Causes and quick ways to treat diarrhea in adults. Diarrhea (diarrhea) as a symptom: possible causes, treatment, prevention of dehydration How to understand what causes diarrhea

Almost everyone has experienced such an unpleasant problem as diarrhea or diarrhea at least once in their life. Diarrhea is a disorder of the stomach, in which there is frequent bowel movement of liquid feces. Usually this condition goes away quickly. However, if diarrhea continues for more than three days, this can lead to serious problems, including complete dehydration. Therefore, it is important to know what diarrhea is and how it manifests itself.

What is diarrhea

Diarrhea is a condition of the intestines that is accompanied by impaired absorption of water, mineral salts, and beneficial elements from its lumen area into the blood. Under the influence of the main provoking factor, increased peristalsis occurs, as a result water and beneficial components simply do not have time to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Together with this condition, the development of the inflammatory process of the large and small intestines occurs.

Certain infectious lesions or increased levels of salts in the intestinal lumen cause the formation of backflow of water from the blood and tissues into the intestinal area. For this reason, the main factor in the occurrence of diarrhea is loose stool.

Causes and symptoms of diarrhea

Loose stools may appear unexpectedly and last for a short time. At most, this condition lasts about 14 days. With such a period of duration, an acute form is diagnosed. If diarrhea does not go away for more than two weeks, then in these cases a chronic form of diarrhea is established.

The provoking causes of this disease are a number of reasons:

• improper diet. Diarrhea may occur due to increased consumption of rough foods;
• drinking frozen or untreated water;
• allergies to certain foods or medicines;
• presence of intestinal infection;
• the presence of a viral or bacterial infection in the digestive system;
• rotavirus type infection;
• chronic pathologies of the stomach or intestines;
• dysbacteriosis;
• metabolic problems;
• lack of useful components in the body;
• emotional disorders;
• the appearance of formations with a malignant nature;
• presence of irritable bowel syndrome;
• poor environmental conditions, change of scenery.

Symptoms

Diarrhea may occur various symptoms. Signs may vary, and some may indicate the presence of a serious infection in the body.

Main symptoms of diarrhea:

1. There may be constant or one-time bowel movement with loose stools. Sometimes the patient may experience frequent urge to go to the toilet.
2. Pain in the abdomen. The pain can be intense and spastic in nature. Pain can cause a false urge to defecate, or, conversely, pain is the main sign of excessive bowel movements. Painful sensations indicate the presence of food poisoning, which is what caused the diarrhea. If the discomfort does not go away for more than two hours, then you should consult a doctor.
3. The occurrence of an increase in temperature. An elevated body temperature during diarrhea often indicates that there are pathogenic microbes in the intestines. It is recommended to call a doctor immediately, otherwise serious complications may occur.
4. The appearance of nausea and vomiting. During diarrhea, there is a disorder in the movement of contents in the intestines. As a result, toxic substances are released, which cause nausea and vomiting.
5. Changing the color structure feces. Normal diarrhea is manifested by light brown stools, there may be mucus or foamy texture. If the stool has a white, green, black color, and also if there are blood clots in it, then this will be the main symptom of the presence of pathology. In these cases, you should consult a doctor for appropriate medical care.

Features of diarrhea in children

The manifestation of diarrhea in children can occur due to factors that are much different from the causes of diarrhea in adult patients.

Diarrhea in children manifests itself for the following provoking reasons:

• manifestation of allergic reactions to certain foods;
• infectious lesions of intestinal nature;
• Diarrhea can occur when children travel with their parents. A child can catch an infection on trains, public toilets, or on public transport.;
• functional diarrhea. With this disease, children do not experience any pathological changes, there is no pain or other symptoms except diarrhea, but intestinal motility may be impaired;
• application medicines. Children often experience side effects while taking antibiotics;
• overeating. Often, with increased food consumption in children, digestive disorders occur, which causes diarrhea;

In children, diarrhea is often considered to be leftover undigested food. Gastrointestinal inability child's body to digest or assimilate one or another type of food manifests itself in the form of diarrhea after eating this food. In these cases, it is recommended to avoid eating this type of food.

What causes diarrhea in infants?

In infants, diarrhea occurs for other reasons. Typically, provoking factors are associated with dietary habits.

The main provoking factors include:

1. Incorrect introduction of complementary foods.
2. Artificial feeding.
3. Diarrhea may occur if the wrong foods are used for complementary feeding..
4. Failure to comply with the recommended time interval between the introduction of a new product.
5. Infection with intestinal infections.
6. If large portions are used for complementary feeding.
7. Allergy to injected products.
8. If the mother breastfeeding consumes foods that cause diarrhea in the child.
9. Lactase deficiency. Usually, with this condition in newborns, diarrhea occurs from the first days of life..
10. Cystic fibrosis. In this condition, there is profuse diarrhea, which is accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Also, bowel movements have an oily texture.
11. ORZ. With this condition, infants often experience diarrhea.

