How to treat diarrhea after antibiotics? This is a common question. Let's look into it in the article below.
Modern medicine is hard to imagine without antibiotics. With the help of such medicines, it is possible to minimize the risk of complications in the postoperative period, reduce the number of purulent and bacterial diseases, and also avoid the spread of such dangerous and contagious infectious pathologies as tetanus, dysentery, botulism, anthrax, etc.
The spread and availability of antibiotics has led to the fact that their use is quite often irrational and unjustified. Often, patients self-medicate with antibiotics, without consulting a specialist. Over time, this has caused many infectious agents to become resistant to most antibiotics. In other words, cheap and simple drugs are no longer effective.
One of the main problems is the development of diarrhea after antibiotics. It can appear in every person taking such drugs, regardless of age. similar viewdiarrhea is called antibiotic-associated and most often occurs while taking antibacterial drugs based on penicillin and cephalosporin.
Risk factors
There are certain circumstances that can increase the risk of diarrhea after antibiotics. Among them are the following factors:
- Age of the patient. The greatest likelihood of such a complication is observed in children and the elderly. Diarrhea after antibiotics in a child is especially difficult.
- Diseases in acute and chronic form, especially of the gastrointestinal tract. First of all, when taking antibiotics, a detrimental effect is on the intestinal microflora.
- Psychosomatic illnesses.
- Change in the antibiotic regimen that occurs when the selection of drugs or the correct treatment regimen.
- Prescribing increased doses of antibacterial drugs in connection with the ongoing therapy of the underlying disease.
Diarrhea after antibiotics occurs against the background of intestinal dysbacteriosis, as broad-spectrum antibiotics have a detrimental effect on harmful microorganisms. Tetracycline, Aminoglycoside and Cephalosporin most often provoke the development of such a complication.
Causes and symptoms
Diarrhea after taking antibiotics is an intestinal disease. There can be many reasons for its appearance: constant stress, eating low-quality foods, etc. However, taking antibiotics is the most commondiarrhea provoking factor. It is very important to determine the correct cause of discomfort. The following indicators are taken into account:
- Stool consistency.
- Presence of soreness and discomfort in the abdomen.
Indigestion cannot be ignored. It is necessary to take into account the number of manifestations of diarrhea. These indicators will help the specialist accurately determine the cause of the disease and choose the appropriate treatment regimen.
On what day does it appear?
Diarrhea after antibiotics can occur both on the first and tenth day after the start of antibiotics. The main symptom is the presence of liquid and frequent bowel movements. Women and children may also experience the following symptoms:
- Vaginal and oral candidiasis.
- The appearance of sores in the corners of the mouth.
- Soreness in the abdomen.
- Pain on palpation.
- Temperature increase.
If diarrhea started after antibiotics - what to do? More on that later.
Feces tend to be watery. Along with this, a person has constant thirst, as the body becomes dehydrated against the background of diarrhea. Pain medications tend to make the condition worse. The doctor bases the diagnosis of antibiotic-associated diarrhea on the patient's history, medical history, and medications.
Treatment of diarrhea after antibiotics
The main goal of therapy for antibiotic-associated diarrhea is to restore one's ownintestinal microflora. For this purpose, Bifidumbacterin is often prescribed. The drug must be mixed with any fermented milk product. It can be curdled milk, kefir or plain yogurt.
The powder is mixed with 100 ml of fermented milk drink, mixed thoroughly and drunk. Take three times a day before meals. The duration of the course is two weeks. Start taking immediately after antibiotic treatment ends.
Probiotics and prebiotics
In addition, various probiotics and prebiotics are prescribed in addition to the treatment of diarrhea after taking antibiotics. They are used in higher doses than the main drugs. Prebiotics, like probiotics, can be taken by mouth, enemas, or tube. It is also possible to enrich the body with similar substances using a colonoscope.
Most often, when choosing a drug, experts give preference to drugs that are most resistant to the acidic environment of the stomach. These include drugs such as Hilak Forte, Linex, Bifidumbacterin, etc.
Also for diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult, the doctor often prescribes drugs such as Loperamide. It should be borne in mind that in case of a pathology provoked by a bacterial infection, taking antidiarrheal drugs is prohibited.
