Diarrhea 5 days reasons. What to do with diarrhea: treatment

Diarrhea or diarrhea is frequent loose stools that every person has suffered from at least once in their life, while on average diarrhea lasts 2-3 days, and if the diarrhea is chronic and the diarrhea does not stop for a month or more, then it may be a symptom of some kind of or a serious digestive disease, a reaction to medication or stress.

. From the Greek “diarrheo” is translated as “flowing” and “diarrhea”. Loose stools can be either strong watery or soft. If diarrhea lasts more than 3 days and the stool is very loose, dehydration is possible.

Acute attacks of diarrhea usually last no more than a day, while chronic diarrhea can last several years.

Symptoms of diarrhea:

• acute abdominal pain
• the appearance of mucus and blood in the stool
• rumbling in the stomach

Diarrhea is usually a protective reaction to poisoning. Occurs when consuming low-quality products and certain medications.

Types of diarrhea:

• Infectious. Dysentery, salmonellosis, viral diseases and others. Requires medical attention.
• Nutritional. Occurs when taking low-quality products and due to allergies.
• Dyspeptic. Consequence of disturbances in the functioning of the stomach and.
• Toxic. Poisoning with mercury and other chemicals.
• Medication. Bacteriosis resulting from taking medications.
• Neurogenic. Disturbed nervous regulation of intestinal activity. May occur due to severe fear and anxiety.

Often, diarrhea is directly related to a person’s psychological state. Children are not recommended to eat low-fat foods.

People with chronic diarrhea usually have intolerance to certain foods. Possible causes of chronic diarrhea from the gastrointestinal tract: spastic colitis, intestinal cancer, celiac enteropathy, Crohn's disease.

Diarrhea always leads to dehydration, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. In any case, if diarrhea does not stop for several days, you need to undergo a medical examination.

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In order to determine the cause of diarrhea, a bacteriological examination is required. If infectious diseases are suspected, patients are hospitalized.

. Achylia of the stomach is cured with gastric juice substitutes.

When treating diarrhea, a gentle diet is necessary. You need to eat often, but in small portions. Refusal of fatty foods is mandatory.

Folk remedies for diarrhea:

• Oak bark decoction
• St. John's wort
• Coil
• Burnet
• Bird cherry fruits
• Blueberry
• Alder fruits
• Belladonna

Treatment of diarrhea should be carried out with medications, and folk remedies and taking decoctions can be an excellent addition for a quick recovery.

If diarrhea occurs for a reason, it is necessary to take tablets and medications that normalize the microflora of the stomach. These include Colibacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Bifikol.

Treatment of viral diarrhea is a very pressing problem in medical practice. Children suffering from this disease often have a rotavirus factor of origin.

Rotavirus rarely causes harm to adults. Infestation usually occurs in winter. In addition to loose stools, rotavirus may cause headache and myalgia. With this disease, swelling of the walls of the small intestine occurs, which leads to impaired fluid secretion.

Viral diarrhea can last 3 days in adults and 6 days in children. The main task with this disease is to replenish the lack of fluid. Antibiotics are not necessary for watery diarrhea.

Almost every person has encountered such a problem as diarrhea. But what to do if diarrhea does not go away for a week in an adult?

Description of the disease

Diarrhea is a condition in which a person passes loose stool several times a day. This condition has 2 forms:

• spicy. Diarrhea may not stop for up to two weeks;
• chronic. Diarrhea may last more than two weeks.

Diarrhea is not considered a separate disease. It is rather a symptom that indicates any disruption in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused by various reasons. It manifests itself in adults and children. The condition is unpleasant and brings a lot of discomfort if it occurs in adults. But, if it is observed in a child, parents are overwhelmed with anxiety and not in vain.

You can ignore the malaise, which lasts 1–2 days, but if the diarrhea cannot stop on day 6, you need to contact a specialist. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, various complications may arise. It is very important to know the reasons for prolonged diarrhea and how to get rid of diarrhea.

If, in the presence of diarrhea, an adult does not have stomach pain, then the body independently cleanses the gastrointestinal tract of toxins, mucus, and rotting products that accumulate after stagnation inside the tract. This functional disorder may disappear on the second day after following the diet. If diarrhea persists for 4 days or more, contact a specialist.

Why does diarrhea occur?

Diarrhea that lasts 1 to 2 days and does not cause pain can be caused by:

• food poisoning;
• alcohol poisoning.

Loose stools for 1, 2, 3 days can be observed during pregnancy and menstruation. The body is cleansed, then the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is improved.

The cause of diarrhea may be:

• neurosis;
• food poisoning;
• intolerance to certain foods;
• acclimatization of the body;
• long-term use of medications that provoke diarrhea (anticoagulants, laxatives, synthetic sweeteners, antiarrhythmic drugs).

Diarrhea that occurs for one of these reasons goes away very quickly, literally in 3 to 4 days. If diarrhea is caused by one of these factors, it will not be difficult for you to figure it out. If stool disorder does not go away after 3-4 days, seek help from a specialist.

Weekly diarrhea may indicate one of the following diseases:

• intestinal infection (rotavirus, influenza, cholera);
• dysentery;
• intestinal tuberculosis;
• salmonellosis;
• exacerbation of an existing chronic disease (dysbacteriosis, colitis);
• enzyme deficiency.

Features of diarrhea provoked by various factors

During diarrhea, the following processes occur in the body:

• increased secretion of salts and water into the intestinal cavity;
• disruptions in the process of absorption of food (digested) from the intestinal cavity;
• accelerated intestinal motility;
• disruption of food digestion.

OKI. Diarrhea caused by acute intestinal infections occurs due to the influence of various microorganisms on the gastrointestinal tract. Microbes produce toxins that paralyze the intestines. Usually, with ACI, diarrhea has an acute form, sometimes it develops into a chronic form (with dysentery).

Dysbacteriosis. It is characterized by a disruption of the normal intestinal microflora (there is a growth of bacteria that are not characteristic of the intestinal microflora, a decrease in the number of “useful” microbes. Diarrhea is characterized by a chronic course. Diarrhea can last three days or more.

Chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Diarrhea can last all day with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

• chronic enteritis;
• Crohn's disease;
• chronic colitis;
• ulcerative colitis.

The danger of prolonged diarrhea in a child

If diarrhea is not in an adult, but in a child, you need to be careful. If the diarrhea is severe and lasts 2, 3, 4 days, signs of dehydration may appear. This condition is dangerous due to the occurrence of dysfunction of all internal organs. When diarrhea is observed for a long time in a child, you need to carefully monitor his condition, any changes, deviations from the norm. It is imperative to call a doctor if diarrhea does not stop for several days or abdominal pain appears.

If diarrhea does not go away for a week, dehydration occurs, which is not safe, especially for a child’s body. The child may lose about 3% of his weight. To determine the moisture balance, you should monitor the frequency and number of urinations. Alarming symptoms are:

• darkening of urine;
• concentrated urine;
• long breaks between urination (more than 8 hours).

In this case, the patient experiences:

• nervousness;
• dry mouth;
• dizziness;
• depression;
• disorientation.

If diarrhea does not stop for a week, it can cause coma or death without timely treatment. You should not put off going to a specialist if your child has watery diarrhea and the fluid released is greenish in color.

First aid for diarrhea

If you have prolonged diarrhea, you need to visit a specialist to determine the cause of its occurrence and select the appropriate treatment. The duration of diarrhea should be the impetus for making a decision on diagnosis and treatment. You don't have to endure diarrhea every day. You can try to eliminate this unpleasant symptom yourself, for this you need:

1. Take a sorbent drug (“Smecta”, “Activated carbon”, “Filtrum-Sti”).
2. Drink more water (boiled), weak weak tea. This will help avoid dehydration.
3. To restore the supply of lost nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, it is recommended to drink herbal teas. If you have a fever, it is useful to drink tea with currants and linden.
4. Cleansing enema (can be given once). Through a cleansing enema, we remove bacteria from the intestines. This procedure also helps lower the temperature due to the absorption of water into the intestinal walls.