Species

Depending on the provoking factors and the development of the disease, diarrhea can have several types. Each species has a specific development mechanism:

• Secretory diarrhea is diarrhea that occurs during the development of inflammation in the small intestine. This disease arises from a bacterial infection - salmonella, enterovirus. During this form, the transmembrane transport of sodium and chloride ions in the area of ​​epithelial cells is disrupted. The accumulation of these elements occurs in the intestinal lumen, which ultimately causes the attraction of water from tissues and blood.
• Invasive diarrhea. This type of disease is a consequence of inflammation in the lower part of the intestine - the mucous membrane of the colon and rectum. This pathological process is accompanied by problems with fluid absorption. This type of diarrhea is caused by Shigella and dysenteric amoeba.
• Osmotic diarrhea. This type of diarrhea is the result of a disorder in the digestion of carbohydrates with the appearance higher level disaccharides that attract water, while disrupting its absorption into the blood. This type of diarrhea occurs during enzymatic deficiency, dysbacteriosis, as well as for some other types of viral and infectious lesions in adults.

What symptoms of diarrhea indicate its cause?

In order to determine the type and cause of this pathology, you should pay attention to certain symptoms. They can sometimes help determine the provoking factor on their own, but it is better to immediately consult a doctor for adequate examination and treatment.

What symptoms may indicate the type and cause of diarrhea:

1. The occurrence of frequent, profuse, watery stools. This symptom indicates the presence of secretory type diarrhea.
2. The presence of blood and mucous impurities with a green tint in the stool occurs frequently (from 5 times a day) and in small quantities. These symptoms appear during an invasive form of diarrhea, which is provoked by shigellosis or amebiasis.
3. The occurrence of prolonged diarrhea with a mushy structure, which is not accompanied by blood and mucus impurities. These symptoms are observed during osmotic diarrhea, which is caused by dysbacteriosis or functional disorder intestines.

The main complication of diarrhea is dehydration, in which there is an increased loss of salts and fluids. This may cause further disruption nervous system, problems with the heart, blood vessels.

Methods of diagnosis and treatment

Diarrhea, especially in young children, can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out diagnosis as early as possible and further treatment.

During the examination, the doctor must ask the patient about all the symptoms - the presence of pain, type of bowel movement, color, as well as the presence of fever, vomiting. Based on these symptoms, a preliminary diagnosis is established.

In addition, a number of tests are prescribed that will help determine accurate diagnosis:

1. Blood test.
2. Fecal analysis.
3. Done general analysis urine.
4. A scraping is taken.
5. To fully clarify the diagnosis, gastroscopy and colonoscopy are performed.

If diarrhea occurs and its further development you need to know what to do to prevent its severity and state of dehydration. In medicine, several types of therapy are used to eliminate this pathology:

1. Etiotropic therapy. This type of treatment therapy is aimed at eliminating the pathogen in the intestines. This therapy uses antibacterial drugs that are absorbed into the blood. They are used within 5 days.
2. Pathogenetic therapy. With this treatment, toxic substances are bound and removed using sorbents. These medications are taken approximately 40 minutes before meals and other medications.. Additionally, special dietary nutrition should be observed, in which there should be a decrease in the load on the stomach and restoration of salts and fluids in the body. Used to replenish fluids and salts special drugs in the form of solutions, and also consume a lot of water.
3. Use of symptomatic therapy. This is required to reduce discomfort, namely pain in the abdominal area.

Drug treatment

Especially often during diarrhea, the use of special medications is prescribed that can stop the manifestations of this disease.

Popular medications prescribed to treat diarrhea include:

• Smecta. This drug belongs to the group of enterosorbents. Due to the effect of this drug, pathogenic microorganisms are eliminated from the body. When the first signs appear, it is recommended to immediately take smecta. This will eliminate further unpleasant consequences. The product is well tolerated and practically does not cause unpleasant symptoms and it can be used even by women during pregnancy.
• Enterosgel. This drug is similar in its effects to smecta. The only difference is that it is produced in gel form.
• Hilak Forte. This medication is produced in the form of drops, which contain a prebiotic. During its use, the intestinal microflora is restored, and in the future the patient quickly recovers.
• Linux. This remedy eliminates diarrhea and normalizes the functioning of the stomach and intestines. During its use, all harmful bacteria are eliminated.
• Imodium. Almost instantly eliminates diarrhea, but it should be drunk with extreme caution because it does not provide a therapeutic effect. The drug slows down intestinal motility, which ultimately leads to the absence of stool for several days.
• Polyphepan. This product belongs to the group of enterosorbents. When used, pathogenic microorganisms are eliminated. This drug also has antioxidant and detoxifying effects.

Diet for diarrhea

Many people, when diarrhea occurs, immediately begin to look in their medicine cabinet for medications that can quickly stop it. However, medications alone will not be enough for this disease. In the future, it is imperative that you follow proper nutrition, which will prevent another disorder of the digestive organs.

At dietary nutrition Important recommendations must be followed:

1. It is advisable to consume fried, smoked and fatty foods. It is recommended to immediately cook a light soup based on fish or vegetables immediately after diarrhea stops.. You can also eat low-fat varieties of fish that are steamed.
2. Worth giving up alcoholic drinks, caffeine, soda. If thirst occurs, then you should drink compotes with dried fruits and tea with chamomile.
3. It is not advisable to eat raw vegetables and fruits, because they increase intestinal motility. You can eat bananas, you can eat baked apples.
4. It is better to give up flour; you can eat white bread in the form of crackers.
5. You need to eat often up to 5-6 times a day. Portions should be small.

