DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea is an illness in which the body’s solid waste is more liquid than usual and comes out of the body more often.
Diarrhea is one of the most common health complaints. It can range from a mild, temporary condition, to a potentially life-threatening one.
Globally, there an estimated 2 billion cases of diarrheal disease occur each year, and 1.9 million children under the age of 5 years, mostly in developing countries, die from diarrhea.
Causes
Diarrhoea can be caused by:
- a virus – such as norovirus or rotavirus
- bacteria – such as campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. coli), which are often picked up from contaminated food
- a parasite – such as the parasite that causes giardiasis, which is spread in contaminated water
These infections can sometimes be caught during travel abroad, particularly to areas with poor standards of public hygiene. This is known as travellers’ diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can also be the result of anxiety, a food allergy, medication, or a long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Signs and symptoms
The main symptom of diarrhoea is loose, watery bowel motions (stools, faeces) three or more times a day.
Accompanying signs and symptoms may include:
- Urgent need to go to the toilet
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Change in colour of your stools
- Mucous, pus, blood, or fat in your stools
- Vomiting
- General body weakness and tiredness
The excessive loss of water in your stool can also sometimes lead to dehydration, which can be serious if it’s not recognised and treated quickly.
Signs of dehydration in adults can include:
- tiredness and a lack of energy
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- feeling lightheaded
- dizziness
- dry tongue
- sunken eyes
- muscle cramps
- rapid heartbeat
Diagnosis
Besides conducting a physical exam and reviewing your medications, your doctor might order tests to determine what’s causing your diarrhea. They include:
- Blood test. A complete blood count test can help determine what’s causing your diarrhea.
- Stool test. Your doctor might recommend a stool test to determine whether a bacterium or parasite is causing your diarrhea.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Your doctor might recommend one of these procedures to look at the lining of your colon and provide biopsies if no cause is evident for persistent diarrhea.
Treatment
Most cases of diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. If you’ve tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for diarrhea without success, your doctor might recommend medications or other treatments.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics might help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your diarrhea, antibiotics won’t help.
Treatment to replace fluids
Your doctor likely will advise you to replace the fluids and salts. For most adults, that means drinking water, juice or broth. If drinking liquids upsets your stomach or causes diarrhea, your doctor might recommend getting fluids through a vein in your arm (intravenously).