Who doesn’t know from television advertising what to do if diarrhea occurs in adults? Take a “magic” pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such “treatment” will not help at best, and will do harm at worst. Firstly, medications for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce it, and secondly, the use of such medications is contraindicated for a number of diseases. What to do when you suffer from loose stools?

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract or in the body as a whole. Therefore, it is impossible to cure diarrhea without knowing what causes it. Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose stool either once or with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation goes away within 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, over 21 days - chronic.

In a normal state, the body of a healthy adult excretes 100–300 g of formed feces daily or at other intervals that are comfortable for a particular gastrointestinal tract. Liquefaction and accelerated evacuation of stool occurs due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, stool is 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

• disturbances of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces; it is excreted frequently, but in small portions;
• if the problem is in the absorption of substances by the intestinal wall, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to the mass of undigested food.

The main causes of loose stools in adults:

Such diarrhea usually goes away within 3-4 days, and the patient will most likely be able to associate the onset of diarrhea with previous events.

However, the causes of diarrhea in an adult can be more serious:

• infection with bacteria, viruses, protozoa (dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu);
• inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, hepatitis, ulcers);
• functional organ failure (deficiency of certain enzymes);
• gastrointestinal diseases of unknown etiology (Crohn's disease);
• toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough to simply stop the diarrhea: a diagnosis must be made and qualified treatment must be carried out, often in an inpatient setting. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when in addition to loose stools, cramping pain in the abdomen and dyspeptic symptoms (boiling, bloating, etc.) may be observed.

In case of food poisoning, the pain is accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and the temperature may rise. Similar symptoms are accompanied by intestinal infections and viral diseases.

Alarming signs that require immediate attention are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, cracked lips, severe thirst, rare urination, darkening of urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition poses a great danger: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do for diarrhea in an adult - first aid

To prevent dehydration, the water and salts lost by the body must be compensated by drinking plenty of fluids: it is best to take rehydrating solutions (Rehydron and analogues); in their absence, you can drink saline solution, salted water, chamomile tea. Prevention of dehydration should begin as soon as it becomes clear that loose stools are not an isolated case.

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and constant, has been going on for several days, and is accompanied by vomiting. It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the stool. It can appear with dysentery, ulcerative colitis,.

Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will select a specific treatment, but there are general rules that must be followed in any case of diarrhea. This is dietary nutrition, taking adsorbent drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in an adult

The nature of the diet obviously influences bowel movements. Many foods have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and during diarrhea you should forget about them until complete recovery. These are spices, raw vegetables, plums and other laxatives.

Some foods have a fixing effect, so in the first few days of the diet you should limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

• wheat bread crackers;
• vegetable purees;
• slimy porridge;
• pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steamed, boiled);
• tea, blueberry jelly, bird cherry fruit infusion, rice infusion.

You can start the diet on a “fasting” day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

If diarrhea is caused by lactose or gluten intolerance, then diet is the main, and often the only, factor in treatment. For these diseases, a therapeutic diet is prescribed that completely excludes products containing milk sugar and the cereal protein gluten.

Diet is important: you need to eat often (every 3 hours) and in small portions.

The diet must be followed throughout the treatment and beyond, but after the first “hard” days, you can remove the restrictions and expand the diet, adhering to the following principles:

Thus, we list the prohibited products:

• any fried meat;
• offal;
• rich broths;
• fatty fish prepared in any way, and lean fish if it is fried, canned, smoked;
• milk, high fat cream;
• scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs;
• cabbage in any form, beets, spicy root vegetables, turnips, radishes, cucumbers;
• canned vegetables;
• mushrooms;
• sour berries and fruits;
• pastries and bread;
• carbonated drinks, kvass, cold drinks.

What then can you eat for diarrhea in adults? Here is an approximate list of dishes from which it is recommended to create a diet menu:

• steamed minced meat cutlets, meat puree (can be from “children’s” jars), soufflé;
• boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish balls, steamed cutlets;
• cereal cooked in water; you can add a little milk and a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
• rice pudding;
• puree soups with vegetable or weak meat broth;
• boiled pasta;
• fermented milk drinks;
• fresh cottage cheese;
• omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
• boiled, baked or pureed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
• baked fruits in compote, some fresh strawberries;
• jellies and mousses from berries and fruits;
• white bread croutons, dryers, “Maria” cookies;
• water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

In addition to diet, it is important to organize the correct drinking regime. The fluid entering the body should be several liters in volume in order to fully compensate for the loss of water through diarrhea.

Since microelements are washed out with loose stools, plain water is not very suitable for drinking. It is better to take glucose-salt drinks, which will replenish the loss of electrolytes, maintain normal blood sugar levels, and salt also promotes fluid retention in the body.

There are special preparations for preparing rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but if they are not available, you can prepare the liquid yourself by diluting it in a liter of water:

Instead of potassium chloride, you can pour a decoction of dried apricots and freshly squeezed orange juice into the solution. You need to drink in small portions, but constantly throughout the day.

Medicines to treat diarrhea in adults

As an important piece of advice, it should be noted that diarrhea in an adult that has not gone away within 3 days is a reason to consult a doctor. Chronic diarrhea can indicate the presence of serious diseases, it even occurs with some forms of cancer.

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature rises above 38 during diarrhea, signs uncharacteristic of indigestion or poisoning appear: rash, yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, sleep disturbances. Constant excruciating pain in the abdomen should not be the norm (spastic pain before and during bowel movements is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or coagulated (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate that the situation is critical: it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

Diarrhea(diarrhea) – frequent, repeated loose stools. Diarrhea is usually accompanied by pain, rumbling in the abdomen, flatulence, and tenesmus. Diarrhea is a symptom of many infectious diseases and inflammatory processes of the intestines, dysbiosis, and neurogenic disorders. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease is important in preventing complications. Loss of large amounts of fluid during profuse diarrhea leads to disruption of the water-salt balance and can cause heart and kidney failure.

General information

Diarrhea is defined as single or frequent defecation of loose stool. Diarrhea is a symptom that signals a malabsorption of water and electrolytes in the intestines. Normally, the amount of feces excreted per day by an adult varies between 100-300 grams, depending on the characteristics of the diet (the amount of plant fiber consumed, poorly digestible substances, liquids). If intestinal motility increases, stool may become more frequent and thinner, but its quantity remains within normal limits. When the amount of liquid in the stool increases to 60-90%, we speak of diarrhea.

There are acute diarrhea (lasting no more than 2-3 weeks) and chronic. In addition, the concept of chronic diarrhea includes a tendency to periodically have large stools (more than 300 grams per day). Patients suffering from malabsorption of various nutrients tend to produce polyfecal matter: the excretion of large amounts of stool containing undigested food debris.

