocrine diseases: thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus;
• Diseases of the large intestine: different types colitis, polyposis;
• Hormonally active neoplasms: carcinoma thyroid gland, gastrinoma;
• Diseases of the small intestine: Crohn's disease, celiac disease, Whipple's disease,;
• Disorders of the stomach after resection or with atrophic or;
• or ;
• Infectious diseases: dysentery, cholera.

The color and consistency of stool with diarrhea may indicate the disease:

• Heterogeneous stool with green speckles and mucus indicates viral or bacterial infections;
• Yellow, semi-formed stool indicates increased intestinal motility;
• Black diarrhea is a sign of bleeding from the stomach. It can also occur when eating products based on animal blood, blueberries, beets, or taking bismuth preparations;
• White diarrhea indicates problems with the liver or gall bladder.

Treatment of diarrhea

Treatment for diarrhea depends on what exactly caused it:

• If it is an infection, in this case the following are prescribed: antibiotics, drugs that slow down peristalsis, sorbents and enzymes;
• For enzymatic deficiency: enzymes;
• For diarrhea caused by taking medications, it is prescribed antifungal drugs, eubiotics and sorbents;
• For intestinal diseases: glucocorticoid hormones, antibiotics.

It must be remembered that diarrhea is a symptom, and the cause of its occurrence must be eliminated.

In order to quickly relieve this symptom, you can use the following medications:

Traditional methods that help quickly get rid of diarrhea:

• Black pepper. In order to stop diarrhea, you need to take 7 peppercorns and drink it with enough water;
• Vodka with salt. To prepare the product, add 80 ml of vodka, 3 g of salt, stir and drink immediately;
• Loose leaf tea. Chew a pinch of black leaf tea slowly, then wash it down with water;

Complications

Since diarrhea is a symptom, the disease itself that causes it is dangerous. Its consequences are.

There are a number of diseases that many people who suffer from them do not like to talk about and are even ashamed of. And diarrhea (in common parlance - diarrhea) is one of them. Meanwhile, this condition is often a sign of very serious disorders in the body. Not to mention, diarrhea itself is dangerous and can even be fatal. However, practice shows that not all people know how to treat diarrhea properly.

What is diarrhea?

First of all, let's define this concept. Diarrhea in medicine is usually called a condition when a person performs an act of defecation, or bowel movements too often. Of course frequent bowel movements- This is an imprecise criterion, so it should be clarified. A person who eats normally and consumes a normal amount of water should have bowel movements from 1 time in 2 days to 2 times per day. If defecation occurs more often than twice a day, then this condition can be considered one of characteristic features diarrhea.
The second determining factor is the consistency of the stool. Normally, human excrement has cylindrical shape and are quite solid. With diarrhea, the type of stool is always different from usual - it is a semi-liquid, liquid or mushy mass, or even just water. If these symptoms of diarrhea - frequent urge to defecate and loose stools - continue for more than two weeks without a break, then the diarrhea is considered acute. Otherwise, it should be classified as chronic.

Generally speaking, diarrhea can be a symptom of many diseases. However, this disease cannot be determined by the mere fact of diarrhea. Huge role Other symptoms also play a role. It is extremely rare to find a case where diarrhea occurs against the background of complete health and is not accompanied by other characteristic signs.

The main symptoms that often accompany diarrhea:

• elevated temperature;
• weakness;
• nausea;
• gas formation in the intestines;
• pain in the lower or upper abdomen.

You should also pay attention to such characteristics of diarrhea as stool consistency. Pasty, thin, watery diarrhea may indicate various diseases Gastrointestinal tract. Also, with diarrhea, some additional discharge may be observed - blood, mucus, pieces undigested food. What matters is the color of the discharge, its volume - abundant or scanty, the smell - foul or not.

Causes of diarrhea

What causes diarrhea? Reasons this state may be varied. It is important to know well the cause of diarrhea, as otherwise treatment may not be effective.

Additional factors contributing to the occurrence of diarrhea are:

• insufficient personal hygiene;
• insufficient chewing of food, incorrect eating habits;
• stress and neuroses;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• use of certain types of medications;
• reduced immunity;
• pregnancy;
• childhood.

However, whatever the causes, diarrhea requires serious treatment and adequate treatment.

