Diarrhea is a symptom of various illnesses. A distinction is made between acute and chronic diarrhea. Acute often occurs as so-called traveler's diarrhea.
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It is diarrhea (including diarrhea or diarrhea) if at least two of the following three criteria are met:
- more than three bowel movements per day;
- liquid or very soft stool consistency;
- increased amount.
Diarrhea often occurs suddenly and can be accompanied by abdominal cramps and burning pain. Due to the high fluid loss, you quickly feel exhausted and tired. Diarrhea itself and the accompanying symptoms can be alleviated with some known home remedies.
Simple home remedies for diarrhea
Drink a lot! Match the high ones dehydration through diarrhea by doing a lot water and drink mild teas.
A hot water bottle or a heated spelled pillow on the stomach has an antispasmodic and beneficial effect.
In order to get the intestine going again, you should slowly start eating small meals again after a meal (not eating). Are suitable zwieback, Toast, rice and light soups. However, do not eat spicy and greasy foods.
Especially with Toddlers it is important to balance fluids and minerals quickly. To do this, dissolve in a liter of pure orange juice one to two tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of salt.
Cola and pretzel sticks are not a good antidote for diarrhea, says the doctor Hans-Jörg Epple. The drink contains too much sugar and could increase diarrhea. According to him, salt sticks are not enough to compensate for the body's loss of salt because it contains important salts such as potassium and citrate are missing.
Instead, Epple advises one Electrolyte solution from the pharmacy or the following home remedies: Dissolve a quarter teaspoon in a liter of boiled water or still mineral water Table salt and baking soda. Add two tablespoons of sugar or honey and half a cup of orange juice.
Another way that Loss of potassium to compensate, be one or two mashed bananas.
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So you can make an electrolyte solution yourself.
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Acute and chronic diarrhea: what's the difference?
Acute diarrhea often occurs as travel diarrhea, especially in tropical countries. Chronic diarrhea occurs when the symptom persists for more than three weeks. Diarrhea that lasts only a few days is usually harmless. Triggers can be, for example, gastrointestinal infections caused by viruses.
For example, severe diarrhea is caused by infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile back. If left untreated, fluid and mineral loss occurs quickly, which can be fatal. Such severe diarrhea courses particularly affect older people and infants.
The main symptom of diarrhea is liquid to watery or very soft, mushy stool with frequent defecation (at least three times a day). Usually an increased amount of stool occurs at the same time. The color of the chair varies and ranges from yellowish to dark brown.
Other symptoms of diarrhea
The cause of the diarrhea is the disturbed relationship between fluid intake and release in the digestive tract. For acute and chronic diarrhea, there are various possible causes, some of which overlap.
Causes acute diarrhea
The most common cause of acute diarrhea is bacteria, parasites or viruses. They lead to an infectious diarrhea that affects the small or large intestine. Even if you eat contaminated food, this can lead to diarrhea: With such food poisoning, bacteria and toxins are also responsible for acute diarrhea. Gastrointestinal flu, on the other hand, is caused by viruses such as noro or rotaviruses.
Medicines and laxatives
Diarrhea as a side effect of medication is often harmless and usually goes away on its own within a few days. "However, if massive diarrhea lasts longer than two days, you should see a doctor," recommends Thorsten Gottwald from the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists in Berlin.
Diarrhea is relatively common as a result of antibiotic treatments. Because these drugs destroy disease-causing bacteria, but also parts of the intestinal bacteria that are important for our health. One possible consequence is diarrhea, because food components are no longer completely broken down by the intestinal bacteria.
Various over-the-counter medications can also cause diarrhea as a side effect. This applies, for example, to medications such as proton pump inhibitors, which reduce the formation of stomach acid and are taken against stomach pain and heartburn. Diarrhea is also known as a side effect of food supplements that contain magnesium. Some people also use the side effect of magnesium in a targeted way to stimulate sluggish bowel movements.