Causes of diarrhea

With severe intoxication in the intestine, excess secretion of water with sodium ions occurs into its lumen, which helps to dilute the stool. Secretory diarrhea develops with intestinal infections (cholera, enteroviruses), taking certain medications and dietary supplements. Osmolar diarrhea occurs with malabsorption syndrome, insufficient digestion of sugars, excessive consumption of osmotically active substances (laxative salts, sorbitol, antacids, etc.). The mechanism of development of diarrhea in such cases is associated with an increase in osmotic pressure in the intestinal lumen and fluid diffusion along the osmotic gradient.

A significant factor contributing to the development of diarrhea is impaired intestinal motility (hypokinetic and hyperkinetic diarrhea) and, as a consequence, a change in the rate of transit of intestinal contents. Laxatives and magnesium salts help enhance motility. Impaired motor function (weakening and strengthening of peristalsis) occurs with the development of irritable bowel syndrome. In this case they talk about functional diarrhea.

Inflammation of the intestinal walls causes the exudation of protein, electrolytes and water into the intestinal lumen through damaged mucosa. Exudative diarrhea accompanies enteritis, enterocolitis of various etiologies, intestinal tuberculosis, acute intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery). Often with this type of diarrhea there is blood and pus in the stool.

Diarrhea can develop as a result of taking medications: laxatives, antacids containing magnesium salts, certain groups of antibiotics (ampicillin, lincomycin, cephalosporins, clindamycin), antiarrhythmic drugs (quindiline, propranol), digitalis preparations, potassium salts, artificial sugars (sorbitol, mannitol) , cholestyramine, chenodeoxycholic acid, sulfonamides, anticoagulants.

Classification

The following types of diarrhea are distinguished: infectious (with dysentery, salmonellosis, amoebiasis, food toxic infections and entroviruses), nutritional (associated with dietary disorders or allergic reactions to food), dyspeptic (accompanies digestive disorders associated with insufficiency of the secretory functions of the organs of the digestive system: liver, pancreas, stomach; as well as in case of insufficiency of enzyme secretion in the small intestine), toxic (with arsenic or mercury poisoning, uremia), medicinal (caused by taking drugs, drug dysbiosis), neurogenic (with changes in motor skills due to disturbances in nervous regulation associated with psycho-emotional experiences).

Clinical features of diarrhea

In clinical practice, acute and chronic diarrhea are distinguished.

Acute diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea

Diarrhea lasting more than 3 weeks is considered chronic. It can be a consequence of various pathologies, the identification of which is the main task for determining treatment tactics. Information about the causes of chronic diarrhea can be provided by medical history, accompanying clinical symptoms and syndromes, and physical examination.

Particular attention is paid to the nature of the stool: frequency of bowel movements, daily dynamics, volume, consistency, color, presence of impurities in the stool (blood, mucus, fat). The survey reveals the presence or absence of accompanying symptoms: tenesmus (false urge to defecate), abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting.

Pathologies of the small intestine are manifested by copious watery or fatty stools. Diseases of the large intestine are characterized by less abundant stool; streaks of pus or blood and mucus may be present in the stool. Most often, diarrhea with lesions of the large intestine is accompanied by pain in the abdomen. Diseases of the rectum are manifested by frequent, scanty stools as a result of increased sensitivity to stretching of the intestinal walls, tenesmus.

Diagnosis of diarrhea

Acute diarrhea is usually characterized by a very pronounced loss of fluid and electrolytes in the feces. During examination and physical examination of the patient, signs of dehydration are noted: dryness and decreased skin turgor, increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. With severe calcium deficiency, the symptom of a “muscle roll” becomes positive, and convulsions may occur.

In case of diarrhea, the patient's stool is always carefully examined; in addition, it is advisable to carry out a proctological examination. Detection of anal fissure, fistula, paraproctitis may suggest Crohn's disease. For any diarrhea, a comprehensive examination of the digestive tract is performed. Instrumental endoscopic techniques (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, irrigoscopy, sigmoidoscopy) allow you to examine the internal walls of the upper gastrointestinal tract and large intestine, detect damage to the mucosa, inflammation, neoplasms, bleeding ulcerations, etc.

Fecal microscopy reveals a high content of leukocytes and epithelial cells in it, which indicates the presence of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. The detected excess of fatty acids is a consequence of impaired fat absorption. Together with the remains of muscle fibers and the high starch content in the feces, steatorrhea is a sign of malabsorption syndrome. Fermentation processes due to the development of dysbiosis contribute to changes in the normal acid-base balance in the intestines. To identify such disorders, intestinal pH is measured (normally 6.0).

Persistent diarrhea in combination with excessive gastric secretion is characterized by Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ulcerogenic pancreatic adenoma). In addition, prolonged secretory diarrhea may be the result of the development of hormone-producing tumors (for example, VIPoma). Laboratory blood tests are aimed at identifying signs of the inflammatory process, biochemical markers of liver and pancreas dysfunction, and hormonal disorders that may be causes of chronic diarrhea.

Treatment of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom of many diseases, therefore, in the choice of medical tactics, the main role is played by the identification and treatment of the underlying pathology. Depending on the type of diarrhea, the patient is referred for treatment to a gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist or proctologist. You should definitely seek medical help if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 4 days, or if there are streaks of blood or mucus in your stool. In addition, symptoms that cannot be ignored are: tarry stools, abdominal pain, fever. If signs of diarrhea appear and there is a possibility of food poisoning, you should also consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Therapy aimed at eliminating diarrhea depends on its type. And it includes the following components: dietary nutrition, antibacterial therapy, pathogenetic treatment (correction of malabsorption in case of enzyme deficiencies, reduction of gastric secretion, drugs that normalize intestinal motility, etc.), treatment of the consequences of prolonged diarrhea (rehydration, restoration of electrolyte balance).

In case of diarrhea, foods are introduced into the diet that help reduce peristalsis and reduce the secretion of water into the intestinal lumen. In addition, the underlying pathology that caused the diarrhea is taken into account. The components of the diet must correspond to the functional state of digestion. Products that promote the secretion of hydrochloric acid and increase the rate of evacuation of food from the intestines are excluded from the diet during acute diarrhea.

Antibiotic therapy for diarrhea is prescribed to suppress pathological flora and restore normal eubiosis in the intestines. For infectious diarrhea, broad-spectrum antibiotics, quinolones, sulfonamides, and nitrofurans are prescribed. The drugs of choice for intestinal infections are drugs that do not have an adverse effect on the intestinal microbiocenosis (combined drugs, nifuroxazide). Sometimes eubiotics can be prescribed for diarrhea of ​​various origins. However, more often such treatment is prescribed after the signs of diarrhea have subsided to normalize the intestinal flora (eliminate dysbiosis).