The main viral and bacterial infections that can cause diarrhea are:

• salmonellosis,
• dysentery,
• rotavirus infection,
• enterovirus infection.

As a rule, the main symptom indicating that diarrhea is caused by an infection is fever. Also, infections of the gastrointestinal tract are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. Patients often complain that they have a stomach ache or pain in the lower abdomen. Stools with infectious diarrhea are frequent. Diseases such as dysentery are characterized by very liquid stool, which usually has a foul odor and contains mucus or blood.

Lack of digestive enzymes

Digestion is a complex chemical process. It involves many substances, whose task is to break down the organic substance entering the digestive tract into those simple compounds that can be absorbed by the tissues of the body. Many of the substances necessary for digestion are produced various organs– liver, stomach, pancreas. Such compounds include pepsins, bile, pancreatic enzymes - protease, lipase, amylase. If any of the enzymes is missing, this means that undigested food remains will accumulate in the intestines. This causes irritation and upset of the intestines, which causes diarrhea.

Poisoning

Often, loose stools are the body’s reaction to toxic substances. There may well be some toxins in the food we eat. This may mainly apply to stale or expired products, products treated with some chemicals or containing poisons (mushrooms, fruits and vegetables). It is also possible that drugs and chemicals may be ingested in large doses. This circumstance may well cause poisoning of the body, accompanied by diarrhea. As a rule, in case of poisoning, not only loose stools are observed, but also other symptoms. Typically, poisoning is initially accompanied by pain and stomach cramps. As it develops pathological process poisoning begins to manifest itself as cramping pain, vomiting, nausea, and sometimes headaches, neurological symptoms, or symptoms of cardiovascular failure.

One of the varieties of this type of diarrhea is the so-called “travelers’ diarrhea”. Although in fact this disease has a whole range of causes. It occurs in people who try a large amount of unusual and unfamiliar food. Most often, this behavior is typical for people who travel to distant and exotic countries and want to get new sensations. However, the problem is that our gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole are conservative in nature and, to a certain extent, are tuned to the diet to which they have been accustomed since childhood. And when faced with something new, their work becomes disorganized, resulting in loose stools and an upset stomach.

Inflammatory processes of the digestive organs

Diarrhea often accompanies inflammatory diseases digestive organs not caused directly infectious agents. With these diseases, inflammation or ulcers of the surface of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines are observed, which, in turn, leads to gastrointestinal disorders. In addition to stool disorders, inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum often accompanied by heartburn, characteristic belching, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth (bitter or metallic). Such diseases include:

• enteritis,
• cholecystitis,
• autoimmune diseases (for example,).

Intestinal motility disorder

In diseases of this type, undigested food remains due to malfunctions of the vegetative system nervous system the intestines move through it too quickly and do not have time to form solid stool. Most often, this type of diarrhea is characteristic of a disease called “irritable bowel syndrome.” The urge to defecate with this syndrome may appear more often than usual and be associated with moments nervous tension. However total quantity In this case, fecal masses usually do not exceed the norm, and dehydration of the body, characteristic of other types of diarrhea, is usually not observed.

Dysbacteriosis

Many of the bacteria that live in our intestines are not pathogenic, but take part in the digestive process. If the number of intestinal bacteria drops catastrophically, for example, in the case of taking antibiotics, then a proliferation of other microorganisms may be observed, as well as disruptions in the digestion process, which often leads to diarrhea. After restoring the balance of the microflora, the stool, as a rule, returns to normal.

Diagnostics

What to do if diarrhea is chronic? To identify the causes of the pathology, you must consult a doctor. Although not all patients do this. But this is not always prudent, because it is completely unknown what pathology manifests itself due to diarrhea. This could be an accidental mild food poisoning, or a relatively harmless irritable bowel syndrome, which, in principle, can be ignored special attention and requiring long-term treatment ulcerative colitis, and salmonellosis, in which the patient is subject to immediate hospitalization, and extremely dangerous tumors.

As for acute diarrhea, especially in severe form, then, of course, any doubts about the advisability of seeing a doctor should be discarded. If diarrhea occurs in an acute form, then the acute dehydration accompanying the disease can often lead to death. Statistics show that diarrhea kills more than a million children every year around the world. It must be remembered that the majority infectious diseases gastrointestinal tract diseases are dangerous not in themselves, but in the complications associated with diarrhea.