If all recommendations are followed during the treatment of diarrhea, all symptoms will go away quickly. If diarrhea appears due to indigestion, it usually goes away within a day. The main thing is to identify the cause of this disease in time and provide timely assistance.

Everyone has experienced diarrhea, or diarrhea, even healthy person. The reasons for its appearance huge amount, starting with food products that are incompatible with each other and ending with very severe infections.

In this article, we will not consider severe infections accompanied by painful diarrhea, such as cholera and others. This is a separate topic.

Watery diarrhea

Watery diarrhea occurs when the pathological process involves small intestine. This may be a situation where poisoning has occurred with poor-quality food products or during acute intestinal infections.

Sometimes quantity pathogenic bacteria, located in the intestines, may be quite small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but their metabolic products, the toxins they release.

In the cold season, watery stools sometimes occur due to a number of viruses that are active in winter. These are so-called rotavirus infections, which are very easy to catch.

Why is water diarrhea dangerous?

Diarrhea can be roughly divided into watery stools without pathological impurities, such as blood, and diarrhea streaked with blood. If blood appears in the intestinal discharge, this is a signal to seek medical help, because... The reasons for this symptom can be very serious: intestinal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding or serious bacterial infection. All these conditions can threaten the patient's life. But this also needs to be discussed separately.

So, if water diarrhea occurs in an adult, treatment should be immediate. It should be noted that with watery stools there is a large loss of water, and if this process is also accompanied by vomiting, then we can talk about dehydration, and it can occur very quickly if emergency measures are not taken.

The human body normally contains about 85-90% water. More precisely, the brain, muscles and heart contain approximately 76% fluid, blood - 84%, and only the human skeleton consists of 15-20% water. From this you can understand how important water is for humans. Every cell of our body consists of water, and if there is a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, during diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals that the body needs is released.

For a small child, a loss of 10% of body weight due to watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then a loss of 500 ml of fluid will be fatal for him. For adults, losing 10% of their body weight in a short period of time is more problematic, because... their weight is much greater, so they have time to make a decision. Dehydration (dehydration) is most dangerous for children and the elderly. Diarrhea in an adult - what to do? Of course, treat.

Diarrhea is not a diagnosis, but a symptom. To choose the right treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if an adult has loose stools 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life, over time (if this lasts for several days) the body will be severely depleted and the water-salt balance will be disrupted. Recovery will take much longer than the duration of the illness. If an adult has water diarrhea, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a kind of defensive reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. In this way, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and carries out its detoxification. But if this condition does not go away within a few hours, help is needed. Especially if there is a temperature and in this case it is necessary. Hyperthermia (increased temperature) may indicate general intoxication of the body. This condition requires an appropriate attitude. You can't leave everything to chance. Some people believe that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea still needs to be treated if it lasts more than one day. This way you can save your body from serious consequences.

If the patient complains of diarrhea, abdominal pain, treatment is also necessary. Pain is a serious symptom that may indicate a serious illness such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, gallstones or appendicitis. If you have diarrhea painful sensations, then you need to see a doctor. In some of these situations, surgical treatment is necessary.

There are other causes of diarrhea:

• dyspeptic - this is the most common cause of diarrhea; it can occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, improper functioning of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of ingested food;
• infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebas and food toxins;
• nutritional is an allergic reaction to food;
• toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
• medicinal - caused side effects medical supplies, for example, some antibiotics in the intestines kill not only pathogenic flora, but also beneficial ones, thereby causing diarrhea;
• neurogenic - can be caused by strong emotions or fear; such diarrhea is also called “bear disease”.

Patients experience diarrhea differently, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. So, for example, loose stools 2-3 times a day cause weakness and poor health in some people, while in others diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negative consequences.

If diarrhea lasts a short time, it usually does not cause negative consequences and passes without much harm to health. If diarrhea continues for a long time and is accompanied by bloating, rumbling, false urge to defecate (tenesmus), nausea, vomiting, heartburn and causes severe weakness (depletion of the body), then this condition requires emergency medical care. Often patients with such symptoms are hospitalized.

For any type of diarrhea, it is necessary to drink enough fluid. Compliance with the drinking regime can protect against negative consequences and keep the patient’s body in good shape.

Drink better mineral water without containing gas, it will help maintain the water-salt balance. If prolonged water diarrhea occurs in an adult, treatment is necessary. If home treatment does not help, and diarrhea does not go away within a few days, this is a serious reason to seek help from medical institution. If severe diarrhea develops, a doctor will determine the cause and treatment.

Diet for diarrhea

Gentle, regardless of the reasons that caused it, is necessary. Until the condition improves and the symptoms of intoxication disappear, you need to follow a diet.

The following products are allowed:

• porridge with water;
• jelly;
• lean boiled or steamed meat;
• steam cutlets;
• boiled or steamed fish.