Adsorbents, enveloping and astringent agents that neutralize organic acids are used as symptomatic agents. Loperamide is used to regulate intestinal motility; in addition, it acts directly on the opiate receptors of the small intestine, reducing the secretory function of enterocytes and improving absorption. Somatostatin, which affects secretory function, has a pronounced antidiarrheal effect.

For infectious diarrhea, drugs that reduce intestinal motility are not used. Loss of fluid and electrolytes during prolonged and severe diarrhea requires rehydration measures. Most patients are prescribed oral rehydration, but in 5-15% of cases there is a need for intravenous administration of electrolyte solutions.

Prevention of diarrhea

Prevention of diarrhea includes measures of physical hygiene and nutrition. Washing your hands before eating, thoroughly washing raw vegetables and fruits, and properly preparing foods helps avoid food poisoning and intestinal infections. In addition, it is worth remembering the need to avoid drinking raw water, unfamiliar and suspicious food, and food that can cause an allergic reaction.

Everyone, even healthy people, has experienced diarrhea, or diarrhea. There are a huge number of reasons for its appearance, starting with food products that are incompatible with each other and ending with very severe infections.

In this article, we will not consider severe infections accompanied by painful diarrhea, such as cholera and others. This is a separate topic.

Watery diarrhea

Watery diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is involved in the pathological process. This may be a situation where poisoning has occurred with poor-quality food products or during acute intestinal infections.

Sometimes the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the intestines can be very small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but their metabolic products, the toxins they release.

In the cold season, watery stools sometimes occur due to a number of viruses that are active in winter. These are so-called rotavirus infections, which are very easy to catch.

Why is water diarrhea dangerous?

Diarrhea can be roughly divided into watery stools without pathological impurities, such as blood, and diarrhea streaked with blood. If blood appears in the intestinal discharge, this is a signal to seek medical help, because... The causes of this symptom can be very serious: intestinal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding or a serious bacterial infection. All these conditions can threaten the patient's life. But this also needs to be discussed separately.

So, if water diarrhea occurs 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 occur 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 humans. Every cell of our body consists of water, and if there is a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, during diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals that the body needs is released.

For a small child, a loss of 10% of body weight due to watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then a loss of 500 ml of fluid will be fatal for him. For adults, losing 10% of their body weight in a short period of 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 choose the right treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if an adult has loose stools 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life, over time (if this lasts for several days), the body will be severely depleted and the water-salt balance will be disrupted. Recovery will take much longer than the duration of the illness. If an adult has water diarrhea, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a kind of defensive reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. In this way, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and carries out 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 (increased temperature) may indicate general intoxication of the body. This condition requires an appropriate attitude. You can't leave everything to chance. Some people believe that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea still needs to be treated if it lasts more than one day. This way you can save your 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 you experience pain with diarrhea, you should see a doctor. In some of these situations, surgical treatment is necessary.

There are other causes of diarrhea:

• dyspeptic - this is the most common cause of diarrhea; it can occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, improper functioning of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of ingested food;
• infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebas and food toxins;
• alimentary is an allergic reaction to food;
• toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
• medicinal - caused by side effects of medications, for example, some antibiotics in the intestines kill not only pathogenic flora, but also beneficial 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?

Patients experience diarrhea differently, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. For example, loose stools 2-3 times a day in some people cause weakness and poor health, while in others diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negative consequences.

If diarrhea lasts a short time, it usually does not cause negative consequences and passes without much harm to health. 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 (depletion of the body), then this condition requires emergency medical care. Often patients with such symptoms are hospitalized.

For any type of diarrhea, it is necessary to drink enough fluid. Compliance with the drinking regime can protect against negative consequences and keep the patient’s body in good shape.

It is better to drink mineral water without gas content, it will help maintain the water-salt balance. If prolonged water diarrhea occurs 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 facility. If severe diarrhea develops, a doctor will determine the cause and treatment.

Diet for diarrhea

A gentle diet for diarrhea, regardless of the reasons that caused it, is necessary. Until the condition improves and the symptoms of intoxication disappear, you need to follow a diet.

The following products are allowed:

• porridge with water;
• jelly;
• lean boiled or steamed meat;
• steam cutlets;
• boiled or steamed fish.

Prohibited products:

• fatty foods;
• fried foods;
• sweets;
• spicy dishes;
• pickled products;
• any canned food;
• carbonated drinks;
• coffee;
• tea is too strong;
• any alcohol.

After the diarrhea disappears and the diet improves, you need to stick to it for 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 cannot immediately return to your usual diet. A sudden return of the wrong dish to the menu can upset the fragile and unstable balance after illness.

Diarrhea: causes and treatment

Treatment of diarrhea directly depends on the cause that caused it. What medications for diarrhea are most effective? We'll talk about this in this section.

First of all, any diarrhea should not be treated with antibiotics. This is done only in severe cases, for example, if the cause of 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 further treatment will be carried out under the strict supervision of doctors. If water diarrhea is observed in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring water-salt 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, half a glass. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these medications within 12 hours.

Medicines for diarrhea

Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. A range of interventions should be considered when treating diarrhea. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against dehydration. Let's look at medications for diarrhea in adults that are used most often.

All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:

• sulfonamide drugs (“Fthalazol”);
• antibiotics (Levomycetin, Tetracycline tablets);
• nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
• antimicrobial drugs (“Enterofuril”, “Sulgin”);
• antifungal (Intetrix) - used for amoebic dysentery;
• enterosorbents (Enterosgel, activated carbon);
• antiviral drugs.

Let's look at the most well-known remedies for diarrhea in adults. In what case is it advisable to take this or that drug?

What to give for diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with Enterosgel - this is a modern enterosorbent based on bioorganic silicon, which effectively absorbs and removes only toxic substances and pathogenic microbes from the stomach and intestines. Enterosgel does not interact in any way with the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, unlike other sorbents that stick to the inflamed mucosa and further injure it. The drug does not cause constipation, does not cause allergies, and can be taken from the first days of life.

The drug "Fthalazol" for diarrhea

These tablets for diarrhea in adults of the sulfonamide group are most appropriate to take for infectious types of diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the medicine "Fthalazol" for 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 influence of the drug is stopped.

Imodium for diarrhea

The drug "Imodium" (its other name is "Suprelol", "Lopedium" and "Loperamide") begins to act within the first 40-60 minutes. This drug is effective for diarrhea caused by poor-quality foods, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and in the initial stages of infectious diarrhea. It helps well with frequent vomiting. This drug is convenient to take with you on the road. Diarrhea is a common companion for travelers.