In some cases, if we are talking about diarrhea, relatively light form, then the patient can independently determine the causes of diarrhea - for example, overeating or food poisoning, and draw appropriate conclusions about how treatment should be carried out.

Treatment

How to treat diarrhea? It must be remembered that this is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, although quite dangerous in itself. Therefore, in order to eliminate diarrhea, it is necessary, first of all, to eliminate the pathology that caused it. However, symptomatic treatment diarrhea is also very important in many cases.

Let's look at the main methods that can successfully treat diarrhea. They can be both medicinal and non-medicinal. Non-drug ways to combat diarrhea include diet, methods for cleansing the stomach, etc.

Drug treatment

First of all, medications will help get rid of diarrhea. They can be divided into several main groups:

• sorbents,
• antibiotics and antiseptics for intraintestinal action,
• probiotics,
• antidiarrheals,
• means for restoring fluid in the body (rehydration).

Enterosorbents are products that absorb the contents of the stomach and intestines, bind and neutralize them, and then excrete them with feces. Thus, if loose stools are caused by some foreign agents (microorganisms or toxins), then with the help of enterosorbents they can be removed from the body.

Diarrhea is most often treated with antidiarrheals such as loperamide, which affect intestinal motility and slow down the movement of feces through it. This type of medication, however, may not be effective for all diarrhea, and sometimes they can even be harmful. Therefore, before using this type of drug, it is necessary to clarify the cause of diarrhea.

To relieve pronounced pain syndrome You can use antispasmodics, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, it should be firmly understood that they can only be used if the source of pain is accurately identified, the disease is diagnosed and does not threaten the patient’s life. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking these medications. In some cases, pain medications may mask the development life-threatening infectious and inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Fluid replenishers are a type of medication that is often not taken seriously. And it’s completely in vain, because they help the body fight dehydration. Most often used for this purpose saline solutions, such as Regidron.

Probiotic drugs are usually used if diarrhea is caused by dysbiosis. In case of a decrease in the number normal microflora intestines, probiotics will restore balance in the gastrointestinal tract and normalize digestion. However, in most cases, the use of these drugs alone will not correct the situation.

The choice of drugs from any group depends on the etiology of the disease. Therefore, in order to know how to treat diarrhea, you must first identify the source of the problem.

If frequent loose stools are caused by food or household poisoning, then the most in an efficient way Treatment is gastric lavage and/or taking enterosorbents. It is also necessary to take means to restore fluid in the body.

If diarrhea is caused by an infection, then it is necessary to use antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, anti-inflammatory drugs as an auxiliary element of therapy, and rehydration agents.

For irritable bowel syndrome, non-infectious colitis, enteritis and gastritis, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory drugs will be most effective. The method of treating inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract is quite complex and the treatment strategy should be determined by a doctor.

How to treat diarrhea caused by a lack of digestive enzymes? This is quite simple - first of all, you should take enzyme preparations containing pancreatic enzymes and bile. Antidiarrheal medications will also be helpful.

Diet

Diet is an important part of therapy. First of all, it is necessary for those who do not know how to get rid of diarrhea. Taking any medications in most cases will be useless if the patient simultaneously eats foods that irritate the digestive organs and help prolong the disease.

The diet largely depends on the type of disease. However, there are a number of principles that must be followed when eating.

Too fatty and fatty foods should be excluded from the diet. sweet food, foods that provoke active fermentation and gas formation in the stomach, carbonated drinks, spicy dishes, alcohol. Preference should be given to boiled food rather than raw food, and especially not fried or smoked. Food should be easily digestible, that is, hard-to-digest foods such as mushrooms should be excluded from the diet. Drinking is also important. In case of severe dehydration, it is useful to drink saline solutions, intestinal infections– decoctions of chamomile, rosehip, strong tea.

Prevention

Prevention includes, first of all, personal hygiene, washing and proper heat treatment of food. It is also important to observe proper diet, do not eat expired or spoiled foods, products of dubious origin, and ensure that hazardous chemicals do not get into your food. It is also important to monitor your eating habits, do not eat on the go or dry food, avoid stress and overwork, monitor your health and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.