The need for a diet for diarrhea

Diet for diarrhea is also important. Past diarrhea can return after the substances that caused it (poor food, medications, bacteria) enter the body. After undergoing the treatment recommended by a specialist, you need to be more attentive to your body. To restore normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, a diet is necessary. Experts recommend that adult patients and children follow it.

The diet is based on drinking large amounts of liquid. After diarrhea, the patient must follow basic nutritional rules:

1. Consume liquid foods (light pureed purees, low-fat soups, broths).
2. Cereal porridges should be prepared as mucous, semi-mucous. It is forbidden to consume large grains so as not to injure the intestinal walls.
3. You should eat foods containing a lot of fiber (dried fruits, bananas, apples).
4. You need to eat white, bran bread.
5. You can eat lean meat and fish.

The following should be excluded from your usual products:

• vegetables, fruits (fresh);
• canned food, smoked meats;
• dried products;
• tea (green), coffee;
• seasonings;
• salt, sugar in large quantities;
• dairy products;
• soda;
• fatty food.

Drug treatment for diarrhea

If diarrhea does not go away on the third or fourth day, contact a specialist to find out the cause. After making a diagnosis and clarifying the cause that triggered the onset of diarrhea, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment. Usually it consists of taking the following drugs:

1. Sorbents (“Smecta”, “Activated carbon”).
2. Antidiarrheal drugs (Imodium, Loperamide).
3. Drugs aimed at restoring ionic balance (Regidron). They are needed after dehydration of the body.
4. Pro/prebiotics (“Linex”, “Bifiform”). They are needed to restore the microflora inside the intestines.

If the diarrhea is of an infectious nature, the specialist prescribes:

1. Intestinal antiseptics (“Sulgin”, “Fthalazol”, “Furazolidone”).
2. Antibiotics (macrolides, tetracyclines, amoxicillins).

You should not use these medications for self-medication for diarrhea. Each of the drugs should be selected taking into account such features as: the condition of the patient, the cause of diarrhea. Medicines are prescribed in a course that should be completed to the end, and not stopped after the unpleasant symptom (diarrhea) disappears. Also, don't forget about your diet. It is an important aspect in the treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Who doesn’t know from television advertising what to do if diarrhea occurs in adults? Take a “magic” pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such “treatment” will not help at best, and will do harm at worst. Firstly, medications for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce it, and secondly, the use of such medications is contraindicated for a number of diseases. What to do when you suffer from loose stools?

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract or in the body as a whole. Therefore, it is impossible to cure diarrhea without knowing what causes it. Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose stool either once or with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation goes away within 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, over 21 days - chronic.

In a normal state, the body of a healthy adult excretes 100–300 g of formed feces daily or at other intervals that are comfortable for a particular gastrointestinal tract. Liquefaction and accelerated evacuation of stool occurs due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, stool is 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

• disturbances of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces; it is excreted frequently, but in small portions;
• if the problem is in the absorption of substances by the intestinal wall, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to the mass of undigested food.

The main causes of loose stools in adults:

Such diarrhea usually goes away within 3-4 days, and the patient will most likely be able to associate the onset of diarrhea with previous events.

However, the causes of diarrhea in an adult can be more serious:

• infection with bacteria, viruses, protozoa (dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu);
• inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, hepatitis, ulcers);
• functional organ failure (deficiency of certain enzymes);
• gastrointestinal diseases of unknown etiology (Crohn's disease);
• toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough to simply stop the diarrhea: a diagnosis must be made and qualified treatment must be carried out, often in an inpatient setting. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when in addition to loose stools, cramping pain in the abdomen and dyspeptic symptoms (boiling, bloating, etc.) may be observed.

In case of food poisoning, the pain is accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and the temperature may rise. Similar symptoms are accompanied by intestinal infections and viral diseases.

Alarming signs that require immediate attention are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, cracked lips, severe thirst, rare urination, darkening of urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition poses a great danger: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do for diarrhea in an adult - first aid

To prevent dehydration, the water and salts lost by the body must be compensated by drinking plenty of fluids: it is best to take rehydrating solutions (Rehydron and analogues); in their absence, you can drink saline solution, salted water, chamomile tea. Prevention of dehydration should begin as soon as it becomes clear that loose stools are not an isolated case.

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and constant, has been going on for several days, and is accompanied by vomiting. It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the stool. It can appear with dysentery, ulcerative colitis,.

Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will select a specific treatment, but there are general rules that must be followed in any case of diarrhea. This is dietary nutrition, taking adsorbent drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in an adult

The nature of the diet obviously influences bowel movements. Many foods have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and during diarrhea you should forget about them until complete recovery. These are spices, raw vegetables, plums and other laxatives.

Some foods have a fixing effect, so in the first few days of the diet you should limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

• wheat bread crackers;
• vegetable purees;
• slimy porridge;
• pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steamed, boiled);
• tea, blueberry jelly, bird cherry fruit infusion, rice infusion.

You can start the diet on a “fasting” day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

If diarrhea is caused by lactose or gluten intolerance, then diet is the main, and often the only, factor in treatment. For these diseases, therapeutic nutrition is prescribed, completely excluding products containing milk sugar and the cereal protein gluten.

Diet is important: you need to eat often (every 3 hours) and in small portions.

The diet must be followed throughout the treatment and beyond, but after the first “hard” days, you can remove the restrictions and expand the diet, adhering to the following principles:

Thus, we list the prohibited products:

• any fried meat;
• offal;
• rich broths;
• fatty fish prepared in any way, and lean fish if it is fried, canned, smoked;
• milk, high fat cream;
• scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs;
• cabbage in any form, beets, spicy root vegetables, turnips, radishes, cucumbers;
• canned vegetables;
• mushrooms;
• sour berries and fruits;
• pastries and bread;
• carbonated drinks, kvass, cold drinks.

What then can you eat for diarrhea in adults? Here is an approximate list of dishes from which it is recommended to create a diet menu:

• steamed minced meat cutlets, meat puree (can be from “children’s” jars), soufflé;
• boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish balls, steamed cutlets;
• cereal cooked in water; you can add a little milk and a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
• rice pudding;
• puree soups with vegetable or weak meat broth;
• boiled pasta;
• fermented milk drinks;
• fresh cottage cheese;
• omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
• boiled, baked or pureed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
• baked fruits in compote, some fresh strawberries;
• jellies and mousses from berries and fruits;
• white bread croutons, dryers, “Maria” cookies;
• water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

In addition to diet, it is important to organize the correct drinking regime. The fluid entering the body should be several liters in volume in order to fully compensate for the loss of water through diarrhea.

Since microelements are washed out with loose stools, plain water is not very suitable for drinking. It is better to take glucose-salt drinks, which will replenish the loss of electrolytes, maintain normal blood sugar levels, and salt also promotes fluid retention in the body.

There are special preparations for preparing rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but if they are not available, you can prepare the liquid yourself by diluting it in a liter of water:

Instead of potassium chloride, you can pour a decoction of dried apricots and freshly squeezed orange juice into the solution. You need to drink in small portions, but constantly throughout the day.

Medicines to treat diarrhea in adults

As an important piece of advice, it should be noted that diarrhea in an adult that has not gone away within 3 days is a reason to consult a doctor. Chronic diarrhea can indicate the presence of serious diseases, it even occurs with some forms of cancer.

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature rises above 38 during diarrhea, signs uncharacteristic of indigestion or poisoning appear: rash, yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, sleep disturbances. Constant excruciating pain in the abdomen should not be the norm (spastic pain before and during bowel movements is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or coagulated (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate that the situation is critical: it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

These days, digestive problems can affect everyone almost every day, and not all episodes of bowel upset require medical attention. How do you know if diarrhea is a symptom of a serious illness? Additional symptoms or properties of diarrhea itself will help with this:

Diarrhea + bloating when eating certain foods– may indicate an allergy to these products or an enzyme deficiency ( lactase deficiency, celiac disease).

