Diarrhea - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Diarrhea, as we all know, is a condition in which we experience frequent watery stools (loose stools) as against normal smooth stools, in other words; its increase in the liquid substance in the stools accompanied with increase in stool frequency. Diarrhea can be looked at as one of the symptoms for many types of bowel/digestive system related diseases.

In general cases, diarrhea can last anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks (short-termed) and is not a serious condition. But you should be watchful if it is more painful, and lasts longer than 2 weeks, in that case you should see your physician for an expert advice.

What Happens in the Colon?
As a part of digestion, liquid content (amount of water) in the food is needed to be at higher level for its smoother digestion. Food first enters into stomach and travels to the small intestine and then large intestine, during this journey most of the nutrients are absorbed by these parts.

At the end of the digestion process, when the food reaches the colon, body finishes absorbing almost all the possible nutrients. Colon absorbs the excess amount of water from the stool that is then pushed towards the rectum, and stored until it is thrown out of the body.

Symptoms of Diarrhea

• Loose/watery stools
• At times, abdominal pain associated with diarrhea
• Nausea
• Bloody stools
• Fever

Causes of Diarrhea
As already mentioned above, diarrhea can be normal (short-termed) to severe. General causes of diarrhea are:

• Bacterial and Viral Infection: This is considered as one of the main causes of diarrhea. Bacterial and viral infection, caused via various means such as consumption of contaminated food or drinking water, causes diarrhea. This is common mainly in developing countries where separation of drinking and sewage water is a big problem. Diarrhea caused by few types of bacteria can also kill the patient if no proper medication is made available. Bacteria like E.coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Lamblia, etc., and viruses like Rotavirus, Herpes etc., are few names in the list. The other reason for diarrhea is through infection, in case the patient is suffering from other diseases, especially diseases which are related to intestinal infection. Diarrhea is experienced by patients who are suffering from serious diseases like AIDS, dysentery, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, cholera, bowel cancer, ischemic bowel disease, some cases of appendicitis, etc.
• Body's Negative Response to Some Elements: If your body shows a negative response to some food material, then consuming it might cause you problems like diarrhea. One of the examples is consumption of milk. It has been witnessed that digestive systems of many people cannot process and digest lactose and other elements available in the milk leading to diarrhea. The best suggestion to those people would be to avoid consumption of any such thing.
• Laxatives and Other Chemicals: Laxatives like magnesium (epsom salt), phenolphthalein, cascara, etc., that are used in day-to-day lives and also some chemicals which are a part of our food, can cause diarrhea in some people.
• Medicines: Certain type of medicines (including antibiotics and other drugs) cause diarrhea in patients. You should be very careful while using any new drug. If you witness a sudden problem with your bowel habits after you have started the medication that your physician has suggested, then you should stop taking medicines and contact your physician at the earliest.
• Excessive Consumption of Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause diarrhea in patients. Generally excessive alcohol consumption causes chronic diarrhea, in which the body's ability to absorb ample water gets affected.

Diarrhea can be classified into following two types:

• Acute Diarrhea: This type of diarrhea lasts for less than 3-4 weeks. This type of diarrhea is generally cured with normal treatment and does not need any intensive medication.
• Chronic Diarrhea: Sometimes, diarrhea lasts really long and can extend from few months to a couple of years. This type of diarrhea is mainly caused due to some type of infection. In this type of diarrhea, the patient does not experience significant/intensive illness. Poor digestion (i.e., malabsorption) of food, serious diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, bowel cancer, prolonged alcohol consumption and effect of abnormalities are few other causes of chronic diarrhea.

Treatments for Diarrhea
It is very important that the patient should consult a physician as soon as possible and should avoid taking any of the medicine that is not prescribed by physician. The treatment for diarrhea depends on the condition of the patient and cause of diarrhea (symptomatic treatment).

• Most common and effective treatment available for the general type of diarrhea is to provide the patient with drinks containing electrolytes. This can also be considered as oral rehydration therapy.
• Patients are suggested to stay away from food and drugs that can cause increase in intensity of diarrhea. Physicians suggest following a healthy diet in portions throughout the day. Milk, alcohol, certain type of antibiotics etc., are substances which increase the problem and should be avoided.
• The patient should religiously follow the medication prescribed by the physician.