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 antifoam agent - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to it, spastic pain and the feeling of intestinal distension disappear. These are chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. It is not recommended to give them to children under 12 years of age.

Natural Remedies for Diarrhea

This includes drugs such as Smecta and Kaopectate. These drugs are used for intestinal disorders caused by rotavirus infections. It should be noted that the drug "Kaopectate" is contraindicated in childhood.

These drugs belong to the group of enterosorbents; they gradually reduce the frequency of trips to the toilet, and also relieve bloating and rumbling in the abdomen.

Linex tablets for diarrhea

This product 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 many ways to treat such ailments as diarrhea. Folk remedies for treating diarrhea have been proven for centuries.

1. A 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 over low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours, 2 tbsp. spoons.
2. Traditional 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.
3. Wormwood will help cope with diarrhea. But you need to be careful with this product: do not exceed the dosage and do not use it for too long. To prepare the medicine, add 1 teaspoon of dry herb to one glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
4. A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcoholic infusion of walnut partitions has been known for a long time. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops), otherwise it may provoke a reverse reaction - 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 alcohol tinctures can only be used internally for treatment by adults. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. spoon of ground walnut partitions and pour one glass of vodka. Leave in darkness for 5-7 days. This product is prepared for future use and stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to always have this medicine on hand for those who are prone to frequent intestinal disorders.

Conclusion

For ailments such as diarrhea, folk remedies can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you cannot cope with an intestinal disorder on your own, and pain or fever also occurs, 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 full bloom.

Diarrhea is one of those delicate problems that people prefer not to talk about out loud. The unpleasant condition manifests itself in a frequent urge to defecate, accompanied by upset stool.

Diarrhea itself is not a separate disease. This is one of the symptoms of an incipient disease, which can be caused by infections, stale food and many other factors. How to quickly get rid of diarrhea at home?

Which remedies are the most effective? In this article we will review the most popular ways to combat this unpleasant disease.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is dangerous due to dehydration

Before you begin treatment for diarrhea, you must try to determine the causes of its occurrence. Stool disorder can be caused by:

• disturbances of intestinal motility;
• infections affecting the gastrointestinal tract;
• irritable bowel syndrome caused by emotional disorders;
• enzyme deficiency;
• imbalance of intestinal microflora associated with taking certain medications;
• autoimmune pathologies;
• congenital intolerance to certain substances (for example, lactose);
• food poisoning and allergies;
• climate change.

In addition, the appearance of diarrhea mixed with blood may indicate the presence of:

• peptic ulcer;
• hemorrhoids;
• tumors;
• stomach or intestinal bleeding and other serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Often, diarrhea can be accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. These additional symptoms are also important to pay attention to.

Can diarrhea be treated at home?

Diarrhea is often accompanied by abdominal pain

Self-medication of diarrhea is allowed only in cases where the unpleasant symptoms last no more than three days and are not accompanied by severe pain, as well as additional signs indicating a serious illness.

Immediate seeking of medical help is necessary if:

• high temperature;
• severe vomiting;
• dizziness and fainting;
• bloody discharge;
• skin itching and redness.

It should be remembered that it is necessary to begin self-treatment only after identifying the factor that caused the intestinal disorder.

The main goal of treating diarrhea at home is to prevent dehydration, quickly eliminate discomfort and normalize stool.

The therapy carried out is based on several basic principles. For a quick recovery, the patient needs:

• maintain a gentle daily routine;
• adhere to a gentle diet;
• replenish the lost volume of body fluid;
• use medications or traditional medicine for treatment.

Proper nutrition for diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom of poisoning

At the first signs of intestinal distress, you need to reconsider your diet to reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract.

In many cases, the appearance of diarrhea is associated with eating specific foods, as well as the questionable quality of the food consumed.

In such cases, the inappropriate type of food should be excluded from the diet. This measure can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition and also reduce unpleasant symptoms.

In case of severe diarrhea, the following are temporarily excluded from the diet:

• fried, spicy and smoked foods;
• milk products;
• baked goods;
• alcohol;
• raw vegetables and fruits;
• coffee drinks.

In addition, it is necessary to include in your diet foods that have strengthening properties and are easily digestible by the intestines. This group includes:

• rice, buckwheat and oatmeal;
• boiled chicken, rabbit or turkey meat;
• boiled potatoes;
• baked apples;
• grenades;
• lean crackers, cookies and crackers;
• strong tea.

It is very important to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. It is better to drink pure still water, as well as compotes from dried pears and blueberries.

Following such a diet will help speed up the process of treating diarrhea, as well as improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, after eliminating the unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to adhere to a gentle diet for another three to four weeks.

Treating diarrhea with medications

Treating diarrhea at home

Any first aid kit should have products to help stop diarrhea. But before taking the drug yourself, you must carefully study the instructions so as not to aggravate an already sad situation.

It is best to start taking the medication after consulting a specialist. Pharmacies offer a wide range of drugs that combat intestinal disorders and are available without a doctor's prescription.

Depending on the mode of action, they can be divided into several main types:

• Medicines (sorbents) that help compact stool.
• Drugs that have a slowing effect on intestinal motility.
• Probiotics that populate the intestinal microflora with beneficial live bacteria

Let's look at the most popular medications in more detail.

Preparations - sorbents

Adsorbents allow toxic substances that cause diarrhea to be removed from the body. Sorbents are recommended to be taken in case of poisoning and intestinal infection. The range of these drugs is huge.

Patients are saved from frequent urge to go to the toilet by taking:

• Activated carbon is a cheap product that can remove toxins and toxic substances from the body in case of food poisoning. Can be used by pregnant women. The drug is contraindicated for dysbacteriosis and viral diarrhea.
• "Smecty". The drug is effective in combating diarrhea caused by intestinal infection, and also eliminates nausea and heartburn. Approved for use from birth.
• "Polyphepan", which helps eliminate diarrhea caused by infection in adults and children.
• "Polysorb", which has powerful detoxifying properties.
• "Enterosgel", which helps cleanse the body of toxins, pathogenic bacteria and allergens.
• "Attapulgita" and many other remedies.
• Drugs that reduce intestinal secretion

This type of drugs (diclofenac, sulfasalazine) belongs to the category of non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. Treatment is carried out in short courses from the first signs of diarrhea.

Drugs that reduce intestinal motility

If irritable bowel syndrome occurs, it is recommended to take medications that help reduce intestinal motility. Such drugs include:

• "Immodium";
• "Lopedium";
• "Atropine".

They slow down the process of fecal formation and reduce the frequency of the urge to go to the toilet. These drugs should not be taken if you suspect an intestinal infection, as their effect slows down the healing process.

