What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is when your bowel movements become loose or watery. The definition of diarrhea is passing loose or watery bowel movements 3 or more times in a day (or more frequently than usual). Diarrhea occurs when the lining of the intestine is unable to absorb fluid, or it actively secretes fluid.
Interesting facts about diarrhea:
Ø People with diarrhea caused by certain infections can lose up to 20 liters of fluids per day.
Ø A bout of diarrhea typically lasts for 1 to 2 days. But some folks will have diarrhea that lasts for much longer, due to underlying health conditions.
Ø The average human intestine is about 8 meters long.
Classification of diarrhea:
Diarrhea may also be classified according to the mechanism that the condition undertakes, although there may be an overlap between them:
Osmotic diarrhea — this form of diarrhea involves the retention of water in the bowel, which results from the accumulation of no absorbable substances. For instance, sugar substitutes like sorbitol and mannitol can slow down absorption while causing rapid motility of the small intestine.
Secretory diarrhea — when electrolyte absorption is affected, the body releases water into the small intestine, causing loose bowel movements. This type of diarrhea is often a result of infection or the intake of certain drugs.
Motility-related diarrhea — Hypermobility, or the quick movement of food through the intestines, is a precursor for this type of diarrhea. Motility-related diarrhea occurs when the body lacks time to absorb nutrients and water due to conditions like diabetic neuropathy or hyperthyroidism, or when a person undergoes a surgery called a vagotomy.
Inflammatory diarrhea — This occurs when certain pathogens like shigella, salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli or Clostridium difficile attack your intestinal cells. Inflammatory diarrhea mainly affects the colon, causing abdominal pain, fever and even bloody diarrhea. This is common in people with ulcerative colitis and chrohn disease.
You should remember that diarrhea can cause dehydration and may prevent your body from carrying out important functions. This can eventually lead to severe problems, such as seizures, urinary problems, heat injuries, kidney failure or hypovolemic shock, and can even be fatal. However, with prompt and appropriate treatment, these complications can be avoided.
What causes diarrhea?
A number of diseases and conditions will cause diarrhea, including
Viruses. Viruses which will cause diarrhea embrace Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and viral hepatitis. Rotavirus may be a common reason behind acute childhood diarrhea.
Bacteria and parasites. Contaminated food or water will transmit microorganism and parasites to your body. When traveling in developing countries, diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites is often called traveler's diarrhea. Clostridium difficile is another kind of microorganism which will cause serious infections that cause diarrhea, and it can occur after a course of antibiotics or during a hospitalization.
Medications. Many medications, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhea.
Antibiotics destroy each sensible and dangerous microorganism, which can disturb the natural balance of bacteria in your intestines. Other medicine that cause diarrhea are cancer medicine and antacids with atomic number 12.
Lactose intolerance. Lactose may be a sugar found in milk and different farm product. People who have issue digesting milk sugar have diarrhea once ingestion farm product. Lactose intolerance will increase with age as a result of levels of the protein that helps digest milk sugar drop once childhood.
Fructose. Fructose may be a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey.
It's generally additional as a sweetener to bound beverages.
In folks that have hassle digesting ketohexose, it can lead to diarrhea.
Artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol and diuretic drug — artificial sweeteners found in mastication gum and different sugar-free product — will cause diarrhea in some otherwise healthy folks.
Surgery. Abdominal or gallbladder removal surgeries can sometimes cause diarrhea.
Other digestive disorders. Chronic diarrhea incorporates
a range of different causes, like Crohn's disease, colitis, disorder, microscopic inflammatory {bowel disease|inflammation|redness|rubor} and irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms associated with diarrhea may include:
Ø Loose, watery stools
Ø Abdominal cramps
Ø Abdominal pain
Ø Fever
Ø Blood in the stool
Ø Mucus in the stool
Ø Bloating
Ø Nausea
Ø Urgent need to have a bowel movement
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