What is Diarrhea? What Helps with Diarrhea?

Diarrhea may seem like a simple health issue, but it can be fatal, especially in children under 5 years old and in elderly, frail patients who are undergoing treatment for other conditions.

Diarrhea may seem like a simple health issue, but it can be fatal, especially in children under 5 years old and in elderly, frail patients who are undergoing treatment for other conditions.

What is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea (also known as diarrhea) is defined as having more than 3 bowel movements per day, or an increased frequency, more watery, or larger volume of stools compared to a person's normal bowel habits. Viruses, bacteria, food poisoning, lactose intolerance, and conditions like ulcerative colitis that cause mucosal damage in the intestines are among the numerous diseases that can cause diarrhea. It can be acute, resistant, or chronic, and most of the time, the person with diarrhea recovers on their own without the need for medical treatment.

If diarrhea lasts for more than four weeks, it is referred to as chronic diarrhea. If diarrhea has become chronic, it should be considered that there may be an underlying serious illness, and medical evaluation should be sought from a healthcare provider. In the treatment of diarrhea, it is important to identify the underlying disease causing the condition and address it accordingly.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is not the result of a single disease; it can have many different causes.

Diseases that can cause diarrhea include:

• Intestinal infections; viral, bacterial infections, bacterial toxins
• Parasitic infections
• Other intestinal factors; carcinoma, antibiotic treatment, heavy metal poisoning
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Cholestatic syndromes; bile duct obstructions, hepatitis
• Malabsorption syndromes; celiac disease (gluten enteropathy), short bowel syndrome, diverticulosis
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Hyperthyroidism
• Nutritional deficiencies (malnutrition)
• Food allergies
• Laxative use

To find the cause of diarrhea, it is important to assess the duration, frequency, and color of stools. The patient's medical history is also a crucial factor in determining the cause of diarrhea.

What Are the Symptoms of Diarrhea?

While diarrhea is primarily characterized by an increase in bowel movements, it can also present with several other symptoms. A person may experience one or several of these symptoms.

Symptoms of Diarrhea:

• Urgent need to pass stool
• Increased frequency/number of bowel movements
• Watery stools
• Bloating
• Gas
• Abdominal pain
• Mucus in stool
• Bloody stool
• Weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Signs and symptoms of dehydration
• Fever
• Weight loss

The symptoms a person experiences will vary depending on the disease causing the diarrhea. Weight loss, bloody stools, and dehydration are considered serious symptoms of diarrhea.

Clinical Course

Infants and young children cannot recover from diarrhea as easily as adults. While diarrhea in an adult often resolves without treatment, in infants and young children, diarrhea can sometimes be a sign of a serious condition. Even if it is caused by a simple issue, it can last for a long time, and if left untreated, it can lead to severe complications like dehydration and malnutrition.

The most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children is infections. Infection can be triggered by lack of access to clean water, poverty, and low birth weight. Besides infections, there are other factors that can cause diarrhea.

Conditions that cause diarrhea:

• Infections
• Poor hygiene conditions
• Long-term antibiotic use
• Inability to breastfeed
• Early transition to solid foods
• Malnutrition
• Food allergies
• Intestinal diseases
• Lactose intolerance
• Use of immunosuppressive medications

Malnutrition, which is a form of nutritional deficiency, can both cause and result from diarrhea. As a result of malnutrition, immunity decreases, and the risk of diarrhea increases in infants. In infants with diarrhea, malnutrition occurs because nutrients are not fully absorbed from the intestines. To break the malnutrition-diarrhea vicious cycle, medical support is essential, as malnutrition can lead to serious health problems and even death in young children and infants.

Malnutrition also negatively affects the course and treatment of diseases in adults, especially in those who are being treated for other conditions (chronic illnesses, cancer, etc.), and requires energetic medical intervention.

Signs of malnutrition:

• Gastroenteritis
• Electrolyte and fluid imbalance
• Infections
• Low blood sugar
• Drop in body temperature
• Anemia
• Vitamin deficiencies

Medical treatment is necessary for malnutrition. However, the risk of malnutrition is very low in short-term diarrhea. It is important to remember that malnutrition usually occurs as a result of severe and persistent diarrhea.

Another clinical condition caused by diarrhea that leads to significant problems in both adults and children is dehydration. Dehydration is a result of excessive fluid and electrolyte loss from the body due to frequent and watery bowel movements. It indicates a reduction in the body's fluid levels.

Signs of dehydration:

• Restlessness and irritability
• Dryness in mucous membranes such as the mouth and eyes
• Sunken eyeballs
• Increased pulse rate
• Decreased urine output
• Increased breathing rate and depth
• Decreased blood pressure
• Reduced skin turgor
• Loss of consciousness in severe dehydration

Dehydration is classified into three degrees: mild, moderate, and severe, depending on the percentage of fluid lost from the body. In mild and moderate dehydration, oral fluid replacement is administered since consciousness is intact. However, in severe dehydration, as consciousness is lost, fluids should not be given orally. Instead, intravenous fluid replacement is recommended.

What Helps with Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a health problem that significantly reduces quality of life and limits daily activities, so the question "What helps with diarrhea?" often comes to mind for anyone suffering from it. In home treatment for diarrhea, foods are seen as the greatest aid. Especially foods containing soluble fibers like pectin, guar gum, and mucilage help stop diarrhea by absorbing excess water in the intestines. In addition, foods containing probiotics help balance the bacteria in the intestines, which can also alleviate diarrhea.

Foods that help with diarrhea:

• Yogurt: Has probiotic effects.
• Rice: Retains water and, due to its glycine content, prevents sodium loss.
• Tea, coffee, cocoa: Retain water, but excessive consumption can increase bowel movements.
• Potatoes: Have water-retaining properties due to their starch content.
• Apples: Contain pectin, which helps retain water.
• Bananas: Contain soluble fiber, which has water-retaining properties.
• Peaches, pomegranates, sour cherry juice, carrots, and pasta are also recommended.
• Salty crackers are effective in reducing nausea when present.

Foods to avoid during diarrhea:

• Fats: Should be restricted as they speed up the transit of food through the intestines.
• Whole grain and bran products: Increase bowel movements.
• Bulgur: Accelerates bowel movements due to its insoluble fiber content.
• Sugar alcohols (found in chewing gum), lactose, fructose, and excess sucrose are not recommended as they can worsen diarrhea.

When should you see a doctor?

In adults:

• If diarrhea is persistent and has not improved for a long time,
• If the stool is foamy and has a very foul smell,
• If there is blood in the stool or the stool is black,
• If nausea and vomiting are severe enough to prevent food intake,
• If fever persists for more than 24 hours,
• If diarrhea occurs after international travel,
• If there are signs of severe fatigue or confusion,
• If the urine is very dark in color.

In infants and young children:

• If the baby is younger than 2 months old,
• If there are underlying conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure,
• If there is constant vomiting,
• If there is a significant increase in the frequency and volume of bowel movements (more than 8 bowel movements per day),
• If there are severe signs of dehydration,
• If there is a significant decrease in food and fluid intake.

It is important to seek medical attention without delay. Diarrhea is typically caused by infections and resolves on its own.

However, if you or your patient experience any of the above symptoms, it is advisable to consult the nearest healthcare facility.