Prohibited products:

• fatty foods;
• fried foods;
• sweets;
• spicy dishes;
• pickled products;
• any canned food;
• carbonated drinks;
• coffee;
• tea is too strong;
• any alcohol.

After the diarrhea disappears and the diet improves, you need to stick to it for a few more days, at least for a week. By gradually adding other previously prohibited foods to the diet, the weakened body is prepared for the usual diet. You cannot immediately return to your usual diet. A sharp return to the menu of the wrong dish can upset the fragile and unstable balance after illness.

Diarrhea: causes and treatment

Treatment of diarrhea directly depends on the cause that caused it. What medications for diarrhea are most effective? We'll talk about this in this section.

First of all, any diarrhea should not be treated with antibiotics. This is done only in severe cases, for example, if the cause of the pathological process really poses a serious danger. This applies to diseases such as salmonellosis or cholera. In this case, the patient must be hospitalized, and further treatment will be carried out under the strict supervision of doctors. If water diarrhea is observed in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring water-salt balance. For these purposes, solutions such as “Regidron” or “Oralit” are suitable; you can also drink mineral water without gas.

Solutions are taken after each stool, half a glass. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these medications within 12 hours.

Medicines for diarrhea

Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. A range of interventions should be considered when treating diarrhea. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against Let's look at medications for diarrhea in adults, which are used most often.

All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:

• sulfonamide drugs ("Fthalazol");
• antibiotics (Levomycetin, Tetracycline tablets);
• nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
• antimicrobial drugs ("Enterofuril", "Sulgin");
• antifungal (Intetrix) - used for;
• enterosorbents (activated carbon);
• antiviral drugs.

Let's look at the most famous ones among adults. In what case is it advisable to take this or that drug?

Activated charcoal for diarrhea

What to give for diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with activated carbon. Sometimes this is enough. These tablets for diarrhea in adults (and children) are not absorbed in the intestines.

Activated carbon taken at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of patient weight. So, if the patient weighs 60 kg, then, accordingly, he should take 6 tablets and drink plenty of water.

Activated carbon absorbs all harmful toxins, bacteria and viruses, and also binds water and covers the intestinal wall with a protective layer. After this it is displayed naturally. It should be noted that after taking tablets of this drug, the stool will be black. There is no need to be afraid of this. If diarrhea occurs due to poor-quality products, then activated carbon in most cases is sufficient for treatment.

The drug "Fthalazol" for diarrhea

This group is most appropriate to take when infectious species diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the medicine "Fthalazol" for allergic types of diarrhea and ordinary indigestion will be ineffective. Its effect is noticeable only on day 2-3, when the growth of pathogenic microflora under the influence of the drug is stopped.

Imodium for diarrhea

The drug "Imodium" (its other name is "Suprelol", "Lopedium" and "Loperamide") begins to act within the first 40-60 minutes. This drug is effective for diarrhea caused by poor-quality foods, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and initial stages infectious diarrhea. It helps well with frequent vomiting. This drug is convenient to take with you on the road. Diarrhea is a common companion for travelers.

Treatment with Loperamide and Simethicone

This is a new generation drug, it is a combined remedy for diarrhea “Imodium Plus” and includes the so-called antifoam agent - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to it, spastic pain and the feeling of intestinal distension disappear. These are chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. It is not recommended to give them to children under 12 years of age.

Natural Remedies for Diarrhea

This includes drugs such as Smecta and Kaopectate. These drugs are used for rotavirus infections. It should be noted that the drug "Kaopectate" is contraindicated in childhood.

These drugs belong to the group of enterosorbents; they gradually reduce the frequency of trips to the toilet, and also relieve bloating and rumbling in the abdomen.

Tablets "Linex" for diarrhea

This product contains beneficial microflora and has positive action throughout the gastrointestinal tract. It includes 3 types of positive microflora:

• lactobacilli - have a positive effect on the functioning of the small intestine;
• enterococci - have a similar effect and help the small intestine function properly;
• bifidobacteria - actively work in the large intestine.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Traditional medicine knows many ways to treat such ailments as diarrhea. Folk remedies for treating diarrhea have been proven for centuries.

1. A decoction of pomegranate peels is considered effective means for intestinal disorders. To prepare the medicine, you need to take a well-washed peel of one fruit and pour a glass of cold water. Boil over low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours, 2 tbsp. spoons.
2. Traditional treatment for diarrhea involves the use of rice water. Taking this remedy every 20-30 minutes for 3-4 hours will relieve bloating and stop diarrhea.
3. Wormwood will help cope with diarrhea. But you need to be careful with this product: do not exceed the dosage and do not use it for too long. To prepare the medicine, add 1 teaspoon of dry herb to one glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
4. A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcoholic infusion of walnut partitions has been known for a long time. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops), otherwise it may provoke a reverse reaction - constipation. As soon as the number of trips to the toilet decreases, you need to reduce the dosage to 2-3 drops. It is clear that alcohol tinctures can only be used internally for treatment by adults. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. spoon of ground partitions walnut and pour one glass of vodka. Leave in darkness for 5-7 days. This product is prepared for future use and stored in the refrigerator. Recommended this medicine always have on hand for those who are prone to frequent intestinal disorders.

