Diarrhea

What exactly is diarrhea?

Each of us at least once a year faces this unpleasant and uncomfortable condition. The reason for this can be a bacterial infection, which in most cases subsides within 24 hours.

Diarrhea is actually where a person experiences a frequent and sometimes uncontrollable need to defecate by passing watery stools, usually accompanied by painful cramps in the abdominal area or nausea and vomiting.

Although diarrhea is an uncomfortable and unpleasant condition, it generally does not pose a health hazard. But if the diarrhea becomes chronic, then treatment measures should be taken.

It can even create a risk of deterioration of the general state of health in young children, the elderly or those suffering from other chronic diseases.

And if you do not take the condition seriously enough and drink enough fluids, diarrhea can cause various complications, although it should not pose any risk to the normal functioning of other body organs.

Types of diarrhea

There are mainly two types of diarrhea – acute and chronic. Fortunately, in most cases, diarrhea is acute or short-term.

With this type of diarrhea, for a few days, but no more – usually from 1 to 3 days, you will feel a constant urge to go to the toilet. It could be that you spend most of your day on the toilet.

Acute diarrhea is also known for not causing inflammation. Most people associate its symptoms with the condition itself, diarrhea – watery stools often accompanied by stomach cramps, gas and nausea.

Acute diarrhea usually has a bacterial or viral cause. Gastroenteritis, wrongly called the “stomach flu,” is one of the most common infections that cause diarrhea. Gastroenteritis is caused by various viruses.

Eating foods or drinking liquids contaminated with bacteria can also cause diarrhea.

Other causes of acute diarrhea are lactose intolerance, sweeteners such as sorbitol, taking large amounts of antacids that contain magnesium, too much Vitamin C, and certain antibiotics.

Chronic diarrhea, on the other hand, is a condition that can be extremely burdensome on people’s health and quality of life.

It is characterized by prolonged or intermittent presence of watery or soft stools lasting more than four weeks.

The causes of chronic diarrhea can be many and varied, including chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, ibs, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and more.

In addition, certain medications and eating habits can also lead to chronic diarrhea.

The treatment of chronic diarrhea depends on its cause. In some cases, a change in diet or medication can help.

Regardless of the cause, it is important to consult a medical professional if you suffer from chronic diarrhea, as it can be a symptom of a serious illness.

In addition, chronic diarrhea can lead to dehydration and a lack of important nutrients, which can have serious health consequences.

How to relieve diarrhoea

With diarrhea you need to drink a lot of fluids, because in addition to losing water through watery stools, a significant amount of electrolytes, minerals such as sodium and potassium, which are crucial for normal functioning of all organs.

The amount of fluids you must take is at least 2 liters or 8 glasses of water, and if you have a high temperature at least 3 liters or 12 glasses of water.

Plain water doesn’t contain electrolytes, but it’s a good way to replenish the fluids you’ve lost.

To relieve the condition, you can make linden tea with a little sugar like ginger beer – ginger root juice is the best anti-diarrhea medicine.

Drinking fruit juices and homemade lemonade also help, but they should be different from apples and prunes, as they have a laxative effect.

Also, over-the-counter nutritional supplements are available in pharmacies to replace electrolytes lost in diarrhea.

Whatever you decide to drink, you should keep your composure and that way you won’t think so much about the unpleasant state you’re in.

It is recommended that when you drink liquids, you drink them in sips, and not drink the whole glass at once, as this way you will avoid unnecessary strain on the internal organs.

When to seek medical help for diarrhea

With diarrhea, it is important to know when to seek medical help. If diarrhea persists for more than a few days, it could be a sign of a serious health problem and you should consult a doctor.

Dehydration can be especially dangerous for young children and the elderly, so if you notice signs of dehydration in them, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Also, if you are pregnant and have diarrhea, you should consult a doctor, as diarrhea can be risky for you and the baby.

Finally, if you have traveled abroad and have diarrhea after your return, you should seek medical attention, as this could be a sign of traveler’s diarrhea or another travel-related illness.