Long lasting loose stools. What diseases cause constant diarrhea in an adult?

Chronic diarrhea is a pathological condition in which bowel movements for longer than 2–3 weeks occur more than 2 times a day. In this case, the consistency of the stool differs from normal. This condition indicates the presence of persistent disorders that the body’s compensation mechanisms could not cope with.

What are the causes of chronic diarrhea?

Loose stools in an adult, which is observed long time, may be a consequence of a number of factors and diseases. They determine the course, prognosis and treatment of diarrhea. The main reasons for frequent bowel movements:

Diagnosis of the causes that led to chronic diarrhea should be carried out by a specialist. There is only one reason that the patient can easily detect and eliminate on his own - loose stools when changing his diet. It can occur with daily consumption of a triggering food factor. These products include:

A feature of this type of stool disorder is a clear connection with a change in diet.

Symptoms of diarrhea

The main symptom is frequent loose stools. Depending on the causes that led to chronic diarrhea, inclusions of mucus, pus, blood, whole helminths (roundworms) or their fragments may be observed in the stool. In this case, flatulence, rumbling, seething, and abdominal pain may be observed.

Constantly loose stools may be accompanied by extraintestinal manifestations of diseases that cause diarrhea. With cholecystitis, patients complain of a bitter taste in the mouth, with chronic alcohol intoxication - with a change in skin color, with infectious diseases - with an increase in body temperature. With the allergic nature of the disease, skin rashes occur. External signs Chronic diarrhea can cause dry skin and decreased elasticity. Thirst bothers patients to a lesser extent than with an acute process.

Diagnosis of diarrhea

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to know when and how the disease occurred, which preceded the increase in bowel movements. Information about the duration of the disease, the characteristics of its course, daily fluctuations (which complaints predominate in the morning, after meals, etc.) is also important. With palpation, it is possible to establish not only the localization of maximum pain, but also the presence of neoplasms.

Blood (general analysis, liver enzymes, antibodies, etc.), urine (OAM) and feces (coprogram, analysis for helminth eggs, etc.) are subjected to laboratory research methods. occult blood). The results provide extensive information for differential diagnosis. This method allows you to identify functional state organs and systems, the degree of development of pathological changes, their cause and course in dynamics. It is especially important because the arsenal of instrumental diagnostic methods for diarrhea is scarce ( endoscopic methods, x-ray of the intestine). Ultrasound in this case will provide little information due to swelling of the intestinal loops.

What to do for chronic diarrhea?

If you notice frequent loose stools lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, you need to start treatment. The only factor that the patient can independently exclude is food. When consuming foods that are not suitable for consumption even in minimal quantities, they must be completely eliminated. Such cases include allergic reactions to foods and enzyme deficiency (lactase, celiac disease, etc.). They must be avoided. If you eat a large number of foods that in normal quantities do not lead to diarrhea, you need to temporarily exclude them from the diet. After a 2-3 day break and stool normalization, they can be eaten with a gradual increase in quantity. These dishes should not be overused.

To stop diarrhea, you must consult a doctor. He will conduct a diagnosis and find out why changes have occurred in the body. Frequent loose stools can be a sign of serious diseases. Timely initiation of adequate treatment increases the chances of recovery.

Nowadays, digestive disorders can occur in every person almost every day, and not all episodes of bowel upset require medical care. 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, entero viral 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.

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 no action is taken emergency measures, then 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 for chronic diarrhea are the same as for 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, damage occurs to the intestinal mucous layer, through which normally absorbed useful to the body substances. 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 constant nausea and periodic vomiting. For more later 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.

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
Loose stools are often caused by foodborne diseases (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 containing expired shelf life or those that were prepared without taking into account the necessary sanitary standards.

Products that most often cause poisoning are:

• dairy and dairy 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. The most susceptible to this pathology are people with unstable psyches, increased level emotionality. 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. That's why anxiety states often cause diarrhea. The symptom disappears after the person stops experiencing stress and anxiety.

Unbalanced diet
Poor diet with a lot of roughage plant origin may 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. Stool disorder may appear 3 to 7 days after changing 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 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.

Major genetic diseases digestive tract are:

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

For normal absorption of substances in the intestine, 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. In the lumen of the digestive tract, a large amount of bile and free fatty acids. 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 a 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. Signs of indigestion include: constant desire child to empty the intestines, the appearance of a sour smell in the stool, 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 not done in a timely manner, 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. Yes, recommended by pediatricians average rate cottage cheese 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 entering children's body bacteria or viruses, an acute digestive upset develops, which is accompanied by intense loose stools, which may contain blood, mucus, and foam. Often the infection 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 foamy, loose, green 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 sharp pain in a stomach;
• 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;
• spicy 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 on early stages 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 severe poisoning, possible intoxication of the female body and penetration of toxins to the fetus. Thus, mushroom poisoning while pregnant is extremely dangerous. Poisons, penetrating the placental barrier, can cause various violations in embryo development.
Nai great danger in the first trimester of pregnancy, diarrhea occurs, 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 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 may be the cause labor activity, which will provoke 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. For diseases small intestine, the patient is bothered by copious watery or greasy 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.
• Liquid black 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– may develop while taking a number of medicines. 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. The reason for the coloring of the stool is White color Some medications may become
• 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 spasms 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 change mood;
• 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. Increased activity sebaceous glands leads to increased oiliness of 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 chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease or certain pancreatic pathologies.

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.