Diarrhea + bloating not related to the nature of food taken– more often observed in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In which neuropsychic factors ( overwork, stress) lead to disruption of the entire nervous system.

Diarrhea + vomiting + abdominal tenderness– often found in food poisoning, salmonellosis, and enterovirus infections. In this case, only a personal consultation with an infectious disease specialist can help make a diagnosis.

Diarrhea + dehydration– this symptom may indicate a dangerous infectious disease. In such cases, consultation with a surgeon and infectious disease specialist is necessary. Treatment of such patients at home is impossible; hospitalization is required.

Diagnosis of the causes of diarrhea

Diagnosis of the causes of diarrhea is difficult in some cases - there are so many diseases that manifest themselves with this symptom. However, a number of clinical, laboratory and instrumental methods are used to identify the causes of diarrhea.

Clinical examination of a patient with diarrhea
Includes a conversation to identify possible causative factors:

• When did the diarrhea start?
• Does any other family member have diarrhea?
• What food was consumed the day before?
• Do people who consumed the same food have diarrhea?
• Is there pain? Nature of pain?

And some other questions may be asked by your doctor during diagnosis.
Feeling and tapping the abdomen– allows you to identify pain in a specific location. Tapping helps identify bloating and its location.

Laboratory examinations
Coprogram– studying the appearance of stool, studying the structure and composition of stool under a microscope helps to identify diseases such as: pancreatic enzyme or liver failure,
Bacteriological analysis of stool is the method of choice in diagnosing intestinal dysbiosis or infectious diseases that lead to diarrhea.

Treating diarrhea at home ( for adults)

Only if the above-described symptoms of diarrhea are not identified, treatment at home is possible.

This requires adherence to a gentle daily regimen, balanced nutrition, replenishment of water and salts lost by the body, and the use of medications.
Replenishing lost water and minerals

What drink?

In order to avoid dehydration, it is necessary to replenish all substances and water removed from the body. To do this, it is better to use water with minerals dissolved in it. Solutions of drugs such as Regidron, Ringer Lock, Gidrovit, Orasan are better suited for these purposes.

Under no circumstances should you use sparkling water, sweet water, or juices when dehydrated.

How much to drink?

It is recommended to replenish all volumetric water consumption during illness. Therefore, it is advisable to drink 200-300 ml after each trip to the toilet. saline solution. If the consumption of saline solution repeatedly leads to vomiting, then you need to seek help from a doctor - it is necessary to identify the cause of vomiting and regular droppers with electrolyte solutions will be used to prevent dehydration.

What to eat?

Naturally, with diarrhea, it is necessary to consume foods that strengthen.
Food products such as ripe bananas, crackers, and boiled rice have a good effect.
Spices, fried foods, sweets, and dairy products must be excluded during the treatment of diarrhea.

Medicines to treat diarrhea

Antibiotics
Antibiotics attack bacteria living in the intestines, slowing down the growth of bacteria or leading to death. Drugs in this group are used for intestinal infectious diseases or severe cases of intestinal dysbiosis. The use of antibiotics to treat diarrhea is possible only as prescribed by a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist.

Drugs that slow down intestinal motility ( loperamide)
Loperamide actively changes intestinal motility - slowing down the movement of intestinal contents. The drug can be prescribed for diarrhea of ​​a neurogenic nature, and for inflammatory non-infectious intestinal pathology. The drug is prescribed only by the attending physician and requires monitoring of the patient's condition, as it has a number of serious side effects.

Enterosorbents
These substances exert their therapeutic effect in the intestinal lumen. The stricture of enterosorbent granules is such that their surface has the ability to absorb ( absorb) certain substances from the intestinal lumen.
Drugs are prescribed for allergic, toxic-infectious or toxic intestinal damage.

Temperature
An elevated temperature accompanies diarrhea if it is caused by an inflammatory process. If diarrhea develops due to viral and bacterial infections, the temperature can rise to very high limits ( up to 38 – 39 degrees). Also, a high rise in temperature is observed with food poisoning.

Tenesmus
Tenesmus is a painful urge to defecate. They are most characteristic of intestinal infections, for example, dysentery or colitis.

Vomit
Vomiting also often accompanies diarrhea. Typically, this symptom occurs with diarrhea caused by food poisoning or infection.

Weakness
Weakness and malaise are caused by dehydration due to diarrhea. So, with diarrhea, water also leaves the body along with feces. Water provides the most important functions of the body and accounts for 60 to 70 percent. If the percentage of water in the body decreases, then it begins to suffer. In this case, all organ systems suffer without exception. Therefore, even a small loss of water is difficult for a person to bear, and he experiences weakness.
Subsequently, if emergency measures are not taken, the body’s salts leave along with the water. Lack of salts further increases weakness, malaise and lethargy.

Chronic, periodic diarrhea is a manifestation of pathologies such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic colitis, Crohn's disease. With chronic diarrhea, extraintestinal symptoms are also present. Intestinal symptoms in chronic diarrhea are the same as in acute diarrhea.

Extraintestinal symptoms of chronic diarrhea are:

• nausea;

Anemia
Anemia is a low number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. It develops as a result of enteropathy, which is observed with frequent diarrhea. Thus, with chronic diarrhea, the intestinal mucous layer is damaged, through which substances beneficial to the body are normally absorbed. As a result, the body experiences a lack of iron, folic acid and other microelements. The type of anemia depends on what substance the body “lacked” the most. If it is iron, then iron deficiency anemia develops, if it is vitamin B12, then B12 deficiency anemia. Anemia, in turn, is accompanied by symptoms such as poor skin condition, brittle hair and nails.

Nausea
With colitis, Crohn's disease and other diseases that are accompanied by chronic diarrhea, nausea is an integral companion.

Loss of appetite
Many intestinal pathologies, which are characterized by chronic diarrhea, lead to loss of appetite. First of all, this is due to constant nausea and periodic vomiting. At later stages, when anemia sets in, appetite decreases due to impaired metabolism.

It should be borne in mind that loose stools are not a separate disease, but are a symptom of a pathological process developing in the body.

What are the main causes of diarrhea in adults?

There are a large number of factors that can trigger the development of diarrhea.

Causes of diarrhea can be:

• infectious intestinal lesions;
• tuberculosis of the alimentary tract;
• food poisoning;
• allergic reactions;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• dysbacteriosis;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• emotional disorders;
• unbalanced diet;
• change of usual cuisine, water.

Tuberculosis of the alimentary tract
With this pathology, the parts most often affected are the small intestine and the cecum. Diarrhea due to tuberculosis is not permanent and occurs periodically. As the disease progresses, stool disorder is accompanied by pain, localized to the navel.

Food poisoning
Often the cause of loose stools is food poisoning ( infection not by bacteria, but by their metabolic products, which are most often formed in spoiled food products). Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause intoxication of the body. Alcohol contains substances that stimulate the intestines, causing them to contract faster. Sources of nutritional intoxication most often are food products that have expired or those that were prepared without taking into account the necessary sanitary standards.

Products that most often cause poisoning are:

• dairy and fermented milk products;
• confectionery with cream;
• cooked sausage products;
• meat pates;
• salads with mayonnaise or sour cream;
• tomato juice.

Allergic reaction
Diarrhea can be caused by individual intolerance to a certain product. Unlike other allergy symptoms ( respiratory or skin), which occur quickly after consuming an allergen product, loose stools can develop only after 5 – 6 hours. This fact makes it difficult to diagnose the allergic nature of diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome
With this disease, digestive disorders are not caused by damage to the intestine itself. People with an unstable psyche and a high level of emotionality are most susceptible to this pathology. The syndrome is characterized by loose stools, which bother patients after eating, most often in the first half of the day. Exacerbation of the disease and the development of acute diarrhea in half of the patients is associated with severe stress, excitement, and anxiety.

Dysbacteriosis
An imbalance in the ratio of beneficial and harmful microflora in the intestines can be caused by taking a number of antibacterial drugs, dietary habits, or other factors. A decrease in the number of bacteria that are responsible for the process of digestion and absorption of food leads to a disorder of intestinal functions, which is manifested by diarrhea.

Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
In the practice of a gastroenterologist ( a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating the digestive system) diarrhea is one of the most common complaints of patients. Chronic inflammatory processes affecting the digestive system have a negative impact on the intestines and cause disruption of its functionality.

Chronic diseases in which diarrhea develops are:

• gastritis ( inflammation of the gastric mucosa);
• stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• duodenitis ( inflammatory lesion of the duodenal mucosa);
• enterocolitis ( inflammation of the small and large intestine);
• biliary dyskinesia ( gallbladder motility disorder);
• cholecystitis ( gallbladder inflammation);
• pancreatitis ( inflammatory process in the pancreas);
• Crohn's disease ( formation of ulcers on the intestinal mucosa and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract);
• ulcerative colitis ( intestinal inflammation).

Rectal cancer
With a cancerous tumor located in the rectum, diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of a small amount of blood in the stool and a false urge to defecate.

Liver diseases
One of the liver diseases in which stool disorders develop is hepatitis ( inflammation of liver tissue). Diarrhea is a symptom of all forms of this disease, but most often and most acutely manifests itself in viral hepatitis A. With other types of hepatitis, loose stools occur periodically, most often as a result of intolerance to fatty foods. Another disease in which patients may suffer from diarrhea is cirrhosis of the liver ( pathological changes in liver tissue).

Emotional disorders
The activity of the gastrointestinal tract, like other organ systems, is controlled by the nervous system. In stressful situations, the nervous system is stressed, which affects the activity of the intestines. Therefore, anxiety often causes diarrhea. The symptom disappears after the person stops experiencing stress and anxiety.

Unbalanced diet
An unhealthy diet with a lot of rough food of plant origin can cause diarrhea. Also, the appearance of loose stools can be facilitated by the abuse of hot seasonings, spices, and carbonated drinks. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract can be disrupted by non-compliance with a certain regimen when eating food. Often the cause of diarrhea is an insufficient amount of vitamins that ensure the proper functioning of the stomach and intestines. The development of the disorder is caused by a deficiency of substances such as phylloquinone ( vitamin K), riboflavin ( vitamin B2), niacin ( vitamin PP).

Change of usual cuisine, water
The body's reaction to new food and water in the form of loose stool is called traveler's diarrhea. A bowel disorder may appear 3 to 7 days after a change in your usual environment. In most cases, this symptom goes away on its own when you return home or refuse food ( food and water) locally produced.

What are the main causes of diarrhea in children?

Diarrhea in children develops as a result of a number of reasons that lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the digestive system.

The main causes of diarrhea in children are:

The main infectious agents of inflammatory bowel processes that lead to diarrhea in a child are:

• adenovirus;
• salmonella;
• dysentery bacillus;
• coli;
• tapeworms ( bovine tapeworm, pork tapeworm).

The main ways infectious agents enter the child’s digestive tract are:

• dirty hands;
• contaminated food;
• contaminated household items and household items;
• contact with sick children ( in case of intestinal viruses).

Genetic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Many genetic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in children lead to disruption of the digestion process and the development of diarrhea.

The main genetic diseases of the digestive tract are:

• lactase deficiency;
• maltase deficiency;
• sucrase deficiency;
• atrophy of the intestinal mucosa.

For normal absorption of substances in the intestines, food must be well digested by intestinal enzymes. The lack of these enzymes leads to insufficient breakdown of food into easily digestible substances. In this case, food remains in the intestinal lumen and is quickly excreted. This condition is popularly called food allergy.

The most common problem in children is lactase deficiency ( lack of intestinal enzyme lactase), which causes diarrhea when milk and some dairy products are consumed. Less common are maltase enzyme deficiency ( substance involved in the digestion of grains), sucrase ( substance that breaks down sugar).

The absorption process in the intestine can also be disrupted due to congenital atrophy of the child’s intestinal mucosa. In this case, the absorption of all substances is difficult.

Acute food poisoning
Often in children, diarrhea develops as a result of acute food poisoning, due to the action of toxic substances that enter the gastrointestinal tract.

The main sources of acute food poisoning in children are:

• expired products;
• spoiled fruits and vegetables;
• stale meat and fish;
• spoiled dairy products;
• toxic substances ( arsenic, insecticides, organophosphates);
• alcoholic drinks;
• medications ( antibiotics, magnesium and potassium preparations, barbiturates);
• poisonous plants and fruits.

When a child eats “bad” food, a large amount of toxic substances enter the gastrointestinal tract. Toxins cause inflammation of the stomach and intestinal mucosa, increase peristalsis and slow down water absorption. In children, toxins are absorbed very quickly, and diarrhea also develops quickly.

Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition of a child leads to disruption of the digestive system. Constant digestive disorders cause the development of diarrhea.

The most common eating disorders in children are:

• binge eating;
• eating too many fruits and vegetables;
• abuse of herbs, spices, garlic and hot pepper;
• abuse of salty and sour foods;
• too fatty food ( fatty meats and fish, oils).

Large volumes of food eaten put pressure on the walls of the digestive tract, causing accelerated peristalsis. Food passes too quickly and does not have time to be digested. Nutrients and water are absorbed in small quantities, remaining in the intestinal lumen. As a result, diarrhea with particles of poorly digested food appears. The rough skins of vegetables and fruits cause similar problems as a result of intestinal irritation from the rough fibers.
Spicy, sour or salty foods also greatly irritate the child's intestines, leading to the development of diarrhea.

Feeding a child too fatty foods leads to disruption of the liver and gallbladder. A large amount of bile and free fatty acids accumulate in the lumen of the digestive tract. They stimulate the accumulation of water in the intestinal cavity, causing diarrhea.

Why does a baby develop diarrhea?

Diarrhea in an infant develops due to the introduction of new foods into the diet that the child’s digestive system cannot digest normally. Also, stool disorder is a symptom of various pathological processes developing in the child’s body.

The causes of diarrhea in infants are:

• introduction of complementary foods;
• artificial feeding;
• intestinal infections;
• other factors.

Introduction of complementary foods
Changes in the color and consistency of stool are a common reaction of the body to the introduction of new foods into the children's diet. Often, stool turns green when feeding a child vegetable or fruit dishes. A change in the color of feces is not a sign of diarrhea and is normal. Indigestion is indicated by such signs as the child’s constant desire to empty the intestines, the appearance of a sour smell in the stool, and a watery or foamy consistency of the feces.

The causes of diarrhea when introducing complementary foods are:

• untimely introduction of complementary foods;
• non-compliance with dosage recommendations;
• too short pauses between new products;
• intolerance to certain products.

Late introduction of complementary foods
Diarrhea in an infant can be caused by introducing complementary foods too early. Experts recommend introducing new foods after the child reaches five months of age. At this point, the necessary enzymes for digesting adult food are formed in the intestines. Since childhood maturation is an individual aspect, in addition to age, the advisability of introducing complementary foods is also determined by several factors.

Signs that a baby is ready for complementary feeding are:

• the child’s weight increases by 2 times from the moment of birth;
• the child does not push out the spoon with his tongue;
• the baby can sit independently, tilt his body, turn his head;
• the child holds an object in his hand and puts it in his mouth;
• The baby shows interest in adult food and tries to taste it.

Failure to follow dosage recommendations
When switching to adult food, you must follow the recommendations for increasing the dosage of each individual product. If the portion increase is done untimely, it can cause dysfunction of the digestive system. Diarrhea in such cases occurs because in a short period of time the necessary enzymes do not have time to mature in the child’s intestines. Therefore, the dose of a new product should be increased 5–7 days after it was introduced into the diet for the first time. Thus, the average amount of cottage cheese recommended by pediatricians per day is from 5 to 10 grams. Within six months, the dose of cottage cheese can only be increased to 40 - 50 grams.

Too short pauses between new products
Each new product should be offered to the child a week after the introduction of the previous product. Violating this rule can cause diarrhea in the baby. When transferring a baby to a fundamentally new type of complementary feeding, it is necessary to maintain a pause of at least 3–4 weeks. Types of complementary foods are vegetable, grain, dairy, meat, fish.