Diarrhea is also a possible side effect of cancer medication, prescription heart medication, or overdosed thyroid hormones.
"Diarrhea can also be a sign of an overdose of laxatives," warns Gottwald. "Then you should reduce the dose of the laxative until the stool is soft but not fluid." Basically, laxatives should not be used for more than two weeks without medical advice. Exceptions are swelling substances from linseed or Indian psyllium: These laxatives do not cause diarrhea even in high doses and can be taken in the long term.
Gastrointestinal flu: symptoms and home remedies
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Causes of acute Diarrhea at a glance
Causes chronic diarrhea
In contrast to acute diarrhea, infections caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses are rarely the cause of symptoms in chronic diarrhea. Common causes are functional disorders of the intestinal tract, especially the irritable bowel syndrome (colon irritable). What causes irritable bowel syndrome has not yet been clearly clarified. Another cause of chronic diarrhea is inflammation of the intestine caused by Crohn's disease or chronic intestinal inflammation (ulcerative colitis).
Other causes of chronic diarrhea:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Metabolic disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
- restricted nutrient intake or utilization (malassimilation syndrome)
- Tumors
- excessive use of laxatives (laxatives)
- Food allergies
This happens when diagnosing diarrhea
A stool sample is usually required to diagnose diarrhea. The pathogen can be determined in the laboratory using this sample. Blood in the stool can also be detected in this way. If the stool sample does not produce any findings, a blood sample is taken and examined for pathogens in the laboratory. An organ or metabolic disorder can also be diagnosed by a blood test.
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Listening to the lungs, measuring blood pressure – these are basic examinations by a family doctor. But when is the X-ray taken and when do I have to go into the MRI tube as a patient?
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In addition, when looking for the causes of diarrhea, colonoscopy (colonoscopy) or rectal surgery (sigmoidoscopy) may be necessary. During mirroring, tissue samples can be taken and examined (biopsy).
When to see a doctor if you have diarrhea
A short-term diarrhea without any significant accompanying symptoms usually does not require treatment, it hardly affects health. In the event of severe diarrhea and other symptoms, such as fever, or persistent and bloody diarrhea, a doctor should be consulted. The long-term treatment of diarrhea depends on the causal disease. In the case of non-infectious, acute diarrhea, it is usually sufficient to stop eating foods that contain the triggering substance.
Treatment of diarrhea with medication
Because the body loses a lot of fluid, it is very important to balance the fluid and electrolyte balance in the event of diarrhea. The administration of electrolyte-glucose solutions compensates for the deficit in water and minerals in the body caused by the diarrhea. If a severe loss of fluid has already occurred, such solutions can be administered by infusion.
There are various medications for diarrhea:
To prevent increased bowel activity, anti-motility drugs are used. They reduce bowel movements and prevent further diarrhea. There Motility inhibitor can lead to constipation, they are only suitable for a short time. The active substance Loperamide is an over-the-counter motility inhibitor, but is not suitable for children.
kaolin is a clay or porcelain soil that absorbs water and has a binding effect. It is taken and reduces diarrhea.
Preparations that contain the bacterium Lactobacillus (lactic acid bacterium) promote the healing of the attacked intestinal mucosa. Lactobacillus supplements are used to prevent diarrhea.
Coal tablets
Yeast preparations have a similar effect and are also suitable for children.
How can I prevent diarrhea at home and while traveling?
Usually, diarrhea cannot be specifically prevented. Avoiding the triggering foods only prevents the disease in food allergies. To avoid food poisoning, raw meat should not be eaten, as should eggs. To prevent traveler's diarrhea in tropical countries, never drink water without boiling it first.
Use only boiled water for brushing your teeth or carefully select mineral water and all food. If you follow the rule of thumb "Cook it, peel it or forget it" ("Cook it, peel it or forget it!"), You are virtually safe from traveler's diarrhea even on a vacation to Asia.
