Everyone has experienced diarrhea, even a he althy person. There are a myriad of reasons for it, ranging from foods that are incompatible with each other to very severe infections.
In this article, we will not consider severe infections accompanied by excruciating diarrhea, such as cholera and others. This is a separate issue.
Watery diarrhea
Watery diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is involved in the pathological process. This may be a situation where food poisoning has occurred or with acute intestinal infections.
Sometimes the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines can be quite small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but the products of their vital activity, the toxins that they secrete.
In the cold season, watery stools are sometimes due to a number of viruses that are active in winter. These are the so-called rotavirus infections, which are very easy to catch.
How dangerous is water diarrhea?
Diarrhea can be conditionally divided into watery stools without pathological impurities such as blood, and blood-streaked diarrhea. If blood appears in the discharge from the intestine, this is a signal to seek medical help, because. the causes of such a symptom can be very serious: intestinal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding, or a serious bacterial infection. All these conditions can threaten the life of the patient. But this also needs to be discussed separately.
So, if there is water diarrhea 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 come 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 a person. Each cell of our body consists of water, and with a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, with diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals are released, so necessary for the body.
For a small child, the loss of 10% of body weight with watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then the loss of 500 ml of fluid for him will be fatal. Adults lose10% of your body weight in a short 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 select the correct treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if loose stools in an adult happen 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life, anyway, over time (if it lasts for several days), the body will be severely depleted, and the water-s alt balance will be disturbed. Recovery will take much more time than the illness lasted. If an adult has watery diarrhea, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.
Causes of diarrhea
Diarrhea is a kind of protective reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. Thus, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and conducts its detoxification. But if this condition does not go away within a few hours, help is needed. Especially if there is fever and diarrhea, treatment in this case is mandatory. Hyperthermia (fever) may indicate a general intoxication of the body. Such a state requires an appropriate attitude. You can't let everything go by itself. Some people think that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea should still be treated if it lasts more than one day. So you can save the 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 there is pain during diarrhea, then you need to see a doctor. Some of these situations require surgical assistance.
There are other causes of diarrhea:
- dyspeptic - this is the most common cause of diarrhea, may occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, malfunction of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of the food absorbed;
- infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebae and food toxins;
- alimentary is an allergic reaction to food;
- toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
- drug - caused by side effects of medications, for example, some antibiotics in the intestines kill not only pathogenic flora, but also useful ones, thereby causing diarrhea;
- neurogenic - can be caused by strong emotions or fear, such diarrhea is also called "bear disease".
Diarrhea in an adult. What to do?
Diarrhea patients suffer differently, it depends on the individual characteristics of the body. So, for example, loose stools in some people 2-3 times a day cause weakness and poor he alth, while in others, diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negativeconsequences.
If diarrhea lasts for a short time, it usually does not cause negative consequences and passes without much harm to he alth. 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 (exhaustion), then this condition requires emergency medical care. It is not uncommon for patients with these symptoms to be hospitalized.
Whatever the nature of diarrhea, you need to drink enough fluids. Compliance with the drinking regimen can protect against negative consequences and keep the patient's body in good shape.
It is better to drink mineral water without gas content in it, it will help maintain the water-s alt balance. If there is prolonged water diarrhea 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 a medical institution. If severe diarrhea develops, the cause and treatment will be determined by the doctor.
Diet for diarrhea
A gentle diet for diarrhea, whatever the cause, is essential. Until the condition improves and the symptoms of intoxication disappear, you need to follow a diet.
The following products are allowed:
- porridge on the water;
- jelly;
- lean boiled or steamed meat;
- steam cutlets;
- boiled or steamed fish.
Forbidden foods:
- fatty meals;
- fried foods;
- sweets;
- spicy dishes;
- pickled products;
- any canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- coffee;
- too strong tea;
- any alcohol.