Intolerance to certain products
Allergies to certain foods can cause diarrhea in infants. The most common cause of allergic reactions during complementary feeding is intolerance ( partial or complete) gluten. This pathology is called celiac disease. With this disease, loose stools are provoked by porridge ( wheat, barley, rye), bread, cookies. With celiac disease, diarrhea in an infant becomes chronic and is accompanied by symptoms such as poor weight gain and skin rashes.

Artificial feeding
In children who are bottle-fed, digestive disorders in the form of diarrhea are observed more often than in infants fed breast milk. This is explained by the fact that a neutral or slightly acidic environment predominates in the children's intestines, which disrupts the digestion of proteins and fats. The composition of fats in breast milk is simpler and in addition it contains enzymes that facilitate the digestion process ( lipases). Therefore, with artificial feeding, especially with overfeeding, infants develop diarrhea.

Intestinal infections
Diarrhea in infants is often caused by intestinal infections. When bacteria or viruses enter a child's body, an acute digestive disorder develops, which is accompanied by intense loose stools, which may contain blood, mucus, and foam. The infection often occurs with vomiting, fever, crying, and refusal to eat.

The causative agents of intestinal infections are:

• rotavirus– the infection begins with vomiting, followed by diarrhea and fever;
• enterovirus– the disease is characterized by a wave-like increase in temperature and green, foamy, loose stools;
• salmonella– the infection is manifested by a sharp increase in temperature, bloating and diarrhea, which may contain mucus and blood;
• Shigella(provoke dysentery) – initially loose stools with the progression of the disease become similar to lumps of gray mucus with inclusions of blood;
• coli– infection is accompanied by intense diarrhea and severe abdominal pain;
• staphylococcus– the infection is manifested by foamy liquid stools and a fever above 38 degrees.

Infection most often occurs through the oral-fecal route if personal hygiene rules are not observed. Also, pathogenic bacteria can enter the body along with low-quality products or dirty water. Infection of an infant is possible through contact with carriers of the infection.

Other factors
In addition to infections and feeding errors, various external and internal factors can cause diarrhea in an infant.

Causes of diarrhea include:

• dysbacteriosis– often loose stools are a consequence of taking antibacterial drugs that disrupt the normal composition of the intestinal microflora;
• maternal consumption of certain foods(while breastfeeding) – diarrhea in infants often occurs after eating cucumbers, beets, or pears;
• teething– stool disorder in such cases is called physiological diarrhea;
• lactase deficiency ( lactose intolerance) – manifests itself as diarrhea in newborns from the first days of life;
• cystic fibrosis(a disease that affects organs that secrete mucus, including the intestines) – this pathology is characterized by copious loose stools with a greasy sheen and a strong unpleasant odor;
• helminthic infestations– accompanied by loose stools, which may alternate with constipation;
• acute respiratory diseases– in children under the age of one year, diarrhea often develops against the background of colds.

Why is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy?

The degree of danger of diarrhea during pregnancy is determined by such factors as the cause that caused the syndrome and the characteristics of its course. The period of pregnancy at which this syndrome develops is also of great importance.

Impact of diarrhea in early pregnancy
Weak and short-lived diarrhea at the beginning of pregnancy, which is accompanied by toxicosis, is a common occurrence. The bacteria and viruses that provoke it do not leave the intestines, and therefore do not pose a great threat to the fetus. In some cases, when diarrhea is caused by severe poisoning, intoxication of the female body and penetration of toxins to the fetus is possible. Thus, mushroom poisoning while pregnant is extremely dangerous. Poisons, penetrating the placental barrier, can cause various disorders in the development of the embryo.
The greatest danger in the first trimester of pregnancy is diarrhea, in which a woman visits the toilet more than 5 times a day. The danger of this condition increases when a bowel disorder is combined with vomiting.

The consequences of severe diarrhea are:

• the formation of congenital developmental anomalies in the fetus;
• spontaneous abortion;
• decreased blood pressure in women;
• renal failure in the expectant mother.

The danger of diarrhea in late pregnancy
Diarrhea at the 30th week of pregnancy is most often a symptom of late toxicosis rather than a viral disease. If an intestinal disorder is accompanied by frequent bowel movements, the woman should see a specialist, as this can provoke intense uterine contractions and premature birth. In addition, severe diarrhea, as in the initial stages, can cause dehydration of the female body. Fluid deficiency can provoke thrombosis ( blockage of blood vessels) and other dangerous conditions. In the third trimester of pregnancy, drugs that are contraindicated in earlier stages are allowed. Therefore, timely consultation with a doctor will quickly eliminate diarrhea and its accompanying symptoms.
This syndrome is most dangerous in the period from 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. Diarrhea can cause labor to begin, which can lead to the birth of a premature baby.

Another factor that causes this disorder is the pressure that the fetus puts on the digestive organs of a pregnant woman.

Regardless of the circumstances that caused diarrhea, the main danger is the rapid development of dehydration. At this stage, the woman begins to move less, and the fetus needs a large amount of fluid. These factors, combined with diarrhea, provoke severe dehydration and the risk of various complications. The body of a pregnant woman stops supplying the fetus with necessary nutrients, resulting in starvation.
Doctors react most calmly to diarrhea that develops from 38 to 40 weeks of pregnancy. Most often, the syndrome occurs against the background of a woman’s normal condition and indicates a natural cleansing of the body and impending childbirth.

How does chronic diarrhea occur?

Chronic diarrhea is manifested by stool disorder that lasts more than 3 weeks. In this case, the patient is concerned about the frequent urge to defecate, in which the daily weight of feces exceeds 300 grams.

• pathological changes in feces;
• discomfort in the abdominal area;
• nausea, vomiting;
• nervous system disorders;
• deterioration of the condition of nails, skin, hair;
• weight loss;
• exhaustion of the body.

The nature and intensity of these symptoms depend on the cause against which chronic diarrhea develops.

Pathological changes in feces
The color and consistency of stool, as well as the number of urges to defecate, may vary with chronic diarrhea. In diseases of the small intestine, the patient is bothered by copious watery or fatty stools. With pathologies of the large intestine, the mass of feces is not so abundant, and they may contain mucous, blood or purulent inclusions. If the cause of chronic diarrhea is diseases of the rectum, patients experience a frequent urge to defecate, while the mass of bowel movements is insignificant.

Other stool changes include:

• Watery stool– can cause viral infections of bacterial or viral origin. The appearance of the stool may resemble rice water.
• Black liquid stool– the cause may be bleeding in the stomach, esophagus or intestines caused by an ulcer or tumor formation. The blood reacts with digestive enzymes, causing the stool to turn black.
• Yellow chair– can develop while taking a number of medications. It is also very often observed in young children due to infections or diseases of the digestive system, as a result of which food is poorly digested.
• White feces– white feces can be a manifestation of chronic diarrhea, which develops against the background of gallbladder pathologies and jaundice. Certain medications can cause white stool to turn white.
• Green chair– feces of this color are most often the result of increased fermentation processes in the intestines due to dysbiosis, dysentery or other intestinal infections.

Discomfort in the abdomen
Patients with chronic diarrhea experience discomfort in the abdominal area, which can vary in type, duration, intensity, and location. With irritable bowel syndrome, patients complain of sharp twisting pains that become less severe after defecation. Painful cramps in the abdomen both before and after bowel movements are observed with intestinal inflammation. Pain in the lower abdomen after eating is manifested by diarrhea due to peptic ulcers. Pain that occurs periodically on the right or left side is characteristic of Crohn's disease. Stool disorder in chronic pancreatitis occurs together with pain, which is localized in the upper abdomen and has a girdling character. When chronic diarrhea develops against the background of putrefactive and fermentative processes in the intestines, it is accompanied by rumbling and bloating due to intense formation of gases in the intestines.