Conclusion

For an illness such as diarrhea, folk remedies treatments can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you cannot cope with an intestinal disorder on your own, and pain or fever also occurs, in this case you need to seek medical help. This is especially true for elderly citizens, because... They become dehydrated much earlier than young people in full bloom.

Diarrhea is a rather unpleasant condition, and it can happen to absolutely anyone, and sometimes just when an important meeting is coming up or you need to urgently run to work. There are quite a lot of reasons causing it. And, of course, if loose stools are taken by surprise, everyone begins to frantically look for options to solve this delicate problem. How to stop diarrhea in an adult? Is it necessary to do this? What medications will help cope with unexpected loose stools?

Diarrhea is a pathological condition, the main symptom of which is frequent bowel movements, during which shapeless, liquid, almost watery feces are released. It also has another, more delicate and correct name - diarrhea. Diarrhea can be either one-time or it can torment a person several times in a row during the day or longer.

Attention! Diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 weeks is considered an acute form of diarrhea. And if it continues further, then most likely the condition has become chronic.

The main signs of diarrhea:

• strong urge to defecate;
• stool is liquid, almost watery;
• symptoms such as vomiting and nausea may be present;
• abdominal pain;
• flatulence, rumbling;
• under a certain condition - elevated temperature;
• general weakness and lethargy.

Liquid stool is natural way protecting the body from the effects of poisonous or toxic substances that enter the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of reasons:

• eating low-quality or expired products;
• use junk food having a high concentration of preservatives and dyes;
• entry of pathogens into the body infectious diseases;
• dysbacteriosis;
• stress;

• improper diet;
• taking a number of medications;
• eating food that is unusual for the body, new dishes;
• the presence of various pathologies.

Important! When buying food, you should always buy the freshest and most natural products possible. It is better to refuse to buy products that will soon expire, even if they are offered at a very attractive price.

Table. Types of diarrhea.

Note! Experts identify another form of diarrhea - traveler's diarrhea. It occurs in people who make long trips or hikes and is associated with violation of sanitary and hygienic standards. Bacteria that live in a certain area and are characteristic of it can cause diarrhea - the traveler’s body may not have the required degree of immunity to them.

General principles of treatment

Typically diarrhea unless caused by an infection or pathological condition body, in adults it goes away quite quickly on its own. The main thing is that it does not drag on for a long time. However, you should not leave it unattended - it can cause dehydration. General principles Treatments for the condition are as follows.

Video: Diarrhea (diarrhea). Causes, signs and symptoms.

Medicines

To eliminate toxic substances from the body and remove some pathogenic intestinal bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, doctors recommend the use of sorbents. These can be Enterosgel, activated carbon, Smecta, Biligin, Kaolin and other drugs. Activated carbon should be in every first aid kit, and it is also recommended to take it with you on the road.

Important! Sorbent preparations can remove from the body not only harmful, but also useful substances, and also smooth out the effect of other medications. Therefore, you need to take them along with other drugs with an interval of at least 2 hours. But modern remedies usually act selectively - they cleanse the body only of toxins.

If diarrhea was caused by long-term use of any medications, it is important to contact the doctor who prescribed them in order to discontinue them. The specialist will be able to recommend another remedy. If the cause of diarrhea is problems with the processes of absorption of nutrients in the intestines, the doctor will recommend taking enzyme preparations. This could be Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim, etc.

If diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain, then it is necessary to take antispasmodic drugs such as Drotaverine or No-Shpy. And to restore the intestinal microflora at the end of treatment, Lactobacterin, Linex, Hilak-Forte, Enterol, etc. are used.

If you need to stop the diarrhea itself as quickly as possible, doctors recommend using a drug such as Loperamide. It does its job perfectly, but it should not be taken if diarrhea is caused by an intestinal infection. They retain feces in the body, and in such a situation it is contraindicated.

If you want not only to relieve the symptoms of diarrhea, but to get rid of the cause of its occurrence - an intestinal infection, then you need to take antimicrobial drugs, for example, Ecofuril. Its active ingredient, nifuroxazide, eliminates pathogens that cause intestinal infections, and excipient lactulose (prebiotic) creates a nutrient medium in the intestines for the reproduction of its own beneficial microflora. Doctors recommend taking Ecofuril for 5-7 days. After finishing taking the drug, no additional course of pro- or prebiotics is required for recovery. The medicine for adults and children over 3 years of age is available in capsules.

Ecofuril allows you to get rid of one of the causes of diarrhea - intestinal infection

Traditional methods

There are many methods traditional medicine, facilitating the course of diarrhea or eliminating it altogether. Most of them can be used without consulting a doctor. As a rule, the effect of their use is achieved within a couple of hours.

Perhaps this is the most popular and accessible way to combat diarrhea. In addition, it is one of those products that are classified as absolutely safe for the body. Rice broth envelops the intestines and does not allow gastric juice to negatively affect it, improves peristalsis, and helps the formation of feces. Due to the starch contained in rice cereal, the product has the ability to absorb excess liquid and thicken liquid feces. In addition, rice water perfectly eliminates flatulence and inhibits fermentation processes.

Note! Rice water can be given even to children.