Causes of diarrhea	Body temperature	Temperature characteristic
Functional disorders of the central nervous system: psycho-emotional stress; nervous breakdowns; stressful situations; sudden climate change; long trips.	36.6 – 37 degrees.	Most often, the temperature remains within normal limits. Diarrhea can rarely be accompanied by a short-term increase in total body temperature to 37.5 degrees.
Acute food poisoning	From 37 to 38.5 degrees.	A body temperature of 37.1 – 37.5 degrees appears within 6 – 12 hours after eating “bad” foods. In accordance with the severity of the intoxication syndrome, the temperature can increase to 38.5 degrees. A continued increase in body temperature from 38.6 degrees is rarely observed.
Acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT): pancreatitis; hepatitis; appendicitis; enterocolitis.	Can vary from 37.1 to 38.5 degrees.	For pancreatitis ( inflammatory process in the pancreas) diarrhea may be accompanied by a temperature that does not rise above 38.1 degrees. At chronic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver tissue) diarrhea is accompanied by a moderate increase in temperature, maximum – 37.5 degrees. Acute hepatitis can occur with severe diarrhea and high fever. With appendicitis ( inflammation of the appendix) diarrhea is accompanied by low-grade fever ( 38 – 38.5 degrees). Complicated appendicitis with peritonitis can cause diarrhea with fever above 39 degrees. With enterocolitis ( inflammation of the small and large intestines) body temperature can vary from 37.5 to 39.5 degrees or more. Highest temperature ( 39.5 – 40.5 degrees) is observed with massive lesions of the intestinal mucosa with severe intoxication syndrome.
Viral infections of the digestive system: rotavirus; adenovirus; enterovirus.	37 – 38 degrees.	Body temperature during viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract usually does not exceed 38 degrees, but the patient feels it as a fever with aches and pain in the muscles, increased sweating and a feeling of cold. This temperature may accompany diarrhea for 2 to 3 days.
Bacterial infections digestive system: salmonellosis; shigellosis ( dysentery); cholera.	Above 38.5 - 39 degrees.	Bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract are characterized by diarrhea with a very high body temperature. With severe intoxication syndrome, fever can reach 40.5 - 41 degrees.
The basic rules of nutrition for diarrhea are: drink as much fluid as possible; eat only light foods and bland foods; eat small portions; increase the frequency of meals; exclude from the diet foods that irritate the digestive system. Drinking liquids Diarrhea causes a large amount of fluid to be lost from the body, which can lead to dehydration ( dehydration) and worsening the patient's condition. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish lost fluid by drinking plenty of fluids. In case of severe diarrhea, food is completely replaced with liquid for the first 1–2 days. It is necessary to drink liquid after each episode of diarrhea in small sips. Its volume should be at least 250 - 300 milliliters ( 1 glass). The patient generally drinks up to 2–3 liters of liquid per day. Drinks you can and cannot drink if you have diarrhea Food consumption For diarrhea, you can only eat light foods that do not have any irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the intestines in particular. Food should be balanced with a reduced amount of fats and carbohydrates. In the first two days of diarrhea, you need to eat crackers of white bread, rice porridge with water and bananas. One serving of rice should be about 100 milliliters ( half a glass). Bananas can be eaten 1 - 2 bananas 4 - 5 times a day. In the following days, gentle foods are introduced into the diet. Healthy foods to eat if you have diarrhea Food Note Dairy products: milk; fresh cottage cheese; kefir; curdled milk; fermented baked milk; yogurt. Milk for diarrhea can only be used for making porridge and puree in a ratio of one to three with water. Consumption of fermented milk products is beneficial because it has a number of positive effects on digestion. Main positive effects Fermented milk products for diarrhea are: normalization of intestinal microflora; preventing the effects of fermentation and rotting; are a source of proteins and calcium necessary for the normal functioning of the body as a whole. Porridge: rice; buckwheat; oatmeal; barley; millet; wheat For diarrhea, you need to eat viscous pureed porridge cooked in water. It is acceptable to add a small amount of milk or butter. You can and even should add salt to your porridge to taste. Meat products: chicken; turkey; beef; veal; rabbit. If you have diarrhea, meat can only be eaten boiled or steamed. Before cooking, the meat is carefully separated from all tendons, fascia and skin. Chicken eggs For diarrhea, you can eat one or two chicken eggs a day, boiled or scrambled. Flour products: White bread; white bread crackers; cracker; pasta. White bread should not be fresh and warm. It is better to eat two-day-old white bread or dried crackers from it. For pasta, you can eat regular noodles in small portions. Fish: pollock; cod; carp; zander. Fish should be steamed or boiled. The most acceptable dishes are meatballs and steamed cutlets. Vegetables: potato; zucchini; carrot; pumpkin; green peas; tomatoes; asparagus. If you have diarrhea, you can eat dishes made from boiled or baked vegetables. It is best to prepare vegetable purees and soups, but without spices. Soups are prepared using meat and fish broths diluted with water. Fruits and berries Fruits and berries can and even should be consumed in the form of jelly or mousse. You can also eat it in small quantities, baked and boiled. Food should be eaten in small portions in order to reduce pressure on the walls of the stomach and intestines. So that the body receives the necessary daily dose nutrients and did not “starve”, the frequency of meals increases to 4 – 5 times a day. Don't forget to add salt to your dishes. It is salt that retains fluid in the body and prevents dehydration. If you have diarrhea, you should definitely exclude from your diet all foods that irritate the digestive system. You should mainly avoid fatty foods, fried foods, fresh vegetables and fruits. You should also forget about spices, garlic, savory sauces and sweets. What to do if diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting? If a patient has diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, then it is necessary to provide first “first aid” in order to alleviate the general condition. The main points that must be performed first in case of diarrhea accompanied by vomiting are: cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole; replenishment of lost fluid and essential minerals; eliminating any irritants to the digestive system. Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole Most often, diarrhea, which is accompanied by vomiting, is a sign of acute food poisoning or intestinal infection. In such cases, it is important to clear the gastrointestinal tract of its contents so that less infection and toxins cross the protective barrier and enter the general bloodstream. In the first one to two days, you should not try to stop diarrhea and vomiting. medications (antidiarrheals and antiemetics). Immediately after the first attacks appear, the stomach must be rinsed thoroughly. To do this, the patient must drink about one and a half liters of water in a short period of time and induce vomiting. Along with the water, the remaining “bad” food that has not yet had time to be digested will come out of the stomach. The water should be boiled and slightly warm so as not to cause further irritation of the stomach walls. Another good way to wash the stomach is potassium permanganate dissolved in water. Per liter boiled water A couple of potassium permanganate granules are enough. Every 30 to 60 minutes, drink half a glass of this solution. Certain medications will help cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of toxins that have not yet been absorbed into the blood. The main medications that can be used to reduce intoxication are: Activated carbon; enterosgel; polyphepane; polysorb. All these drugs are called sorbents because they adsorb ( absorb) contains the remains of toxins and waste. Every person should have activated charcoal in their first aid kit. If diarrhea with vomiting occurs, you should take 5 to 10 tablets once - one for each kilogram of body weight. If this is difficult, the tablets can be dissolved in a glass of warm water and drunk. Other sorbents are taken in accordance with the instructions. Replenishing lost fluids and essential minerals The second important point for diarrhea accompanied