Nausea and vomiting
Often chronic diarrhea, caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, is accompanied by vomiting, which does not bring relief to the patient. When infection penetrates, diarrhea is accompanied by nausea, and the body temperature rises to 38 degrees.

Nervous system disorders
Often this disorder causes sleep problems and other nervous system disorders.

Manifestations of chronic diarrhea are:

• insomnia at night;
• daytime sleepiness;
• irritability;
• frequent mood changes;
• increased fatigue;
• unreasonable anxiety;
• lethargy, apathy.

Deterioration of hair, skin, nails
Chronic diarrhea is often manifested by deterioration of the condition of the skin, hair, and nails. An increase in the activity of the sebaceous glands leads to increased oiliness of the hair and skin, and the appearance of small pimples. Due to vitamin deficiency, hair may begin to fall out, nails may break or peel.

Weight loss
In some cases, chronic diarrhea is accompanied by weight loss. This manifestation is typical for patients in whom the syndrome develops against the background of chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease or certain pathologies of the pancreas.

Exhaustion of the body
Chronic diarrhea is manifested not only by dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, but also by disturbances in the functioning of other body systems. Patients complain of general physical discomfort, which is most severe in the morning. The lack of appetite characteristic of this syndrome causes a decrease in the overall tone of the body. With diarrhea, the time it takes for food to pass through the intestines decreases, as a result of which vitamins and nutrients do not have time to be absorbed. This, combined with poor nutrition, fluid loss and other disorders, can cause severe exhaustion of the body.

Is diarrhea accompanied by fever?

Diarrhea may be accompanied by fever, but not in all cases. In children, unlike adults, diarrhea is almost always accompanied by an increase in body temperature ( sometimes even to critical levels). Depending on the factors that caused diarrhea and the severity of the disease, a hyperthermic reaction ( temperature increase) of the body manifests itself in different ways.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of a variety of diseases, such as lactase deficiency or hormonally active tumors. However, it does not always require the use of medications. Sometimes you just need to eliminate a certain product. For lactase deficiency, these products are dairy products, for celiac disease - products containing gluten, for phenylketonuria - products containing phenylalanine.

What foods can you eat if you have diarrhea?

For diarrhea, you can eat foods that do not provoke fermentation and rotting in the intestines. Food should not irritate the digestive organs and require large resources for its digestion. Properly selected products will help avoid dehydration and deficiency of substances necessary for the patient’s rapid recovery.

Foods that can be eaten are:

• unsweetened fruits and berries;
• vegetables with a small amount of fiber;
• cereals;
• eggs;
• lean fish and meat;
• flour products.

In order for nutrition during diarrhea to bring a healing effect, you must adhere to a number of rules when preparing dishes. The amount and other features of eating recommended foods depend on the intensity and other characteristics of diarrhea.

Fruits and berries

• Banana– a product that can be eaten for any form of diarrhea. The potassium contained in the fruit promotes rapid recovery, and a sufficient amount of moisture prevents dehydration. In the absence of individual intolerance, it is recommended to consume bananas 1 - 2 pieces every 3 - 4 hours.
• Apples– contain pectin and a large amount of organic acids. These substances promote the removal of toxins and have an astringent and antimicrobial effect. Raw apples contain coarse fiber, which can irritate the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, these fruits should be consumed baked. You can also make compote from apples.
• Quince– has astringent and fixing properties, therefore it is recommended for disorders of the digestive tract. Quince decoction has the greatest effect. To prepare it, 200 grams ( medium sized fruit) ripe quince should be cut into small slices and pour 4 glasses ( liter) boiling water. Leave for a couple of 15 - 20 minutes, then cool and drink the infusion every hour, 100 - 200 milliliters.

Drinks made from berries that are rich in tannins are useful for diarrhea ( tannins). Tannins stop the inflammatory process in the intestines and normalize the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract.

• persimmon;
• dogwood;
• black currant;
• bird cherry;
• blueberry;
• thorn

In addition to compotes and decoctions of blueberries, black currants, and bird cherry, you can prepare jelly, which has not only a nutritional, but also a medicinal effect. The starch contained in jelly acts as a sorbent, absorbing harmful substances in the intestines. To cook jelly, add 200 grams of berries to 2 liters of water and bring to a boil. After this, you need to add 4 tablespoons of starch to the composition ( diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream). After 3 - 5 minutes, remove the jelly from the heat, cool and drink throughout the day.

Vegetables
In case of acute diarrhea, vegetables should be excluded from the diet. After 2–3 days, you should begin to gradually introduce vegetable dishes into the menu to prevent vitamin deficiency. The main rule is to choose crops with minimal fiber content. You should not eat raw or half-raw vegetables. The best heat treatment option is boiling or steaming.

Vegetables that are easy to tolerate for diarrhea are:

• carrot;
• potato;
• pumpkin;
• zucchini;
• cauliflower;
• asparagus;
• green beans.

Vegetables can be used to prepare vegetable soups, meatballs, and casseroles. Due to its mushy consistency, purees and soufflés made from vegetables are well digested for diarrhea.

Cereals
The most recommended cereals for diarrhea are buckwheat, oatmeal and rice. Dishes prepared from them are a source of carbohydrates, which the body needs to fight diarrhea. In the first days of the disorder, you should prepare porridge from cereals with plenty of water. Subsequently, rice and buckwheat can be used as an additional ingredient for first courses. An effective remedy for diarrhea is a decoction made from rice, which has a complex effect on the body.

The effects of rice water are:

• enveloping and protecting the intestinal walls from irritation;
• normalization of peristalsis;
• thickening of stool due to fluid absorption;
• reduction of flatulence and reduction of bloating;
• replenishment of nutritional deficiencies.

To prepare the decoction, bring half a liter of water to a boil, add 2 teaspoons of washed rice and simmer for 45 minutes. Next, strain the broth and take 50 milliliters every 2 to 3 hours.

Eggs
Eggs ( chicken and quail) help normalize the consistency of stool. For diarrhea, it is recommended to eat no more than 2 eggs per day that have undergone special heat treatment. Raw, fried or hard-boiled eggs can worsen the patient's condition. Therefore, steam omelettes or soft-boiled eggs should be included in the menu of a patient with diarrhea. You can also use egg whites when preparing first courses.

Meat and fish
Meat and fish contain large amounts of protein, which the body needs for diarrhea. These products should be introduced into the diet 3–4 days after the first symptoms of the disorder appear. To reduce the load on the organs of the digestive system, meat should be cleaned of fat, films, and tendons before consumption. The fish must be cleaned of skin and bones.

• chicken breast;
• turkey fillet;
• veal tenderloin;
• pollock fillet;
• cod fillet;
• pike perch fillet.

Steam cutlets, meatballs, and souffles are prepared from meat or fish. Pre-grinding makes the product easier to digest, and steaming allows you to preserve all the valuable properties of the dish.

Flour products
At the initial stage of the disorder ( first 2 – 3 days) You should eat bread made from wheat flour, dried in the oven. When relief occurs, the diet can be diversified with pasta made from durum wheat.

What diseases cause bloody diarrhea?

Bloody diarrhea is a symptom of inflammatory processes and other pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The color, consistency, smell and other characteristics of blood impurities in liquid feces are determined by the reasons for its occurrence. The closer the source of bleeding is to the anus, the lighter the color of the blood.

Causes of loose stools with blood can be:

• haemorrhoids ( dilatation and inflammation of the veins of the lower segment of the rectum);
• anal fissures;
• intestinal polyps ( benign formations);
• inflammation of diverticula ( pouch-like protrusions of the walls of the rectum or colon);
• chronic inflammatory diseases;
• infectious intestinal diseases;
• bleeding of the upper digestive system;
• dysbacteriosis;
• malignant tumors of the colon.

Haemorrhoids
The cause of bloody diarrhea may be damage to hemorrhoidal cones during multiple bowel movements. In this case, bleeding is manifested by drops of bright red blood, which can be in the stool, on linen, or on toilet paper. The scarlet tint is explained by the fact that the damage is close and the blood does not have time to clot or react with digestive enzymes. When a node ruptures, copious amounts of blood are released, which can flood the toilet. In most cases, patients are not bothered by any pain.