Probiotic preparations

With diarrhea, the ratio of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestinal microflora is disrupted. To restore it, probiotics containing beneficial bacteria are taken:

• "Linex";
• "Enterol";
• "Acilact";
• "Hilak-forte";
• "Lactobacterin".

Medicines should be taken with caution, observing the dosage. If diarrhea decreases or stops, you should stop taking them to avoid constipation.

Folk remedies against diarrhea

Treating diarrhea at home: herbal infusions

In folk medicine, there are many antidiarrheal agents that help consolidate stool, avoid dehydration and remove toxic substances. Many of them are time-tested and have proven their effectiveness. Let's take a closer look at some of them.

Congee

One of the simplest and most affordable remedies for treating intestinal disorders. It is necessary to boil the rice in enough water until it becomes a liquid porridge.

The resulting decoction is filtered through a sieve and drunk 100 grams every three to four hours until the diarrhea stops.

Onion peel

50 grams of onion peels are poured into 1 liter of water, brought to a boil and cooked for 5 minutes over low heat. The broth should be left to brew for 30 minutes, then strain and drink in small sips throughout the day.

Oak bark

2-2.5 tablespoons of crushed oak bark are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left for 30-40 minutes. You need to take the product 50-60 grams three times a day.

Pomegranate peels

Several pomegranate peels are poured into a glass of boiling water and infused under a closed lid until the broth acquires a dirty pink color. The infusion is divided into two servings and drunk throughout the day.

Strong tea

You should brew strong black tea without additives and drink it three times a day. But it should be remembered that each of the folk remedies also has contraindications.

Thus, treatment of diarrhea at home can be carried out using various medications or folk remedies. If you experience severe pain, bleeding, or severe vomiting, it is better to seek medical help as quickly as possible rather than self-medicate.

To improve the functioning of the digestive system and prevent diarrhea, it is necessary to follow a daily routine, rules of personal hygiene, and eat right.

How to get rid of diarrhea and diarrhea at home, quickly and without pills - in the video:

If you have diarrhea, how to treat this unpleasant disease at home - this question remains to be answered. There are many medications and folk remedies designed to solve this problem. In difficult cases, especially when it comes to the health of the child, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Medical indications

Doctors include the following symptoms of this disease:

• liquid stools that are passed at least 4 times a day;
• constant flatulence;
• rumbling in the stomach and bloating of the abdominal cavity;
• feeling of heaviness and cramping in the lower abdominal cavity;
• sharp abdominal pain;
• complete loss of appetite;
• a feeling of nausea that progresses to vomiting;
• drowsiness;
• fatigue.

The average duration of diarrhea is 3 days.

Before treating diarrhea at home, it is recommended to find out the cause of its occurrence.

The reasons may be:

• food poisoning;
• viruses;
• dysbacteriosis;
• stress;
• diseases of the digestive system.

The main cause of the disease is viral diarrhea. To cure such diarrhea at home, you will need the help of a doctor. Particular attention is paid to nutrition, especially for children. After the first appearance of loose stools, it is recommended to refuse food. The patient can drink black or herbal tea, bird cherry infusion, or blueberry jelly. The diet includes dry cookies and white bread crackers. After some time, you can eat slimy porridges prepared with water and without oil. You can prepare rice water.

Treatment of diarrhea at home in children is carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician. Folk remedies and other medications are taken as prescribed by a doctor. Preliminary laboratory tests are carried out to identify the causative agent of diarrhea. Diarrhea in children occurs due to viruses entering the body:

• rotavirus;
• adenovirus.

• nausea turning into vomiting;
• headache;
• loose stool with blood.

Symptoms of the disease

Dehydration is the main threat to children's lives. With diarrhea, a large number of elements are removed from the body, including electrolytes. Before using folk remedies and medications for diarrhea at home, it is recommended to restore fluid in the body.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, then dehydration of the body is observed. During its development, the performance of internal organs deteriorates, which can lead to death. Therefore, it is recommended to quickly begin treating diarrhea at home in children under 2 years of age.

At this age, loose green stools often appear (due to poor nutrition). Before stopping diarrhea at home using folk remedies, it is recommended to pay attention to the mother’s diet or infant formula. It is necessary to monitor the general condition of the child. If it gets worse, then a doctor's help will be needed. If you experience loose stools with blood, you should call an ambulance.

Diarrhea is treated with garlic. For 4 cloves of garlic you will need 450 g of honey. For 1 glass of water use 1 spoon of the resulting mixture. The folk remedy should be taken in small sips 3 times a day.

Unsweetened black teas are effective home remedies for diarrhea. They restore and soothe the digestive tract. Papaya quickly helps with diarrhea. Treating diarrhea at home with rice water prevents irritation of the intestines when gastric juice enters it. This composition has good enveloping ability and astringent properties. When starch enters the body, it absorbs excess accumulated liquid, which has a beneficial effect on the thickening of the entire intestinal contents. Such folk remedies are safe for humans, and they quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease.

Before curing diarrhea with rice water, you will need to boil 1 liter of water. Soak 2 tbsp in liquid. l. rice (water should be boiled, but cold). The product is stored in the refrigerator. Add soaked rice to 0.5 liters of water. The mixture is boiled for 50 minutes. After preparing the decoction, you need to let it cool to room temperature. Then it is filtered. If you eat rice porridge between taking the decoction, then the patient will quickly recover.

Bird cherry decoction

To treat diarrhea with folk remedies, the fruits, bark and color of bird cherry are used. Medicines prepared from bird cherry contain tannins. It is recommended to take such drugs if diarrhea does not occur due to infections.

You should not take bird cherry-based folk remedies in large quantities. This is explained by the fact that the plant contains a glycoside, which, when ingested by children and adults, is broken down into glucose and hydrocyanic acid. The latter substance is a potent poison. Before preparing folk remedies from bird cherry, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Pregnant and nursing mothers should not take such medications.

A decoction of bird cherry can be prepared according to the following recipe: the ripe bunches of the plant are washed under running water. Berries (0.5 cups) are placed in a special container in which the decoction will be prepared. Add 2 cups of boiled water to the container. The broth is boiled in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the broth is filtered. Blueberry juice is added to the composition. The resulting product is used every hour. Children over 3 years old are given the composition every 2 hours.

For adults, a decoction of bird cherry bark helps with diarrhea. To prepare it use 1 tbsp. plant bark and 1 tbsp. boiled water. The composition is boiled in a water bath for 20 minutes. After preparation, the product is cooled, filtered and taken 3 times a day.

To get rid of the symptoms of diarrhea in children, prepare a decoction of pomegranate. To do this, you need to peel the peels of the fruit. They are dried and crushed. For 1 spoon of the mixture you will need a glass of boiled water. The broth is boiled for 20 minutes in a water bath. Then the mixture is infused for 40 minutes. Folk remedies from pomegranate are taken until stool normalizes.