by vomiting is to replenish lost fluid and minerals. Profuse vomiting and frequent diarrhea remove large amounts of water and minerals from the body. This may lead to dehydration ( dehydration) with serious disruptions to the functioning of organs and systems. The main liquids that can be consumed for diarrhea with vomiting are: boiled water; mineral water without gases; weak black tea; dried fruits compote; special solutions. The liquid should be drunk every hour and after each attack of diarrhea and vomiting. Its volume should be 250 - 300 milliliters per dose. In addition to water, tea or dried fruit compote, you need to drink at least a liter of a special solution that replenishes all the mineral losses of the body. Special medications that are used for vomiting and diarrhea include: rehydron; Oralin; trisol; glucosolan. These preparations contain essential minerals ( potassium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and calcium), which must be replenished in the body first. Solutions are prepared according to instructions and used throughout the day. You can prepare a similar solution yourself. For this you will need salt, sugar and water. Dissolve one teaspoon of table salt and one teaspoon of sugar in warm water. After the salt and sugar are completely dissolved, you can drink the water. Eliminate any irritants to the digestive system Any irritants to the digestive system can provoke new attacks of diarrhea and vomiting, increasing peristalsis ( muscle wave-like contractions) digestive tract. Food and drinks act as irritants. Foods that should absolutely not be eaten if you have diarrhea and vomiting are: fat meat ( pork, lamb); fatty fish ( salmon, tuna, sardine); all spices, especially spicy ones; fresh vegetables; fresh fruits; sweets; fresh baked goods; legumes; milk; carbonated waters and drinks; coffee and coffee drinks; alcohol. A patient with severe diarrhea accompanied by vomiting should limit food intake in the first two days, even to the point of fasting. When attacks of diarrhea and vomiting become rare, food is introduced, but with a strict diet. The patient can eat porridge with water. Rice porridge is especially useful. It does not irritate the stomach and normalizes peristalsis of the digestive tract. You can add a little salt to porridge, but exclude butter and milk. Also, for diarrhea and vomiting, you can eat white bread crackers and bananas. Food portions should be small but frequent. Another important gastrointestinal irritant ( gastrointestinal tract) is tobacco smoke. Therefore, if diarrhea and vomiting occur, you should stop smoking. What to do if you have diarrhea with fever? If you have diarrhea with fever, you should not take medications to relieve these symptoms. Tactics first aid depends on the cause that led to the development of this disorder. This is explained by the fact that loose stools and fever are not independent diseases, but signs of pathological processes developing in the body. Pathologies in which diarrhea with fever is noted are: food poisoning; pancreatitis ( inflammatory lesion of the pancreas); gastroenteritis ( inflammatory process in the stomach and small intestine); viral infection; bacterial infection. The patient can take a number of measures to alleviate his condition. But the patient’s main actions should be aimed at monitoring his condition. If a number of factors are identified, you should immediately consult a doctor. Food poisoning Symptoms in the form of diarrhea due to food poisoning develop in an adult in the period from 1 to 12 hours after a pathogenic microorganism enters the body with food. The main sign of intoxication is profuse, watery diarrhea with a strong foul odor. There may be undigested pieces of food in the stool. The temperature rises to 38 - 39 degrees. Patients are also concerned about nausea and intense vomiting. The first thing to do if there is a possibility of food poisoning is to rinse the stomach. For washing, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, a solution of baking soda ( 2 teaspoons of soda per 2 liters of water) or table salt solution ( 2 tablespoons per 4 liters of water). The total volume of solution required for washing is 8 - 10 liters. Liquid temperature is from 35 to 37 degrees. First, you should drink 3 to 6 glasses of the solution, and then induce vomiting yourself. To do this, use your middle and index fingers to tickle the root of your tongue. Next, you need to drink water again and induce vomiting. Repeat the procedure until the flowing water becomes clear. After washing, the patient must be kept at rest and refrain from eating for the next 24 hours. To remove toxins, you need to take activated carbon or another type of sorbent. Fluid deficiency should be restored using special saline solutions ( rehydrona, oralit). This remedy is taken at the rate of 10 milliliters per kilogram of body weight after each act of defecation. Subsequently, for a week you must follow a gentle low-calorie diet and drink at least 3 liters of water per day. If diarrhea and fever do not decrease within 6 hours after gastric lavage, you should immediately consult a doctor. Other reasons for seeking medical help are: was poisoned Small child or old man; the cause of intoxication may be mushrooms or home-canned products; diarrhea combined with severe vomiting does not go away within 2 days. Pancreatitis Inflammation of the pancreas is accompanied by diarrhea, which is distinguished by a gray tint, a strong unpleasant odor and a greasy, mushy consistency. If pancreatitis is suspected, the patient should consult a doctor. Before the doctor’s visit, you should refrain from eating and remain calm, avoiding sudden movements. A position in which the patient sits with the torso tilted forward will help reduce the intensity of pain. Gastroenteritis In this disorder, loose stools are accompanied by a moderate increase in body temperature ( 37 – 38 degrees). The patient's stool is foamy, watery, without inclusions of blood or mucus. The intensity of diarrhea depends on the degree of the disease, varying from 5 ( for mild forms) up to 20 ( for severe forms) trips to the toilet per day. Often patients mention headache, weakness in the body, discomfort in the upper abdomen. First aid measures are: refusal to eat for 1 – 2 days; drinking 2.5 to 3 liters of fluid per day; following a diet after an acute period of illness; refusal of alcohol and tobacco products; compliance with bed rest. If all symptoms persist for more than a day, it is necessary to seek professional medical help. Lack of adequate treatment for some bacterial and viral infections can lead to serious complications, sometimes death. Therefore, if you suspect a bacterial infection, you should consult a doctor. What medications are there for diarrhea? There is a varied range of medications that are used to treat diarrhea. The choice of a particular medication depends on the cause that caused the disorder. The following types of medicines for diarrhea are available: adsorbents- Activated carbon; astringents– bismuth nitrate, enveloping agents- starch; drugs that normalize intestinal microflora– enterol; synthetic antidiarrheal drugs– loperamide; intestinal antiseptics– enterofuril; drugs that slow down intestinal motility– atropine. As a rule, there are specific medications for each type of diarrhea. For example, intestinal antiseptics are used for bacterial diarrhea; for irritable bowel syndrome - drugs that slow down intestinal motility. But several medications can also be used at the same time. For example, adsorbents, astringents, and probiotics. Medicines used for different types of diarrhea Tricyclic antidepressants, which slow down intestinal motility, and herbal antidiarrheals are also used.	Synthetic antidiarrheals: loperamide; imodium plus ( includes loperamide and simethicone). Tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline. Herbal antidiarrheals: bird cherry fruits; blueberry fruit thick blueberry fruit extract.
Diarrhea after using antibiotics	Drugs that normalize intestinal microflora, as well as probiotics, are prescribed. Drugs from the first group have both an antidiarrheal effect and a moderate antimicrobial effect. Therefore, they are prescribed for other types of diarrhea. For example, with recurrent colitis, with long-term feeding through a tube. Probiotics contain beneficial microflora that are destroyed by antibiotics. As a rule, they are prescribed simultaneously with antibiotic therapy. In this case, severe dysbiosis does not develop. If this measure was not taken, then probiotics are prescribed later and in larger dosages.	Agents that normalize intestinal microflora: enterol; Linux; bifidumbacterin; good luck; lactulose; acylact; bifinorm; colibacterin.