Anal fissures
Loose stools with blood from cracks in the lower part of the rectum are accompanied by severe pain in the anus. A small amount of red blood is released at the time of bowel movement or immediately after it. In this case, the blood does not form streaks or clots and does not mix with feces. Also, with this pathology, a small amount of mucus or its complete absence is found in the stool.

Intestinal polyps
The presence of blood in liquid feces can cause polyps in the intestines. Bleeding occurs when tumors are damaged or an inflammatory process occurs. In this disease, the blood is mixed with feces, which also contain mucus impurities.

Inflammation of diverticula
Diverticulitis ( inflammation of diverticula) and the accompanying diarrhea with blood most often develops in patients whose age ranges from 50 to 60 years. If diverticula are located in the sigmoid colon, inclusions of blood have a bright red tint. With lesions of diverticula located in the right segments of the large intestine, the blood may be dark, sometimes black.

Chronic inflammatory diseases
A symptom of such a chronic disease as Crohn's disease ( inflammatory processes in various parts of the digestive tract) bloody diarrhea often appears. Often this symptom indicates another chronic disease - ulcerative colitis ( purulent inflammation of the colon). A distinctive feature of these diseases is chronic diarrhea, which is accompanied by severe abdominal pain and an increase in body temperature. The act of defecation is accompanied by profuse bleeding of scarlet color.

Bleeding in the upper digestive system
Diarrhea and blood in its composition may indicate damage to the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. The blood is black in color and smells bad. Stool mixed with black, foul-smelling blood is called melena. Blood acquires its color and smell due to its long stay in the digestive system, during which it is exposed to bacteria.

Diseases that cause diarrhea with black blood are:

• cancerous tumors in stomach or duodenum;
• mucosal defects ( ulcers) stomach or duodenum;
• varicose veins of the esophagus;
• pathological changes in the structure of liver tissue ( cirrhosis).

Infectious intestinal diseases
Often, disorders in the form of bloody diarrhea are a manifestation of diseases caused by infection. In this case, patients are worried about attacks of acute abdominal pain and high body temperature. One of the common infectious diseases is dysentery. The causative agents of the disease are bacteria of the genus Shigella, which infect the lower segment of the colon. With dysentery, the patient suffers from intense diarrhea with blood, in which the frequency of the urge to defecate can reach 30 times a day. Often the desire to evacuate is false and is accompanied by severe discomfort. Often with dysentery, diarrhea turns green. In addition to blood, clots of pus and mucus may be found in the stool.

Malignant tumors of the colon
Blood during bowel movements is one of the most frequently detected and persistent symptoms of malignant neoplasms of the colon, which in most cases are cancerous tumors. Thus, bleeding preceding stool or inclusions of blood in the stool occur in more than half of patients, both in the early and later stages of the disease. The second most common sign of colon cancer is stool abnormalities, which often manifest as diarrhea. Bleeding is characterized by its inconsistency and insignificant volume. In later stages of cancer, mucus and pus may be added to the blood. This is explained by the development of concomitant inflammatory diseases. Often, diarrhea with blood in cancer is accompanied by symptoms such as false urge to defecate, low-grade fever ( about 37 degrees), bloating.

Other causes of bloody diarrhea may include:

• proctitis ( inflammatory lesion of the rectal mucosa) – blood is detected in the form of clots throughout the stool;
• cryptite ( inflammation of the recesses in the anal canal) – characterized by brightly colored blood inclusions;
• ischemic colitis ( disruption of the blood supply to the intestinal wall) - blood is released in small quantities and can be either dark or light in color.

How to treat diarrhea after antibiotics?

Treatment of diarrhea after antibiotics is carried out comprehensively and is aimed at restoring intestinal functions. Also, the goal of treatment is to eliminate the symptoms and consequences of this disorder.

Treatments for diarrhea after antibiotics include:

• compliance with dietary nutrition;
• taking medications that correct the composition of the intestinal microflora;
• prevention of dehydration and intoxication of the body.

Taking medications to correct intestinal microflora
To normalize the composition and properties of the intestinal microflora, patients are prescribed special medications. Depending on the composition and effect, such drugs are divided into several categories.

The types of drugs are:

• probiotics– include cultures of living microorganisms;
• prebiotics– contain substances that stimulate the activity of beneficial microflora;
• synbiotics– combination preparations consisting of probiotics and prebiotics.

The therapeutic effect of these drugs is to create favorable conditions for the growth of beneficial intestinal microflora and inhibit the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. The active components of these drugs take part in the production of vitamins and create an environment for their effective absorption. Also, taking such medications helps to better break down food and remove toxic substances from the body.

Probiotics
Once in the intestines, the microorganisms that make up this group of drugs multiply, which helps restore all functions of the microflora. Based on their composition and mechanism of action, there are 4 categories of probiotics.

The groups of probiotics are:

• First generation drugs ( monobiotics) – contain one type of beneficial bacteria that are part of the normal microflora. The most common living components for the production of these drugs are colibacteria, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli.
• Second generation drugs ( antagonists) – are made on the basis of bacilli and yeast fungi, which inhibit the activity of harmful microorganisms. Not being part of the microflora, the components of such drugs do not take root in the intestines and are eliminated naturally.
• Third generation probiotics ( polycomponent) – include several types of beneficial bacteria that begin to grow and multiply in the intestines.
• Fourth generation drugs ( sorbed) – consist of representatives of normal microflora, which are fixed on a special carrier ( sorbent). The use of a sorbent significantly increases the effectiveness of the drug.

Prebiotics
Prebiotics are made from substances that provide nutrition for beneficial microorganisms. The components used are fiber, pectin, sorbitol, xylitol and other carbohydrates. Prebiotics are prescribed in combination with probiotics.

Synbiotics
This category of drugs contains both live microorganisms ( probiotics), as well as ingredients for their favorable reproduction ( prebiotics). Today, synbiotics are considered the most effective for treating diarrhea after antibiotics.

Dietary adherence
The goal of a diet for diarrhea is to reduce the load on the digestive system and provide the body with the necessary substances for a speedy recovery. For severe diarrhea, it is necessary to consume foods that do not irritate the intestinal mucosa and have a strengthening effect.

• hard-boiled eggs;
• steam omelettes;
• slimy porridges from semolina, buckwheat, rice;
• rice water;
• berry and fruit jelly;
• baked apples;
• white bread crackers.

When preparing porridges, cereals must be boiled thoroughly and enough water used to ensure that their consistency is viscous. For jelly, you should use non-acidic berries and fruits, diluting the juice with water if necessary.
After 2–3 days, the menu can include dishes prepared from lean meats and fish. These can be steamed cutlets, boiled meatballs, souffles, casseroles. After a few days, it is recommended to diversify your diet with vegetable dishes. You can use carrots, potatoes, and cauliflower to make soups, purees and stews. If you have diarrhea, it is not advisable to eat white cabbage, sweet peppers, legumes, and mushrooms. Brown bread, carbonated drinks, coffee, and spices also stimulate intestinal motility. Therefore, such products can be introduced into the diet 10 days after complete recovery. In addition, for this period it is necessary to avoid fatty, salty, pickled foods. Gradually and carefully you should include dairy products in your diet.

Fermented milk products enriched with live bacteria will help restore the composition of the intestinal microflora after diarrhea. Microorganisms are contained in special kefir, yoghurts, and starter cultures. The manufacturer indicates the presence of bacteria on the product packaging. Preference should be given to brands that have a short shelf life. You can eat such products after complete normalization of stool.

Prevention of dehydration and intoxication of the body
To prevent poisoning and dehydration, a patient with diarrhea needs to drink enough fluids. You can drink weakly brewed green and black tea, herbal infusions, and juices diluted with water. Adding a small amount of lemon juice to the drink will improve the patient's condition due to its antiseptic effect. Compotes made from quince, pear, blueberry, and bird cherry are useful for diarrhea.

What folk remedies exist for diarrhea?