For complex treatment of diarrhea, oak bark is used. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. When interacting with proteins, tannins form a protective layer that prevents irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Medicinal and folk remedies based on oak bark are effective against diarrhea developed due to viruses, overeating or poisoning. Decoctions, tinctures and infusions can be prepared from this plant. For this, oak aged 15-20 years is used. The bark is removed from young shoots in early spring.

To prepare a tincture with alcohol, you will need 400 ml of vodka and crushed oak bark. The drug is infused for 7 days.

There is another way. Mix 1 spoon of chamomile and oak bark. The mixture is poured with boiling water, infused and filtered. Add 10 drops of valerian to the resulting composition. This product is used for enemas for children.

Drug therapy

In severe cases of the disease, drug treatment is carried out. If diarrhea is caused by poisoning, then hospitalization of the patient will be required. In this case, you will need to rinse the stomach and put in an IV. If the body temperature is high, then antipyretics are used. Children are prescribed Laferobion. The dosage depends on the age of the child. To bring down the temperature in an adult, Paracetamol is prescribed. If diarrhea in a pregnant woman occurs with pain, then the patient is prescribed No-Spa.

For diarrhea, the following medications are prescribed:

1. "Supreol", "Loperamide" are used for non-infectious diarrhea. These drugs quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease (within 2 hours).
2. "Smecta" is used for diarrhea caused by intestinal infections. It is prescribed to young children. "Smecta" is sold in powder form.
3. "Kaopectate" is prescribed to pregnant women and is contraindicated in children under 6 years of age. The drug is available in the form of tablets and suspensions.
4. "Polyphepan" helps with infectious diarrhea. It is prescribed to newborns. The drug is available in powder form, which must be diluted in water. Before treating diarrhea with it, it is recommended to read the instructions for preparing the solution.
5. The use of probiotics (Linex, Hilak-Forte). Beneficial microorganisms populate the intestinal microflora. Probiotics are prescribed to eliminate dysbiosis and infectious diarrhea.
6. "Enterofuril" has an antimicrobial effect. Prescribed to children older than 1 month.
7. "Enterosgel" is a sorbent whose action is aimed at removing toxins, allergens and bacteria from the body.
8. “Activated carbon” is a strong adsorbent that removes toxins from the body, as well as essential vitamins. It is recommended to take it if diarrhea is caused by food poisoning. If diarrhea is caused by a disturbance in the microflora or viruses, then “Activated Charcoal” will aggravate the condition. This anti-diarrhea remedy contains natural ingredients, so it can be taken by children. It is first recommended to find out the cause of the disorder and consult a pediatrician.

Before treating diarrhea, it is recommended to exclude raw vegetables and fruits, fried and fatty foods, dairy, coffee, and sweets from the diet. These products cause gastrointestinal irritation. To replenish the water-salt balance, prepare a glucose-salt solution: add 1 tsp to 1 liter of water. salt, ½ tsp. soda, 4 tsp. sugar and ¼ tbsp. l. potassium chloride. You can use ready-made drugs with a similar effect (Regidron).

For infectious diarrhea, sorbents (Bilignin, Polyphepan, Bismuth Salts) are used to reduce flatulence and remove bacteria and gases from the intestines. Since the above drugs have a binding effect on medications, they should be taken with short breaks (maximum 2 hours). Antibiotics are taken for acute bacterial diarrhea.

When treating diarrhea, take folk remedies that have antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. Home treatment involves using herbs such as sage, wormwood, mint, black elderberry, and mantle. You can prepare herbs yourself or buy them at a pharmacy. Before treating diarrhea with herbs and medications, it is recommended to read the contraindications and consult a doctor.

When persistent diarrhea occurs, people cannot lead their usual lifestyle, since the patient may experience discomfort in the abdomen, frequent urge to urinate, and bloating. There can be many reasons for the occurrence of diarrhea in an adult: from simple indigestion to serious illnesses, so if the stool is disturbed for several days, then you should think about going to the doctor.

Since diarrhea is only a clinical picture and not a disease, it is first necessary to find the root cause. You should not fall for advertising from manufacturers who claim that one tablet is enough to solve problems with stool. It is important to remember that by eliminating the symptom, the disease will not go away and, even worse, it can cause harm to health, since many medications have contraindications.

Causes of diarrhea

Experts divide the causes of diarrhea into infectious and non-infectious. Diarrhea is also divided into chronic - it can bother the patient for a long time, causing damage to health, and acute - the urge to go to the toilet can bother you more than 5 times a day, while diarrhea is accompanied by pain and discomfort in the abdomen.

Infectious type

If you suspect an infection that has caused loose stools, medical attention is required. Infectious diarrhea is manifested by weakness, nausea, vomiting, stools may become green with mucus, have an unpleasant odor, and sometimes there may be an increase in body temperature. The causes of infectious diarrhea include:

Diarrhea of ​​infectious etiology can cause complications and, first of all, the immune system suffers, so this type of stool disorder requires mandatory treatment.

Non-infectious type

The non-infectious type of diarrhea is less dangerous than the infectious type, but also requires treatment, since prolonged loose stools can cause poor circulation and dehydration. Non-infectious diarrhea can be caused by the following factors:

• frequent use of laxatives;
• antibacterial therapy;
• frequent consumption of milk;
• thyroid diseases;
• decreased level of immunoglobulin;
• pancreatic diseases;
• insufficient production of digestive enzymes;
• the presence of tumors and cysts that cause circulatory problems;
• ulcerative colitis;
• eating disorder;
• eating poor quality food;
• intolerance of the body to certain nutrients.

Chronic diarrhea is most often not infectious; it occurs almost every day for several weeks or months. The main cause of its occurrence is poor nutrition or inflammatory diseases of the digestive system.

Each disease or factor may differ in the nature of the stool: diarrhea may be accompanied by other symptoms, have a foamy or liquid consistency, a different color (white, black, green, yellow), the presence of mucus or blood in the stool, and a foul odor.

Intestinal dysbiosis

Dysbacteriosis is one of the most common causes of bowel dysfunction. As chyme moves forward, feces are formed in the intestines. At the same time, the processing and absorption of useful substances occurs, as well as the absorption of water and electrolytes. Digestion of food, as well as absorption of nutrients, occurs thanks to microflora, which, during normal functioning, contains lactobacteria, bifidobacteria, E. coli and other beneficial microbes.

Dysbacteriosis can develop as a result of taking antibiotics, insufficient intake of vitamins from fruits and vegetables, reduced immunity, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and radiation. With this disease, grade 3 or 4 diarrhea is observed, which leads to exhaustion of the patient, weight loss and the development of chronic enterocolitis. The main reasons for the development of diarrhea due to dysbacteriosis are:

• deterioration of fluid absorption;
• increased intestinal motility;
• accumulation of large amounts of bile acid.