It’s easy to prepare: just boil a couple of teaspoons of rice soaked in a liter of boiling water. cold water. You need to cook for about 50 minutes. Next, the broth is cooled, filtered through a fine sieve and taken 150 ml every 3 hours.

Bird cherry is excellent for treating diarrhea if the latter did not develop against the background of infections. But you should not overuse the decoction - bird cherry contains amygdalin, which, when broken down in the body, produces hydrocyanic acid, which is classified as a poison. The decoction must be prepared according to a prescription and should not be drunk without consulting your doctor. Nursing mothers and pregnant women should not use it.

To prepare the decoction, use bird cherry berries washed with clean water (0.5 cups). They are poured with boiling water and placed on water bath for 30 min. After this, the broth is infused for half an hour, covered with a lid. Next, you need to strain it and dilute it with blueberry juice in the same amount. You need to drink 1 tbsp every hour. l.

Dense, red, dry pomegranate peels, peeled from the white layer, are an excellent remedy. They contain about 30% tannins and are effective against diarrhea and almost any intestinal disorder. They are also capable of suppressing the pathogens of dysentery. However, the product has contraindications and consultation with a doctor is required before using it.

Dried pomegranate peels are ground to a powder, after which 1 tsp. This powder is poured with boiling water (1 tbsp.) and boiled in a water bath for 60 minutes, after which it is infused for 40 minutes. You need to take 1 tsp. about 4 times during the day until diarrhea disappears.

Blueberry

It turns out that this plant benefits not only the eyes, but also the gastrointestinal tract. Dried berries are used to eliminate diarrhea; fresh ones have the opposite effect and are used for constipation. Blueberries are rich in pectin and tannins, effective and safe. You can make decoctions, jelly, and compotes from dried blueberries.

Oak bark is an excellent anti-inflammatory remedy, it fights pathogenic microorganisms, has an astringent effect, and is capable of combining with proteins to form a protective layer on the intestinal walls. It is also effective for diarrhea. You can make tinctures, decoctions, and enemas from oak bark.

Black pepper

The simplicity and availability of this remedy for diarrhea made it possible to make black peas, along with rice water, the most used folk method treatment of loose stools. Black pepper normalizes digestive processes by activating the production of enzymes and gastric juice. It's easy to use: you need to take 10 pcs. peas and simply swallow them with water. But the remedy, unfortunately, has contraindications - pepper cannot be used for ulcers, anemia, inflammatory processes in the kidneys or urinary tract.

When to see a doctor

Adults usually cope with diarrhea on their own and quite quickly. But in some cases, a visit to the doctor is still necessary. You need to visit a specialist’s office if:

• symptoms do not go away for a long time;
• the intensity of diarrhea does not decrease;
• severe pain is felt in the abdomen;
• the patient has an elevated temperature;
• severe dehydration occurs;
• pallor of the skin is noted;
• stool is very dark in color.

The doctor will definitely take a medical history to determine the duration of the period of diarrhea and try to find out its cause. Next, he will order a series of tests to establish an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, the patient may be hospitalized according to indications.

Video: Deadly diarrhea

How to quickly get rid of diarrhea?

Step 1. The very first action for diarrhea should be to try to replenish fluid levels in the body. Diarrhea can seriously deplete its reserves in the body. You need to drink as much water and broth as possible. On this day, if possible, it is better to cancel all activities and lie down at home, not far from the toilet.

Step 2. You can try over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications.

Step 3. Analgesics should not be taken even if there is pain, without first consulting a doctor.

Talk to your doctor about analgesics in advance.

Step 4. You need to rest as much as possible, or better yet, sleep.

Step 5. If diarrhea persists throughout the day, you should consult a doctor the next day.

Step 6. If diarrhea is accompanied severe pain, high temperature, then you should immediately call an ambulance.

Step 7 It is important to stop eating sweets, soda, and coffee. It is best to drink natural jelly.

Step 8 To avoid making your diarrhea worse, you should eat foods low in fiber. And for the first few hours it is better to completely fast.

Step 9 It is strictly forbidden to eat fatty foods and unhealthy foods.

Step 10 At the end of treatment, you need to eat foods rich in probiotics in order to restore the intestinal microflora.

Step 11 If the cause of diarrhea is an intestinal infection, then it is important to take all measures to cope with it.

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Video - How to get rid of diarrhea? Traditional methods

Diarrhea can dramatically change a person’s plans for the day and throw him off track. However, you can deal with it quickly if you know how. As a rule, all of the above remedies have a fairly quick effect, and as soon as the diarrhea subsides, you can return to your usual rhythm of life. you will find on our website.

There are a number of diseases that many people who suffer from them do not like to talk about and are even ashamed of. And diarrhea (in common parlance - diarrhea) is one of them. Meanwhile, this condition is often a sign of very serious disorders in the body. Not to mention, diarrhea itself is dangerous and can even be fatal. However, practice shows that not all people know how to treat diarrhea properly.

What is diarrhea?