There are many folk remedies for diarrhea. They not only calm the “raging” digestive system, but also restore its normal functioning. Also, a positive side of folk remedies is their harmlessness in relation to the normal intestinal microflora. Thus, they rarely cause dysbiosis ( imbalance of intestinal microflora).
All folk remedies for diarrhea can be divided into several groups.

The main three groups of folk remedies that help with diarrhea are:

• specially prepared food products;
• medicinal drinks;
• infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants.

Specially prepared foods that help with diarrhea
When a patient suffers from diarrhea, he must follow a special diet. All food should be gentle, that is, it should not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Some “gentle” products also have medicinal properties and are used as folk remedies for diarrhea.

The main products that are used as folk remedies for diarrhea are:

• goat fat;
• fresh apples;
• bananas;
• millet cereal;
• chicken stomachs.

Methods for preparing and using products as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Medicinal drinks for diarrhea
Various healing drinks are used as folk remedies for diarrhea, which can be drunk all day without restrictions. They not only eliminate bouts of diarrhea, but also replenish lost fluid from the body.

Products that can be used to prepare anti-diarrhea drinks are:

• oatmeal and rye bread;
• blueberries;
• black tea and onion;
• burnet grass;
• blackberry branches.

Methods for preparing and using drinks as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants
Various infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants and fruits are used as a folk remedy for diarrhea.

The most commonly used herbs for diarrhea are:

• Oak bark;
• bird cherry fruits;
• pomegranate peels;
• walnut leaf;
• walnut partitions.

Infusions and decoctions as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Diarrhea is a pathological condition that occurs in a person, regardless of his age category, and is manifested by a frequent urge to defecate. This means more than three trips to the toilet, and the stool becomes liquid, in some cases there are pieces of undigested food in it. Diarrhea cannot be classified as an independent disease. This is a symptom accompanying various diseases affecting the digestive system.

Stages of the disease

Diarrhea can occur every day for quite a long time. And if diarrhea lasts for a long time, one may suspect that a dangerous chronic disease is developing in the body.

There are three stages of pathology, taking into account the duration of the disease:

• acute diarrhea is observed for 7-10 days;
• prolonged diarrhea lasts 2-11 weeks;
• Chronic diarrhea can last from three months to one or more years.

If diarrhea does not go away for a long time, a complete examination of the body is necessary to eliminate the problem. Below we will look at what factors can cause this unpleasant phenomenon.

Diarrhea lasts more than seven days

If diarrhea lasts for a week or more, it is necessary to call a specialist at home to determine the reasons that provoked this phenomenon. Common causative agents of this type of pathology are food allergies or intolerance to any foods, disrupted diet, or an acute reaction to taking a pharmaceutical drug. Often an acute form of pathology occurs as a response to the penetration of intestinal infections into the body, the entry of viruses and toxins or simple dangerous microorganisms into the digestive system.

The list of reasons primarily includes:

• Food intoxication.
• Bacterial enterocolitis.
• Viral gastroenteritis.
• Penetration of helminths into the body.
• Long-term use of certain medications.

Another factor that can provoke a problem is the so-called “traveler's diarrhea,” which develops against the background of visiting exotic countries.

Symptoms of weekly diarrhea

Each disease is accompanied by symptoms unique to it; the diseases also differ in the mechanisms of development, therefore it is necessary to evaluate other symptoms:

• With viral gastroenteritis, in addition to loose, frequent stools, noticeable nausea, vomiting, and spasms in the intestinal area appear. There are spots of blood or pus in the stool.
• With food poisoning, diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
• Travelers' diarrhea can additionally manifest itself as severe stomach pain, nausea, and significant vomiting attacks.
• With bacterial enterocolitis, against the background of inflammation of the mucous membrane, pus or blood appears in the stool, the temperature rises, accompanied by fever and abdominal pain.

Two week problem

If diarrhea is observed in an adult or child for two weeks, the list of provoking factors includes:

• Long-term use of antimicrobial drugs.
• Infectious intestinal diseases that have not been properly treated.
• Presence of malnutrition.
• Development of malabsorption syndrome.
• The appearance of vitamin deficiency.
• If we are talking about a baby under 12 months of age, switching him to artificial food can provoke the phenomenon.
• Development of diathesis in a child.

The main danger that diarrhea does not go away for 14 days or more is loss of body weight against the background of deteriorated absorption of important microelements, a decrease in bone tissue density, which leads to increased fragility. If diarrhea does not go away, the risk of vitamin deficiency increases.

In young children, such serious diseases often provoke developmental delays, both mental and physical.

Causes of three-week and two-month diarrhea

It happens that diarrhea does not go away for a long time - at least for three weeks.

In this case, they talk about a chronic disorder and include in the list of influencing factors:

• Irritable bowel syndrome, accompanied by abdominal pain, discomfort during bowel movements, fever and vomiting.
• The presence of infectious diseases - this could be giardiasis, chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
• This may be dysbacteriosis, when opportunistic organisms in the intestines turn into pathogens.
• Oncology formed in the colon.
• Long-term use of laxatives.
• Development of endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism.

If diarrhea in an adult or child does not go away within two months, one may suspect the presence of a food allergy, intolerance to any product; this may be the body’s reaction to the constant use of synthetic substances - flavorings or food additives and dyes.

What to do if diarrhea does not go away for a long time

The main danger of prolonged diarrhea is dehydration, loss of vitamins, useful minerals, and salts. These elements must be regularly replenished, for which the best option is to take Regidron and its analogues. If this remedy is not in your home medicine cabinet, you can use saline solution or salted water and brew chamomile tea. But prevention of dehydration should begin at the same moment when repeated diarrhea becomes obvious.

The situation deserves increased attention when bowel movements are abundant, constant, continue for several days and are accompanied by vomiting attacks and bloody inclusions in the stool - such symptoms are possible with the development of dysentery, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Based on the cause that provoked diarrhea, the specialist selects the required treatment, but at the same time observes a number of rules that must be followed in the presence of stool disorder.

These include:

• Diet assignment.
• Use of adsorbents.
• Purpose of enzymes.

A competent diet when a disorder appears

When prescribing a diet, many factors should be taken into account, when selecting products, taking into account their effect on peristalsis. Raw vegetables, plums, spices and other elements can have an irritating effect.

Certain foods can cause a fixing effect, so at the beginning of the diet it is proposed to limit the menu:

• wheat crackers;
• grated boiled vegetables;
• well-cooked porridge;
• pureed lean meat and fish dishes, steamed or boiled;
• Among the drinks, preference is given to teas, blueberry jelly, decoction of bird cherry fruits, and steep rice broth.

The diet can begin with a fasting day, during which you are allowed to drink only strong, sweetened tea, drinking 8 to 10 cups per day. Meals should be fractional - when portions are reduced, their volumes are also reduced, also shortening the intervals between meals. The diet must be followed throughout the course of treatment, however, a strict menu may cease to be so as the condition improves.

What medications to take

There are a number of remedies whose effectiveness has been proven over time.

If diarrhea develops, the following medications are prescribed:

• Sorbents that remove toxins, adsorb gases, reduce flatulence. The list of drugs includes Smecta, Polyphepan, De-Nol, Calcium salts.
• As drugs to reduce the production of intestinal mucus. They are taken throughout the course of the pathology. For Crohn's disease, the hormones Prednisolone and Metypred are used.
• Herbal medicines, which include oak bark, alder cones and bird cherry berries, cinquefoil root and chamomile. Infusions and decoctions are prepared from plants.
• Enzymes are necessary when the disorder is associated with pathologies of the digestive system; Creon, Mezim, Festal and Pancitrate can be prescribed.
• Antispasmodics improve peristalsis, these include No-Shpu, Papaverine.

Antimicrobial drugs are prescribed for intestinal infections; Arbidol is most often used.

Also among the drugs that help stop the effects of pathology on the body are intestinal antiseptics. Probiotics are indicated in all cases of manifest disease. These are Enterol, Hilak-Forte, Linex and others.