With dysbacteriosis, stool disturbance is often accompanied by allergic rashes, nausea, decreased appetite, belching, pain and bloating.

Pancreatitis

With pancreatic disease, one of the clinical manifestations is diarrhea. The pancreas is actively involved in the process of digesting food and when its functioning is disrupted, namely, when diagnosing chronic pancreatitis, stool disturbance is always observed. This disease is characterized by a decrease in the production of enzymes involved in food digestion. Pancreatitis most often develops in people who abuse alcohol, in the presence of diseases such as peptic ulcers, inflammation of the small intestine, as well as in the presence of a predominance of fatty foods in the diet and overeating.

Diarrhea with pancreatitis occurs due to the fact that fragments of digested food enter the large intestine. A high amount of nutrients activates bacteria, resulting in a putrefactive and fermentative process, leading to bloating and stool disturbances.

Stool with pancreatitis often has a liquid consistency, usually mushy with inclusions of undigested food. In addition to diarrhea, inflammation of the pancreas also manifests itself in other symptoms: pain in the lower back or left side, nausea and lack of appetite.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Also, one of the causes of bowel dysfunction is diseases of the large intestine, in particular ulcerative colitis. Most often, this disease affects people from 20 to 40 years old, and it is characterized by the following symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• the presence of mucus or blood in the stool;
• bloating.

In the acute course of the disease, there may be an increase in body temperature, malaise, weakness and muscle pain. In more severe conditions, vision may deteriorate.

95% of patients with ulcerative colitis complain of the appearance of loose stools, which prevents them from living fully and enjoying life, since the frequency of bowel movements can occur about 4 times a day in the chronic form, and more than 5 times in the acute form. Often, diarrhea can be replaced by constipation.

Infectious diseases

When pathogenic microorganisms develop in a person's intestines, diarrhea often occurs - the body's reaction to their waste products. In this case, you may feel unwell, nausea, vomiting and fever.

With infectious diseases, the stool becomes watery; in a short period of time, a person can lose up to several liters of fluid, which negatively affects the health of the body.

Depending on what kind of infection is present, the stool can change its appearance, for example, with cholera it has a liquid state, and with dysentery it is scanty and slimy.

If treatment is not prescribed in time, the disease may develop into a more serious condition. In addition to dehydration, which negatively affects the body, there is a toxic effect of microbes, the severity of which depends on the type of pathogen. This condition should not be treated independently; you need qualified assistance from a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is one of the most severe diseases associated with an inflammatory process in the digestive tract, which affects all layers of the intestine: submucosal, muscular and mucosal. The inflammatory process can occur in the lower and upper segment of the digestive tube, but most often it is the small intestine that is affected.

Crohn's disease has 3 degrees of severity:

1. In mild cases of the disease, the incidence of diarrhea is no more than 4 times, streaks of blood in the stool are absent or weakly expressed.
2. Moderate severity is manifested in more frequent bowel movements, up to 6 times. The presence of blood in stool can be detected with the naked eye.
3. Severe disease is characterized by the occurrence of diarrhea more than 10 times a day, in which case complications such as bleeding, abscesses and fistulas may occur.

The causes of Crohn's disease have not yet been studied; it is most often diagnosed in people under 35 years of age. In addition to diarrhea, this disease manifests itself in severe abdominal pain, malaise and weakness. The diagnosis can only be made by a doctor after preliminary diagnosis.

Psychosomatic causes of diarrhea

The human body is a complex mechanism that reacts to any negative factors, including poor mental health. Therefore, very often diarrhea appears when a person experiences severe nervous shock. Diarrhea and frequent worries can provoke serious illnesses, and most of them are psychosomatic in nature.

For some people, when fear arises, not only their movements, but their entire body becomes stiff. Many patients, when experiencing fear, in addition to the urge to go to the toilet, are bothered by abdominal pain and other unpleasant sensations. After the fear goes away, the stool may remain liquid throughout the day. If diarrhea occurs frequently due to anxiety, experts recommend taking sedatives.

Treatment of frequent diarrhea

If frequent diarrhea occurs, you should consult a doctor, he will prescribe tests and diagnostics, which will help identify the cause of bowel dysfunction. First of all, treatment is aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptom with the help of antidiarrheal drugs, while simultaneously treating the underlying disease.

Since diarrhea severely dehydrates the body, the doctor additionally prescribes rehydrating drugs (Normasol, Gamtrolit, Regidron, etc.), which restore the water-salt balance in the body. Also, during treatment, it is important to drink enough liquid and monitor your diet (exclude: spicy foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, alcohol).

It is important to know that all medications should be used only after a doctor's prescription.

Diarrhea in adults: causes and treatment at home

Diarrhea is particularly uncomfortable. If it comes out mixed with pus (blood), it can even be dangerous.

Persistent chronic diarrhea in adults inevitably leads to.

It is necessary to take urgent measures and know how to treat diarrhea correctly, because passing loose stools with water more than 8-10 times a day can completely wash out useful vitamins and microelements from the intestinal cavity.

What is diarrhea in an adult?

Persistent diarrhea in an adult - symptom with passing unformed stool more than 6 times a day, exceeding the dose of 300-400 mg.

The process of fermentation in the intestines is observed against the background of the development of pathogenic microflora (intestinal invasions), which rapidly multiply, creating entire colonies with the sucking of minerals and useful components from the intestinal walls, causing.

If diarrhea in an adult does not go away, the condition does not stabilize after 3 days in a row, then dehydration can occur in a matter of hours, when urgent measures will have to be taken to replenish the body with nutritional components, normalize the water-salt balance in order to avoid serious complications.

Causes

There can be many reasons leading to a change in the composition of the microflora of the large intestine and the leaching of beneficial bacteria.

The main causes of diarrhea in adults:

Most often, diarrhea in adults is caused by intestinal damage due to an acute viral infection (giardia , , wood lice, enteroviruses , salmonella).

As infections accumulate in the walls of the large intestine, they lead to modifications in the composition of the microflora and the development of serious pathogenic diseases.

The following medications can cause diarrhea in adults:

• laxatives;
• anticholinesterase;
• antibiotics;
• probiotics;
• cytostatics leading to digestive upset.

If there is diarrhea without fever in an adult, then the reason for the acceleration of intestinal motility lies in:

• overvoltage;
• stress;
• acute;
• hepatitis;
• overheating in the sun.