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, such 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, which are rich in tannins (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 the 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 white 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 sign indicates something else chronic disease – ulcerative colitis (purulent inflammation 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 heavy bleeding 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.

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 purpose therapeutic measures 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 intestinal microflora, patients are prescribed special drugs. 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 activity beneficial microflora;
• synbiotics– combination preparations consisting of probiotics and prebiotics.

Therapeutic effect These drugs are 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 ( multicomponent) – 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;
• congee;
• 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. Not recommended to eat if you have diarrhea white cabbage, Bell pepper, legumes, 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, on this period It is necessary to avoid fatty, salty and 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 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 it normal work. Also, the positive side of folk remedies is their harmlessness in relation to normal microflora intestines. 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 from 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

Product	Cooking method	How to use
		Dose	Frequency
Rice	cook only in water, without salt; in a ratio of one to two - a glass of rice and two glasses of water.	approximately 100 grams) rice.	Up to three times a day.
Goat fat	mix with starch or rice flour in a one to one ratio; can also be used in its pure form.	Before meals, eat two teaspoons of the mixture or one teaspoon of the pure product.	Three to four times a day.
Fresh apples	12 fresh medium-sized apples, peeled and chopped using a grater.	Eat approximately 100–130 grams at a time ( visually the size of a peeled apple).	Every one and a half to two hours ( 8 – 12 times a day).
Bananas	Fresh.	You need to eat one or two medium bananas at a time.	Up to five times a day.
Millet cereal	cook in water without salt; For one glass of millet cereal you need 2 – 3 glasses of water.	Eat half a glass at a time ( approximately 130-150 grams) millet porridge.	Twice a day.
Chicken stomachs	Rinse chicken gizzards hot water and remove the yellow film from them. Rinse the film well under water and squeeze lightly. Then place the films on a plate and leave them in the sun to dry. Dried films must be crushed into powder using a rolling pin.	You need to swallow one teaspoon of powder and wash it down with liquid.	Once a day.