After the disappearance of diarrhea and the improvement of the diet, you need to stick to 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 can't go back to your normal diet right away. A sharp return to the menu of the wrong dish can upset the fragile and unstable balance after illness.
Diarrhea: causes and treatment
The treatment of diarrhea directly depends on the cause that caused it. What drugs are most effective for diarrhea? We will talk about this in this section.
First of all, do not treat any diarrhea with antibiotics. This is done only in severe cases, for example, if the cause that caused 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 he will undergo further treatment under the strict supervision of doctors. If there is water diarrhea in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring the water-s alt 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 for half a cup. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these drugs within 12 hours.
Medicines for diarrhea
Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. In the treatment of diarrhea, a number of measures should be taken into account. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against dehydration. Consider the medications for adult diarrhea that are most commonly used.
All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:
- sulfa drugs ("Fthalazol");
- antibiotics (tablets "Levomycetin", "Tetracycline");
- nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
- antimicrobials ("Enterofuril", "Sulgin");
- antifungal (Intetrix) - used for amoebic dysentery;
- enterosorbents (activated carbon);
- antivirals.
Consider the most famous remedies for diarrhea in adults. When is it appropriate to take this or that drug?
Activated charcoal for diarrhea
What to give from diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with activated charcoal. Sometimes this is enough. These tablets for diarrhea in adults (and children) are not absorbed in the intestines.
Activated carbontaken at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of the patient's weight. So, if the patient weighs 60 kg, then, accordingly, he should take 6 tablets and drink plenty of water.
Activated charcoal absorbs all harmful toxins, bacteria and viruses, and also binds water and covers the intestinal wall with a protective layer. After that, it is excreted naturally. It should be noted that after taking the tablets of this drug, the stool will be black. This is not something to be afraid of. If diarrhea occurred due to poor-quality products, then activated charcoal in most cases is sufficient for treatment.
Drug "Ftalazol" from diarrhea
This drug of the sulfanilamide group is most appropriate to take with infectious types of diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the drug "Ftalazol" with 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 action of the drug will be stopped.
Means "Imodium" from diarrhea
The drug "Imodium" (its other name is "Suprelol", "Lopedium" and "Loperamide") begins its action within the first 40-60 minutes. This drug is effective in diarrhea caused by poor-quality products, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and in the initial stages of infectious diarrhea. It helps a lot with frequent urge to vomit. This drug is convenient to take with you on the road. Diarrhea is a common companiontravelers.
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 defoamer - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to him, spastic pains and a feeling of fullness of the intestine disappear. These are chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. Not recommended for children under 12.
Natural remedies for diarrhea
This includes drugs such as "Smekta" and "Kaopectat". These drugs are used for intestinal disorders caused by rotavirus infections. It should be noted that the drug "Kaopektat" is contraindicated in childhood.
These drugs belong to the group of enterosorbents, they gradually reduce the frequency of going to the toilet, and also relieve bloating and rumbling in the stomach.
Linex tablets for diarrhea
This remedy contains beneficial microflora and has a positive effect on the entire 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 a lotways to treat a disease such as diarrhea. Folk remedies for diarrhea have been tested for centuries.
- Decoction of pomegranate peels is considered an effective remedy 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 on low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours for 2 tbsp. spoons.
- Folk 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.
- Artemisia bitter will help to cope with diarrhea. But with this tool you need to be careful: do not exceed the dosage and do not use for too long. To prepare the medicine, 1 teaspoon of dry grass should be poured with one glass of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
- A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcohol infusion of walnut partitions has long been known. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops each), otherwise it may provoke a backlash - 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 only adults can use alcohol tinctures inside for treatment. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ground walnut partitions and pour one glass of vodka. Insist in the dark for 5-7 days. This remedy is prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator. This medicine is always recommendedhave on hand for those who are prone to frequent bowel disorders.
Conclusion
With such an ailment as diarrhea, folk remedies can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you can’t cope with the intestinal disorder on your own, and besides, pain or fever joins, 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 their prime.