First of all, let's define this concept. Diarrhea in medicine is usually called a condition when a person performs an act of defecation, or bowel movements too often. Of course, frequent bowel movements is an imprecise criterion, so it should be clarified. A person who eats normally and consumes a normal amount of water should have bowel movements from 1 time in 2 days to 2 times per day. If defecation occurs more often than twice a day, then this condition can be considered one of characteristic features diarrhea.
The second determining factor is the consistency of the stool. Normally, human excrement is cylindrical in shape and quite hard. With diarrhea, the type of stool is always different from usual - it is a semi-liquid, liquid or mushy mass, or even just water. If these symptoms of diarrhea - frequent urge to defecate and loose stools - continue for more than two weeks without a break, then the diarrhea is considered acute. Otherwise, it should be classified as chronic.

Generally speaking, diarrhea can be a symptom of many diseases. However, this disease cannot be determined by the mere fact of diarrhea. Other symptoms also play a huge role. It is extremely rare to find a case where diarrhea occurs against the background of complete health and is not accompanied by other characteristic signs.

The main symptoms that often accompany diarrhea:

• elevated temperature;
• weakness;
• nausea;
• gas formation in the intestines;
• pain in the lower or upper abdomen.

You should also pay attention to such characteristics of diarrhea as stool consistency. Pasty, thin, watery diarrhea may indicate various diseases Gastrointestinal tract. Also, with diarrhea, some additional discharge may be observed - blood, mucus, pieces undigested food. What matters is the color of the discharge, its volume - abundant or scanty, the smell - foul or not.

Causes of diarrhea

What causes diarrhea? Reasons of this state may be varied. It is important to know well the cause of diarrhea, as otherwise treatment may not be effective.

Additional factors contributing to the occurrence of diarrhea are:

• insufficient personal hygiene;
• insufficient chewing of food, incorrect eating habits;
• stress and neuroses;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• use of certain types of medications;
• reduced immunity;
• pregnancy;
• childhood.

However, whatever the causes, diarrhea requires serious treatment and adequate treatment.

Major viral and bacterial infections that can cause diarrhea:

• salmonellosis,
• dysentery,
• rotavirus infection,
• enterovirus infection.

As a rule, the main symptom indicating that diarrhea is caused by an infection is fever. Also, infections of the gastrointestinal tract are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and general weakness. Patients often complain that they have a stomach ache or pain in the lower abdomen. Stools with infectious diarrhea are frequent. Diseases such as dysentery are characterized by very liquid stool, which usually has a foul odor and contains mucus or blood.

Lack of digestive enzymes

Digestion is a complex chemical process. It involves many substances, whose task is to break down the incoming digestive tract organic substance to those simple compounds that can be absorbed by the tissues of the body. Many of the substances necessary for digestion are produced by various organs - the liver, stomach, pancreas. Such compounds include pepsins, bile, pancreatic enzymes - protease, lipase, amylase. If any of the enzymes is missing, this means that undigested food remains will accumulate in the intestines. This causes irritation and upset of the intestines, which causes diarrhea.

Poisoning

Often, loose stools are the body’s reaction to toxic substances. There may well be some toxins in the food we eat. This may mainly apply to stale or expired products, products treated with some chemicals or containing poisons (mushrooms, fruits and vegetables). It is also possible that drugs and chemicals may be ingested in large doses. This circumstance may well cause poisoning of the body, accompanied by diarrhea. As a rule, in case of poisoning, not only loose stools are observed, but also other symptoms. Typically, poisoning is initially accompanied by pain and stomach cramps. As it develops pathological process poisoning begins to manifest itself with cramping pain, vomiting, nausea, sometimes headaches, neurological symptoms, or symptoms of cardiovascular failure.

One of the varieties of this type of diarrhea is the so-called “travelers’ diarrhea”. Although in fact this disease has a whole range of causes. It occurs in people who try large quantities of unusual and unfamiliar food. Most often, this behavior is typical for people who travel to distant and exotic countries and want to get new sensations. However, the problem is that our gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole are conservative in nature and, to a certain extent, are tuned to the diet to which they have been accustomed since childhood. And when faced with something new, their work becomes disorganized, resulting in loose stools and an upset stomach.

Inflammatory processes of the digestive organs

Diarrhea often accompanies inflammatory diseases digestive organs, not caused directly by infectious agents. With these diseases, inflammation or ulcers of the surface of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines are observed, which, in turn, leads to gastrointestinal disorders. In addition to stool disorders, inflammatory diseases of the stomach and duodenum often accompanied by heartburn, characteristic belching, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth (bitter or metallic). Such diseases include:

• enteritis,
• cholecystitis,
• autoimmune diseases (for example,).

Intestinal motility disorder

In diseases of this type, undigested food remains due to malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system of the intestine move too quickly through it and do not have time to form solid feces. Most often, this type of diarrhea is characteristic of a disease called “irritable bowel syndrome.” The urge to defecate with this syndrome may appear more often than usual and be associated with moments of nervous tension. However, the total amount of feces usually does not exceed the norm, and dehydration of the body, characteristic of other types of diarrhea, is usually not observed.