Medicinal drinks for diarrhea
Various are used as folk remedies for diarrhea. healing drinks, which you can drink 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

Product	Cooking method	How to use
		Dose	Frequency
Oatmeal and rye bread	Pour oatmeal with cold water in a ratio of one to one ( one glass oatmeal per glass of water). Add a slice of crumbled rye bread. Then wrap the vessel in a towel and leave in a warm place. After 12 hours, strain the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil.		Unlimited.
Rice	One glass of rice is poured with 6 - 7 glasses of settled water and brought to readiness. Separately drain the rice water and cool slightly.	Drink half a glass of warm broth.	5 times a day with an interval of 2.5 - 3 hours.
Blueberry fruit	Blueberry jelly is being prepared. To do this you need: 2.5 liters of water; 200 grams of blueberries; 100 – 150 grams of sugar; 4 tablespoons starch. Add blueberries and sugar to boiling water. Cook over medium heat for a quarter of an hour. Dilute the starch in cold water to the consistency of liquid yogurt. Then slowly pour in the dissolved starch, stirring constantly, and cook for another 3 minutes.	Drink one glass of jelly slowly.	Unlimited.
Black tea and onion	One onion is peeled and cut halfway crosswise. Then weak black tea is brewed and the onion is dipped into it. The tea should steep for 10 minutes.	Drink one glass at a time.	Optional.
Burnet herb	The dried burnet herb should be broken from root to flower and placed in a jar. Pour one liter of boiling water and close the lid. After 40 minutes, strain the infusion. Pour the remaining herb again with a liter of boiling water and leave for two hours. Take a new burnet branch every day.	On the first day, drink slowly, one liter of decoction at a time. On the second day, drink 250 milliliters.	On the first day 2 times, then 4 times a day.
Blackberry branches	Pour boiling water over a tablespoon of chopped blackberry branches and brew for 3 – 5 minutes.	Drink like tea.	No limits.

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;
• sheet walnut;
• walnut partitions.

Infusions and decoctions as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Product	Cooking method	How to use
		Dose	Frequency
Oak bark	Infusion of oak bark Oak bark is crushed and poured with boiling water. The ratio of ingredients is one tablespoon of bark per quarter liter of water. Leave for 60 minutes. Then strain.	Drink two teaspoons.	6 times a day.
	Decoction of oak bark Oak bark is crushed and filled with water. The ratio of ingredients is one tablespoon of bark per 300 - 400 milliliters of water. Place over high heat until it boils. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.	Swallow one tablespoon.	3 times a day.
Bird cherry fruits	A decoction is prepared from bird cherry fruits. Bird cherry is added to boiling water - one tablespoon per quarter liter of water. Leave on low heat for half an hour, then cool.	Drink half a glass of broth.	2 – 3 times a day.
Pomegranate peel	The pomegranate must be washed and cleaned well. Then cut off the white pulp from the peel and dry the peels. A decoction is prepared from crushed dry peels. One tablespoon of crusts should be poured with one liter of boiling water and left in a water bath for half an hour.	for children– one teaspoon of decoction; for adults– 2 teaspoons of decoction.	children– three times a day; adults - up to 5 times a day.
Walnut leaf	An infusion is being prepared. The green leaf is crushed and poured with one glass of boiling water. The infusion is kept for 3 – 5 minutes.	Up to one glass of infusion.	Up to three times a day.
Walnut partitions	An infusion of dried partitions is prepared. 30 grams of partitions are crushed and poured into a glass of 70 percent alcohol. The infusion is kept for 3 days with periodic shaking.	Take 8-10 drops with water before meals.	Maximum 4 times a day.

Most adults are accustomed to the fact that human stool should be hard, densely formed, and brownish in color.

And when the stool becomes liquid, panic arises, what to do?

First you need to find out why loose stools appeared, and only then sound the alarm if necessary.

Loose stools or diarrhea

Loose stools are a normal state of the body, which is accompanied by the excretion of large amounts of liquid feces due to the physiological needs of the body. A person should have stool every day or twice a day, but not more often. Normally, stool has a dense consistency, but sometimes it is slightly runny, but not watery. If a person has bowel movements more often than 3-4 times a day, then we can already talk about diarrhea or diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a symptom malfunction intestines, or diseases of the body.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between these two concepts, but it is possible. To do this, it is necessary to take into account such criteria as:

• stool frequency;
• consistency;
• color and smell;
• side symptoms (stomach cramps, flatulence, pain during bowel movements, weakness, nausea);
• the presence of inclusions in the stool (pus, blood, undigested food debris).

Depending on what indicators are missing or do not correspond to the norm, we can say that this is loose stool, but not diarrhea, or vice versa.

To distinguish loose stools from diarrhea, you can use the table below.

Criterion	Loose stool	Diarrhea (diarrhea)
Frequency of bowel movements	1-2 times a day	3-4 times a day or more often
Consistency	Pasty	Liquid
Color	Dark yellow to brown	Yellow, red (with blood), white, black, brown
Peculiarities	Uniformity	Heterogeneity, presence of foam
Presence of inclusions	Possible clear mucus	Clear or green mucus, undigested food
Smell	Characteristic	Harsh, fetid, sour

If all parameters show that this is loose stool, then the adult has no reason to worry. But if diarrhea is diagnosed, it is better to consult a doctor to avoid undesirable consequences this phenomenon. He will tell you what to do in this case and how to treat diarrhea.

What causes loose stools?

The reasons for the appearance of daily loose stools can be completely different. Namely:

Diarrhea differs from loose stools in that there is a lot of watery discharge, trips to the toilet occur more than five times a day, the stomach constantly hurts and weakness is felt, symptoms of intoxication are noted, namely:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• pale skin;
• darkening of urine;
• temperature increase;
• stool mixes with mucus, pus, or even blood.

