Top 14 Causes of Diarrhea

Causes of Diarrhea:  A number of diseases and conditions can cause Diarrhea , including

• Virus. Viruses that can cause diarrhea  include Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, and viral hepatitis. Rotavirus is a common cause of acute childhood diarrhea  .
• Bacteria and parasites. Contaminated food or water can transmit bacteria and parasites to your body. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium can cause diarrhea . Common bacterial causes of diarrhea  include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, and Escherichia coli. When traveling in developing countries, diarrhea  caused by bacteria and parasites is often referred to as traveller’s diarrhea  . Clostridium difficile infection can occur, especially after a course of antibiotics.
• Medicines. Many medications, such as antibiotics, can cause Diarrhea . Antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria, which can upset the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines. Other drugs that cause diarrhea  are cancer drugs and magnesium antacids.
• Lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. People who have difficulty digesting lactose have diarrhea  after eating dairy products. Your body makes an enzyme that helps digest lactose, but for most people, levels of this enzyme drop rapidly after childhood. This causes an increased risk of lactose intolerance as you age.
• fructose _ Fructose, a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey and added as a sweetener to some drinks, can cause diarrhea  in people who have trouble digesting it.
• Artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol and mannitol, artificial sweeteners found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products, can cause diarrhea  in some healthy people.
• Surgery. Some people have diarrhea  after having abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal surgery.
• Gluten intolerance (eg, celiac disease)
• Lactose intolerance (dairy intolerance)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• chronic intestinal infection
• Inflammatory bowel diseases such as  Crohn’s disease  and ulcerative colitis
• bowel cancer
• Other digestive disorders. Chronic diarrhea  has many other causes such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of Diarrhea:  Signs and symptoms associated with Diarrhea  may include:

• Loose and watery stools
• abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• blood in the stool
• Swelling
• Nausea
• Urgent need to have a bowel movement

Complications of Diarrhea:  Diarrhea can  cause dehydration, which can be fatal if left untreated. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. If you have signs of severe dehydration, seek medical help. Indications of dehydration in adults. These include:

• excessive thirst
• Dry mouth or skin
• Little or no urination
• Weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• dark colored urine

Indications of dehydration in infants and young children. These include:

• Not having a wet diaper in three hours or more
• Dry mouth and tongue
• Fever above 102 F (39 C)
• crying without tears
• Drowsiness, unresponsiveness, or irritability
• Sunken appearance in the abdomen, eyes, or cheeks

Diarrhea Diagnosis:  In addition to performing a physical exam and reviewing your medications, your doctor may order tests to determine what is causing your diarrhea . They include:

• Blood test. A complete blood count test can help determine what is causing your Diarrhea .
• Stool test. Your doctor may recommend a stool test to determine if a bacteria or parasite is causing your diarrhea .
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Your doctor may recommend one of these procedures to examine the lining of your colon and provide biopsies if no cause is evident for persistent diarrhea  .

Both procedures involve using a thin, lighted tube with a lens at the end to look into the Fnonor.

Diarrhea Treatments:  Most cases of Diarrhea  clear up on their own within a few days without treatment. If you’ve tried lifestyle changes and home remedies for diarrhea  to no avail, your doctor may recommend medication or other treatments. Diarrhea  can have several causes, so the treatment varies according to the diagnosis established by the doctor.

Therefore, only a qualified specialist can tell you which drug is most suitable for your case, as well as the correct dosage and duration of treatment. The most common medications used to treat diarrhea are:

• azithromycin
• Bactrim
• Bacteracin e Bacteracin-F
• Clordox
• Cephalothin
• ciprofloxacin
• Ordered
• Doxycycline
• Floratil
• Imosec
• Prednisone.

NOTE: Always follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter and never self-medicate. Do not stop using the drug without consulting a doctor first, and if you take it more than once or in much larger amounts than prescribed, follow the instructions on the package insert.

Antibiotics:  Antibiotics can help treat diarrhea  caused by bacteria or parasites. If a virus is causing your Diarrhea , antibiotics won’t help.

Fluid Replacement Treatment:  Your doctor will likely recommend you to replace fluids and salts. For most adults, it means drinking water, juice, or broth. If drinking fluids upsets your stomach or causes diarrhea , your doctor may recommend getting fluids through a vein in your arm (intravenously).

Water is a good way to replace fluids, but it doesn’t contain salts and electrolytes — minerals like sodium and potassium — you need to maintain the electrical currents that keep your heart beating. You can help maintain your electrolyte levels by drinking fruit juices for potassium or eating sodium soups. Certain fruit juices, such as apple juice, can make diarrhea worse . For children, ask your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte to prevent dehydration or replace lost fluids.

Adjusting the Medications You’re Taking:  If your doctor determines that an antibiotic caused your diarrhea , your doctor may lower your dose or switch to another medication.

Treating Underlying Conditions:  If your diarrhea  is caused by a more serious condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, your doctor will work to control that condition. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, who can help design a treatment plan for you.

Diarrhea Prevention:  The following health measures can help prevent diseases that cause Diarrhea :

• Wash your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating
• Use alcohol gel to disinfect your hands frequently
• Teach children not to put objects in their mouths.

When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the measures below to prevent Diarrhea :

• Drink only mineral water and do not use ice unless it is made with mineral water
• Avoid uncooked vegetables or unpeeled fruits
• Avoid raw seafood or undercooked meat
• Avoid the consumption of dairy products, especially if you are lactose intolerant.