Dysbacteriosis

Many of the bacteria that live in our intestines are not pathogenic, but take part in the digestive process. If the number of intestinal bacteria drops catastrophically, for example, in the case of taking antibiotics, then a proliferation of other microorganisms may be observed, as well as disruptions in the digestion process, which often leads to diarrhea. After restoring the balance of the microflora, the stool, as a rule, returns to normal.

Diagnostics

What to do if diarrhea is chronic? To identify the causes of the pathology, you must consult a doctor. Although not all patients do this. But this is not always prudent, because it is completely unknown what pathology manifests itself due to diarrhea. It could also be a random lung. food poisoning, and the relatively harmless irritable bowel syndrome, which, in principle, you can not pay much attention to, and ulcerative colitis, which requires long-term treatment, and salmonellosis, in which the patient is subject to immediate hospitalization, and extremely dangerous tumors.

As for acute diarrhea, especially in severe form, then, of course, any doubts about the advisability of seeing a doctor should be discarded. If diarrhea occurs in acute form, then acute dehydration accompanying the disease can often lead to death. Statistics show that diarrhea kills more than a million children every year around the world. It must be remembered that most infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are dangerous not in themselves, but in the complications associated with diarrhea.

In some cases, if we're talking about about diarrhea regarding light form, then the patient can independently determine the causes of diarrhea - for example, overeating or food poisoning, and draw appropriate conclusions about how treatment should be carried out.

Treatment

How to treat diarrhea? It must be remembered that this is not an independent disease, but only a symptom, although quite dangerous in itself. Therefore, in order to eliminate diarrhea, it is necessary, first of all, to eliminate the pathology that caused it. However, symptomatic treatment of diarrhea is also very important in many cases.

Let's look at the main methods that can successfully treat diarrhea. They can be both medicinal and non-medicinal. Non-drug ways to combat diarrhea include diet, methods for cleansing the stomach, etc.

Drug treatment

First of all, medications will help get rid of diarrhea. They can be divided into several main groups:

• sorbents,
• antibiotics and antiseptics for intraintestinal action,
• probiotics,
• antidiarrheals,
• means for restoring fluid in the body (rehydration).

Enterosorbents are products that absorb the contents of the stomach and intestines, bind and neutralize them, and then excrete them with feces. Thus, if loose stools are caused by some foreign agents (microorganisms or toxins), then with the help of enterosorbents they can be removed from the body.

Diarrhea is most often treated with antidiarrheals such as loperamide, which affect intestinal motility and slow down the movement of feces through it. This type of medication, however, may not be effective for all diarrhea, and sometimes they can even be harmful. Therefore, before using this type of drug, it is necessary to clarify the cause of diarrhea.

To relieve severe pain, you can use antispasmodics, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, it should be firmly understood that they can only be used if the source of pain is accurately identified, the disease is diagnosed and does not threaten the patient’s life. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking these medications. In some cases, pain medications may mask the development of life-threatening infections and inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Fluid replenishers are a type of medication that is often not taken seriously. And it’s completely in vain, because they help the body fight dehydration. Most often used for this purpose saline solutions, such as Regidron.

Probiotic drugs are usually used if diarrhea is caused by dysbiosis. In case of a decrease in the number normal microflora intestines, probiotics will restore balance in the gastrointestinal tract and normalize digestion. However, in most cases, the use of these drugs alone will not correct the situation.

The choice of drugs from any group depends on the etiology of the disease. Therefore, in order to know how to treat diarrhea, you must first identify the source of the problem.

If frequent loose stools are caused by food or household poisoning, then the most in an efficient way Treatment is gastric lavage and/or taking enterosorbents. It is also necessary to take means to restore fluid in the body.

If diarrhea is caused by an infection, then it is necessary to use antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, anti-inflammatory drugs as an auxiliary element of therapy, and rehydration agents.

For irritable bowel syndrome, non-infectious colitis, enteritis and gastritis, antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory drugs will be most effective. The method of treating inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract is quite complex and the treatment strategy should be determined by a doctor.

How to treat diarrhea caused by a lack of digestive enzymes? This is quite simple - first of all, you should take enzyme preparations containing pancreatic enzymes and bile. Antidiarrheal medications will also be helpful.

Diet

Diet is an important part of therapy. First of all, it is necessary for those who do not know how to get rid of diarrhea. Taking any medications in most cases will be useless if the patient simultaneously eats foods that irritate the digestive organs and help prolong the disease.

The diet largely depends on the type of disease. However, there are a number of principles that must be followed when eating.

Excessively fatty and sweet foods, foods that provoke active fermentation and gas formation in the stomach, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, and alcohol should be excluded from the diet. Preference should be given to boiled food rather than raw food, and especially not fried or smoked. Food should be easily digestible, that is, hard-to-digest foods such as mushrooms should be excluded from the diet. Drinking is also important. For severe dehydration, it is useful to drink saline solutions; for intestinal infections, decoctions of chamomile, rose hips, and strong tea.

Prevention

Prevention includes, first of all, personal hygiene, washing and proper heat treatment of food. It is also important to observe proper diet, do not eat expired or spoiled foods, products of dubious origin, and ensure that hazardous chemicals do not get into your food. It is also important to monitor your eating habits, do not eat on the go or dry food, avoid stress and overwork, monitor your health and treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.