Diarrhea is already a sign of a serious illness, or a pathological condition of the digestive tract. Diarrhea can be caused by:

1. Infectious diseases such as cholera, salmonellosis, shigelosis, typhoid fever. Each of these diseases will differ in the nature of the stool, its consistency, color, smell; tenesmus and characteristic symptoms of the disease may be present.
2. Viral hepatitis.
3. Gastrointestinal bleeding. They are extremely dangerous for the body and are characterized by characteristic diarrhea.
4. Operations on the digestive organs: pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver.
5. Crohn's disease.
6. Diverticulosis.
7. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis.
8. Bowel cancer.

If the cause of frequent loose stools is one of these diseases, then you should immediately consult a doctor to stop the disease in its tracks. early stage.

One of the main causes of constipation and diarrhea is use of various medications. To improve bowel function after taking medications, you need to do it every day. drink a simple remedy ...

Child chair

Young mothers always panic when they see something in their baby that they are not used to noticing in themselves. And in vain.

A child's chair has different characteristics than an adult's. The baby may have bowel movements up to 15 times after each meal, and this is normal.

Frequent loose stools in infants are due to the immaturity of the food system. When the baby begins to eat like adults, then his stool will be similar to theirs. It is important to say that the consistency and color of feces in babies is unstable. It may be yellow, light yellow, with white specks, but absolutely odorless. Moreover, it should not normally be smelly. If, despite frequent bowel movements, the baby remains cheerful and continues to eat well and gain weight, then there is no reason to worry. It's just loose stools, not diarrhea.

Diagnostics

If your stool becomes profuse, there are various kinds of impurities and the general condition of the body leaves much to be desired, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.

The specialist will prescribe tests and examinations that will help determine the cause of this phenomenon. Coprogram, test for eggworm, ultrasound of organs abdominal cavity, colonoscopy, endoscopy will allow you to find out what may be causing the liquid stool.

Further treatment will be aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms, but also at eliminating the cause of this failure.

Treatment

Having identified a disease that has caused the appearance of liquid or semi-liquid feces, the doctor will prescribe drug treatment with antibiotics, anthelmintic drugs, enzymes, hormones, or whatever the circumstances require. But the most important thing and the first thing the doctor will prescribe is diet. The diet for loose stools and diarrhea should be as follows:

Can	Product group	It is forbidden
Wheat bread crackers, day-old white bread, dry biscuits	Bread and flour products	Other bakery products
In low-fat, weak meat or fish broth with the addition of mucous decoctions of cereals, steamed quenelles and meatballs	Soups	Soups with cereals, vegetables, pasta, dairy, strong and fatty broths
Lean meats, skinless poultry, steamed or boiled cutlets, quenelles, meatballs. Minced meat with boiled rice. Boiled meat soufflé	Meat and poultry	Fatty meats, pieces of meat, sausages, smoked meats and other meat products
Low-fat types of fresh fish, pieced or chopped (quenelles, meatballs, cutlets), steamed or boiled in water	fish	Fatty species, salted fish, caviar, canned food
Freshly prepared calcined or unleavened mashed cottage cheese, steam soufflé	Dairy	Whole milk and other dairy products
Boiled and steam pureed	Vegetables
Puree porridge with water or low-fat broth - rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, cereal flour	Cereals	Millet, pearl barley, barley, pasta, legumes
Up to 1-2 per day, soft-boiled, steam omelet and in dishes	Eggs	Hard-boiled, raw, fried eggs
Jelly and jelly from blueberries, dogwoods, bird cherry, quince, pears. Mashed raw apples. Sugar – limited	Fruits, sweet dishes, sweets	Fruits and berries in in kind, honey, jam and other sweets
Tea, especially green tea. Decoctions of rose hips, dried blueberries, black currants, bird cherry, quince. If tolerated - diluted fresh juices except grapes, plums and apricots	Beverages	Coffee and cocoa with milk, carbonated and cold drinks

In addition to diet, it is important to lead an active lifestyle and stick to a daily routine. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, loose stools will soon acquire a normal consistency and will no longer bother you.

Video: How to stop diarrhea?

29.03.2017

Diarrhea is never an independent disease, but indicates problems in organs and systems. can be a symptom of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The greatest danger is dehydration during diarrhea, as well as loss of vitamins and minerals, and as a result, vitamin deficiency. Loose stools in an adult for a long time are dangerous, as they can cause hypovolemic shock if the patient is not given rehydration therapy.

Symptoms of chronic diarrhea

With chronic diarrhea, the patient experiences systematic loose stools 3 or more times a day for at least 3 weeks. If diarrhea persists for no longer than 3 weeks, it is referred to as acute diarrhea. With diarrhea, emergency, sometimes uncontrollable, urges occur. Frequent loose or pasty stools are accompanied by flatulence ( increased gas formation), rumbling, abdominal pain. With diarrhea, fever and general weakening of the body may occur.

With diarrhea, the mass of unformed stool increases to 250–300 g per day, and the water content in feces increases to 60–85%.

With diarrhea, food becomes liquefied and incompletely digested, so pieces of food may be present in the feces. Depending on the pathogenesis, stool characteristics may vary.

Pathogenesis

What to do if diarrhea occurs? First you need to determine the type of diarrhea. The following types of diarrhea are distinguished:

1. Secretory diarrhea is profuse (more than 1 liter) watery diarrhea, usually painless. Prolonged diarrhea is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, the frequency of stool increases up to 15 times a day, no false urges are observed.
2. Osmotic diarrhea - profuse foamy stool, in which inclusions of semi-digested food may be observed. Prolonged diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal cramps.
3. Exudative (invasive) diarrhea is liquid, light feces, in which pus and bloody discharge are often observed.
4. Motor diarrhea - moderate discharge with particles of undigested food.