Painkillers should also be used with caution when treating diarrhea after antibiotics. It is best to refuse to take them for the duration of therapy. This is especially true for patients who suffer fromhemorrhoidal pain. Moreover, the form of analgesics taken does not matter. It can be ointments, suspensions, and tablets.
Medicines to stop diarrhea
The following drugs will help stop diarrhea and normalize the water-s alt balance:
- "Smekta".
- Rehydron.
- "Loperamide".
- Ftalazol.
- Immodium.
The above drugs help to reduce the frequency of bowel movements, remove soreness in the abdomen, colic, and also restore the water-s alt balance of the body, which is severely disturbed due to dehydration during diarrhea. It is very important for the recovery process to follow a special diet.
Popular drugs
The following drugs can be considered the most effective and common for the treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea:
- "Lineks". A popular drug for restoring microflora disturbed for various reasons, including antibiotics. "Linex" quickly copes with the consequences of such treatment. It is part of the probiotics and contains beneficial microorganisms such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics. The latter are nutrients. Linex can be taken even by small children. It is often prescribed for diarrhea.
- Rioflora Balance Neo. Also included in the group of probiotics. It differs from Linex in that it contains 9 strains of beneficial bacteria. The drug helps to restore the intestinal microflora, relieve the symptoms of the disorderintestines and prevent the effects of antibiotic therapy. "Rioflora Balance Neo" also has a healing effect and prevents the penetration of harmful microorganisms into the intestines. The drug can be taken from the age of three. At the same time, a separate form of the drug is produced for children. It is acceptable to use during lactation.
- Enterosorbents. This is a group of medicines that help to remove toxins from the body produced by pathogens. The most common enterosorbents are Enterosgel and activated carbon. Also quite often appointed "Smecta", which is a powder for the preparation of a special solution. Another effective enterosorbent is Polysorb. It contains silicon dioxide, which effectively absorbs decay products, as well as toxins. The drug contributes to the normalization of the intestines.
Diet
If a relapse occurs, in addition to drug treatment, the patient is advised to adhere to a therapeutic diet. For this purpose, foods that can provoke a digestive upset are excluded from the diet. The therapeutic diet should be sparing and pursue only one goal - the restoration of bowel function and the normalization of stools. From the moment signs of antibiotic-associated diarrhea appear, the following foods and dishes should be preferred in the diet:
- Steam omelet.
- Wheat bread croutons.
- Rice soup, mashed through a sieve.
- Mashed semolina or buckwheat porridge.
- Sweet fruit or berry jelly.
For a change, you can include steamed meat and fish dishes, vegetable broth soups, cereals, etc. in the menu
Another way to treat diarrhea after antibiotics?
Recipes of traditional medicine
Many patients prefer to avoid medication. Therefore, preference is given to traditional medicine recipes that are aimed at getting rid of diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics. For treatment, decoctions of the following herbs are used:
- St. John's wort. 10 g of dry grass are brewed with one liter of boiling water. The mixture is infused for half an hour, after which 50 ml is taken 4 times a day.
- Decoction of blueberries helps to get rid of discomfort in the abdomen. For its preparation 2 tbsp. l. dried berries are poured with a glass of boiling water. After 10 minutes, the broth is ready. Take one tablespoon every hour.
- A decoction of wormwood is quite common for the treatment of diarrhea. 1 st. l. dry grass is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for 20 minutes. Then drunk in four doses a day.
- Chamomile is an effective antiseptic. For this, a very cool broth is brewed. It should be insisted up to five hours. After that, a glass is taken.
Prebiotic Foods
What else can you think of when diarrhea started after antibiotics? There is also an alternative to prebiotics in traditional medicine. So, for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, the following products are used:
- Onions and garlic.
- Tomatoes.
- Bananas.
- Chicory.
- Artichokes.
- Asparagus.
The above products contain carbohydrates, which are a good environment for positive microorganisms. Traditional medicine prescription treatment is available for any age group. This kind of therapy can really help to avoid dehydration and stop diarrhea.
However, it should be understood that traditional medicine recipes are most often used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that have become chronic. It is strongly not recommended to choose your own treatment for a child under three years of age.
Prevention
When it comes to prevention, there are a few things you can do to help prevent diarrhea while taking antibiotics:
- Antibacterial drugs should only be taken as directed by your doctor.
- Simultaneous administration of antibiotics with probiotics.