Diarrhea can be infectious or non-infectious. Diarrhea is often provoked by long-term use of medications: antibiotics, magnesium-containing antacids, various laxatives, non-steroidal drugs. Medicines can cause mixed type diarrhea (exudative-secretory, motor-secretory, etc.).

Osmotic diarrhea

Due to an increase in the content of electrolytes in the intestinal lumen, water is discharged, followed by its retention in the intestine. Osmotic diarrhea is caused by:

An important difference between osmotic diarrhea and other types is its cessation after 2-3 days of fasting.

Secretory diarrhea

In this disorder, the secretion of electrolytes and water prevails over absorption. The reason for this may be:

• infectious diseases (toxicoinfection, salmonellosis, cholera, yersiniosis, E. coli, staphylococcus),
• hormonally active tumors (carcinoid, gastrinoma, VIPoma),
• hereditary diseases (for example, chloridorrhea),
• non-infectious causes: long-term use of medications and laxatives, acute poisoning arsenic, mushrooms, heavy metal salts, alcohol.

After eliminating the enterotoxin, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves, and the incessant diarrhea goes away.

In addition, a rare case of this type of diarrhea may be hereditary diarrhea due to gene mutation.

Exudative diarrhea

Persistent diarrhea in this form is caused by inflammation of the colon mucosa. The causes of inflammation are the following diseases:

• tuberculosis,
• diverticular disease,
• ischemic colitis,
• acute intestinal infections such as dysentery,
• tumor processes in the intestines,
• ulcerative colitis,
• radiation colitis (radiation exposure),
• vasculitis,
• Crohn's disease,
• adeno- and rotoviruses,

This form of diarrhea, as can be seen, can be infectious and non-infectious. Infection occurs due to the penetration and spread of pathogenic strains (for example, human immunodeficiency virus), as well as protozoa (amoebas). The non-infectious form is usually associated with ulcerative colitis.

Motor diarrhea

Irritable bowel syndrome occurs due to increased bowel movements. Often observed after removal of the stomach or parts of it. Food enters the intestines faster, and diarrhea occurs due to insufficient digestion.

A decrease in motor function is observed with dermatomyositis, diabetic polyneuropathy, and scleroderma.

Treatment of diarrhea

Since the causes of persistent bowel movements vary, it is necessary to determine the mechanism of diarrhea before treatment. If diarrhea does not go away for several days, rehydration therapy is indicated for all patients, regardless of pathogenesis.

With non-infectious diarrhea, the underlying disease is initially eliminated. Antibiotics are prescribed if diarrhea is caused by bacteria or protozoa.

Diarrhea associated with a hormone-producing tumor will require serious medical intervention. If the diarrhea does not stop for this reason, you will need surgical removal tumors.

What to do for different types of diarrhea:

1. For secretory diarrhea, Smecta, Enterol, Bifidumbacterin, Furazalidone, Baktisubtil are prescribed.
2. For osmotic diarrhea, Imodium, Loperamide, Regidron, Codeine phosphate are prescribed; antibacterial drugs, for example, biseptol.
3. For motor diarrhea, Imodium and astringent adsorbents, for example, bismuth preparations, are used.
4. For exudative diarrhea, prebiotics and probiotics are mainly used (Bifiform, Linex, Hilak forte).

With diarrhea, as already mentioned, it is important to eliminate dehydration, that is, dehydration.

Rehydration for diarrhea

If diarrhea lasts for a long time, to restore the water-salt balance, use ready-made pharmaceutical preparations, which are diluted with water and drunk, or you can use a self-prepared drink. Add a tablespoon of salt and 4 tablespoons of granulated sugar to a liter of water, mix with a spoon of soda. The prepared infusion is drunk during the day, if there is no nausea and vomiting. The patient is supposed to drink other liquids: fruit drinks, non-mineral and mineral water without gas. Fruit juices are contraindicated.

With any diarrhea, regardless of pathogenesis, there is a disruption of the natural microflora, therefore the use of prebiotics and probiotics, for example, Hilak forte, is indicated.

Diet for diarrhea

At prolonged diarrhea you should adhere to a special diet. Diarrhea for several days or more for a long time provoke products with a laxative effect. Following a diet will help speed up treatment. A gentle diet is especially indicated for secretory diarrhea.

During treatment, the patient needs to exclude from the menu fatty and dairy dishes, alcohol, herbs and spices, spicy foods, plums, beets, sweet foods, sauces, and black bread. Boiled white rice, white bread crackers, boiled or steamed low-fat meatballs, meatballs or cutlets, apple and potato puree are allowed.

Stomach pain and diarrhea occur most often due to indigestion and toxins entering the body. You should pay attention to the quality of food (especially expiration dates and storage conditions), the degree of water purification, personal hygiene (hand washing).

Diarrhea in an adult can be caused by lactase deficiency or intolerance to dairy products. With this pathology, milk should be excluded from the diet, in which case the diarrhea will go away in the near future.

What to do if diarrhea occurs away from home? A special form of intestinal disorder is traveler's diarrhea. Stool upset occurs due to shift climatic conditions, food unusual for the stomach, as well as the penetration of bacteria and viruses. Tourists traveling to countries with contaminated water sources (Asia, Africa, the Middle East) should be especially careful.

When traveling, it is better to take simple filters for water purification, antibiotics and prebiotics. Foods with raw meat and fish, unwashed vegetables. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees and bloody diarrhea appears, you should seek medical help for common viruses and microorganisms that travelers bring from vacation - Giardia, dysenteric amoeba, enterovirus, rotavirus, norovirus.

Constantly loose stools in an adult can develop for a variety of reasons. It is important to identify them, since the treatment regimen depends on this. Diarrhea in adults is not as dangerous as in childhood, so hospitalization is often not required when this disease manifests itself.

Forms of diarrhea in adults

Diarrhea is not an independent disease, but one of the symptoms of the development of primary pathology. Constant loose stools should be regarded as an alarm signal. It indicates that pathological changes are occurring in the body.

Normally, an adult defecates 1-2 times a day, and the total weight of feces ranges from 100 to 300 grams. If a person eats a lot of foods high in fiber, then the weight will be greater. If the stool is constantly liquefied, frequent, bowel movements are profuse, and the pattern lasts more than 14 days, chronic diarrhea is diagnosed, often of an acute form.

Chronic diarrhea develops when the intestines do not absorb fluid and electrolytes correctly. This common cause, but various pathologies can lead to such a violation. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, there are several forms:

• secretory;
• osmolar;
• hypokinetic;
• hyperkinetic;
• exudative.

Each is accompanied by characteristic symptoms and has its own cause and clinical picture.

Diarrhea of ​​secretory and osmolar type

The reason for the secretory form is the active release of sodium and water into the intestinal lumen. Doctors point to the following reasons for the disorder:

• toxins of bacterial origin, which is typical, for example, in cholera;
• enteropathogenic bacilli;
• drug therapy with certain medications;
• biologically active substances, especially serotonin;
• fatty acid;
• prostaglandins (for example, therapy with hormones included in this group);
• abuse of laxatives - rhubarb, buckthorn bark, hay, castor oil.

This form of diarrhea is accompanied by a number of symptoms, the most characteristic of which are:

• loose stools;
• copious bowel movements;
• the daily weight of excreted feces exceeds 1 liter;
• green or bright yellow stool.

This type of diarrhea is called hologenic diarrhea.

The osmolar type of diarrhea occurs if the diffuse pressure of food mixed with gastric juice, which is located in the intestines. Typically, the following reasons lead to increased chyme pressure:

1. disruption of the process of disaccharide breakdown;
2. disaccharide deficiency, which is characteristic of hypolactasia;
3. disruption of the absorption process;
4. abuse of saline laxatives;
5. drug treatment of acid-related diseases;
6. Excessive use of sorbitol in diabetes mellitus.

This type of diarrhea is characterized by the following symptoms:

• polyfecalia, that is, copious bowel movements;
• the presence of a significant amount of undigested food in the stool.

These forms of diarrhea can be diagnosed using laboratory tests, which are carried out based on patient complaints.

Other forms of diarrhea

Doctors distinguish three more forms of diarrhea - hyperkinetic, hypokinetic and exudative.

The disease of the hyper- and hypokinetic type develops as a result of impaired transit of intestinal contents. This disorder occurs if the motility of the intestinal tract is disrupted, namely: motor activity increases or decreases. This form is characterized by:

1. light bowel movements;
2. liquid or mushy consistency of stool.

Exudative - the result of various diseases of the intestinal mucosa. Common pathologies are:

• inflammatory processes;
• erosion;
• ulcers

Such pathologies lead to the ingress of water, electrolytes, and proteins into the intestinal lumen. Often this clinical picture characteristic of Crohn's disease (granulomatous enteritis), intestinal tuberculosis, salmonellosis, dysentery or other acute infectious diseases. The following symptoms accompany this form of intestinal disorder:

• liquid consistency of stool;
• the presence of bloody or purulent impurities in the stool.

Causes of persistent diarrhea in adults

Loose stools may be infectious or non-infectious nature. It often occurs due to pathological processes occurring in the intestines. But diarrhea can occur with functional disorders of other organs and systems of the body, which lead to impaired intestinal motility and secretion.
The causes of chronic diarrhea are divided into two groups. The first is that disorders are caused by intestinal diseases. Among them are the following:

1. infectious in nature, which begins due to exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi, helminthic infestation;
2. for nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases, for example, enteritis, colitis, etc.;
3. for tumors, especially if the colon is affected;
4. neurogenic in nature, which is associated with the neuropsychic state of a person;
5. caused by a deficiency or excess of enzymes necessary for normal digestion;
6. after a surgical nature, it can begin after resection of any part of the intestine;
7. toxic in nature, are a consequence of poisoning with salts of heavy metals, mushrooms, as well as with uremia, when the body is poisoned by its own metabolic products;
8. medicinal in nature, accompanying dysbiosis due to antibacterial therapy, taking iron supplements, etc.;
9. allergic in nature, characteristic of food allergies.

Another group of reasons are diseases that lead to intestinal dysfunction.

hepatogenic in nature, accompanies liver cirrhosis, hepatitis;

endocrine in nature, which accompanies adrenal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;

metabolic in nature, which begins as a result of hypovitaminosis, amyloidosis;

on the background systemic diseases, for example, scleroderma.

Chronic diarrhea usually does not pose a threat to the life of an adult patient. It is worth considering that the younger the patient is, the greater the danger to his health and life that acute or chronic diarrhea poses. So, if the pathology develops in infants, it can even lead to the death of the child.

The relative safety of diarrhea for adults does not mean that it is not worth paying attention to.

Diarrhea is a clear sign of some kind of disorder that has occurred in the body. It is important to identify and eliminate its cause in time, otherwise more serious complications and consequences may arise.