Diarrhea accompanied by additional symptoms

It is rare that when diarrhea in adults occurs against the background of gastrointestinal disorders, there are no other accompanying signs. Symptoms that are often added when diarrhea bothers you are:

• nausea, vomiting with the passage of mushy, loose stools alternating with constipation are signs of infection with intestinal invasions, a consequence of intoxication (poisoning) of the body;
• increased gas formation;
• discharge of clayey, gray feces;
• cramps, colic in the abdomen - a sign of an intestinal infection;
• temperature increase +37.5 g with acute appendicitis;
• headache;
• weakness;
• discharge of greenish-brown stool with mucus, blood, temperature rise above +38 degrees with salmonellosis;
• appearance with bleeding is a sign of Crohn's disease;
• muscle weakness, decreased vision, constipation accompanied by diarrhea, passing stool more than 5 times a day - with ulcerative colitis or or;
• ), passing up to 10 times a day, pain and rumbling in the abdomen, paleness (drying) of the dermis, dryness and a bitter taste in the mouth - signs of Crohn's disease.

Worth knowing! If you have colic in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, a temperature rise above +38 degrees, or stool containing blood, you should urgently consult a doctor (gastroenterologist, proctologist). Bleeding with diarrhea may indicate a fistula , abscess, development of the inflammatory process. These are dangerous symptoms of intestinal disorders that cannot be ignored.

Of course, a one-time occurrence of short-term diarrhea without fever and vomiting in an adult is unlikely to cause serious harm to health. But, regardless of the nature of diarrhea, it is worth rehydrating the body, replenishing the lack of fluid, thereby maintaining the water-salt balance.

Types and stages

Doctors divide diarrhea into 2 types:

1. acute with a duration of 1-3 days, the reason for which is damage by viruses (bacteria), allergies to medications, food poisoning;
2. chronic with fairly long-lasting diarrhea, periodically changing to remission, which indicates the development of a hidden disease (ulcerative colitis), a failure in the endocrine system.

The types are distinguished:

• diarrhea with water in an adult in case of infection of the body with viruses, bacteria with the subsequent release of toxic substances, settlement of bacteria in the intestinal walls, development of diseases (dysentery, salmonellosis);
• intoxication;
• enzymatic;
• infectious;
• medicinal;
• with bleeding;
• fatty (a common form of diarrhea, a consequence of malabsorption of food, a malfunction in the digestive system. Provoking factors are diseases of the pancreas () with the inability to produce juice in the required quantity or bacterial infection);
• inflammatory (a consequence of the development of the inflammatory process in the intestinal walls, a number of diseases (Crohn's disease, malignant tumor, immunodeficiency);
• secretory (triggered by toxic substances, fatty acids, drugs, alcohol, cancer (carcinoma)).
• osmotic (a consequence of an increase in osmolar components in quantity with location in the lumen of the rectum. The peculiarity of this form is the passage of liquid feces even in the absence of meals, i.e. on an empty stomach. Provoking factors are IBS, the formation of a fistula in the intestine, lactase deficiency, intake some medications (cholestyramine, lactulose, magnesium sulfate, neomycin)).

Important! With profuse diarrhea accompanied by vomiting and high fever, patients are subject to urgent hospitalization. There is a high probability of infection with salmonellosis and cholera.

Diagnostics

In acute diarrhea, at the initial stage there is liquid stool and a sharp removal of electrolytes from the body. First of all, the doctor will conduct a visual examination of the skin for the presence.

With prolonged diarrhea, a decrease in turgor, dryness of the integument, a decrease in blood pressure, increased heart rate due to calcium deficiency, convulsions, and a symptom of a “muscle roll” are already visually visible.

The main indicator for making an accurate diagnosis is. Patients will also have to undergo tests if they suspect the development of an inflammatory process in the digestive tract (in the walls of the liver, pancreas), further:

• blood test (biochemical, clinical) to determine foci of inflammation, dysfunction of the pancreas (liver), leading to the development of chronic diarrhea;
• gastroscopy;
• irrigoscopy;
• Ultrasound to examine internal organs in the abdominal cavity;
• sigmoidoscopy;
• colonoscopy.

Treatment

If you are often bothered by constant bouts of diarrhea, then an integrated approach to therapeutic procedures is required. It is important to identify provoking factors, prevent the development of complications and dehydration of the body, contribute to the restoration of necessary resources, and replenishment with useful components (minerals).

Therapy for diarrhea is etiotropic with the prescription of drugs after interpretation of the results obtained, examinations performed, and identification of the causes of diarrhea. It is based on medications, with additional folk remedies.

If diarrhea is a concern, it is recommended to start treatment in adults by taking activated carbon– an excellent enterosorbent with an absorbent effect. When calculating the dosage, it is important to take into account weight - 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.

For example, if you weigh 60-70 kg, you need to drink up to 6 tablets per day with a sufficient amount of water.

It is activated carbon that perfectly binds water, covering the intestinal walls with a protective layer. But you shouldn’t be afraid of the appearance of black feces. Coal will help well with diarrhea, especially caused by eating spoiled foods.

Also, in case of food diarrhea, it will have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Linux and to activate functions in the walls of the large intestine, normalize the proper functioning of the small intestine.

If, however, diarrhea does not go away for 3 days in a row, medications become powerless, spastic pain during bowel movements, darkening of urine, yellowing of the skin, lightheadedness, discharge of green (black) diarrhea mixed with fresh blood are observed, then these are critical symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.

IMPORTANT! If bloody diarrhea bothers you, patients need hospitalization, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly.

Medicines are prescribed taking into account the existing symptoms in adults. So, with watery stools, the goal is to prevent dehydration and restore water and electrolyte balance. As first aid:

• solutions (Uralite, Hydrolyte);
• painkillers (No-spa, Loperamide).

When developing treatment, the etiology of the origin of diarrhea is taken into account, so self-medication is excluded. You should not rashly take unknown drugs without a prescription from a specialist.

• For diarrhea caused by pathogenic bacteria, the main prescriptions are synthetic antimicrobials and antibiotics ( , Ofloxacin, Trimoxazole).
• For the enzymatic type of diarrhea, enzymatic agents are used.
• For an infectious form - sorbents, antibiotics, antiseptics.
• For IBS and chronic intestinal diseases - anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) drugs.
• For diarrhea with bleeding - antiulcer drugs, hemostatic agents, infusions.
• For intestinal infections - antimicrobial drugs, enterosorbents to remove harmful poisons and toxins from the body.

If the cause of diarrhea is overeating, then antispasmodics and sorbents with an astringent antidiarrheal effect will help eliminate it ( Enterosgel, Smecta).

Reference! Dysbacteriosis can be caused by antibiotics, so the goal of treatment is to support beneficial microflora in the intestine and stimulate its reproduction. To help - lactobacilli, probiotics, sorbents.

Medicines, list of the best and effective drugs

The following remedies will help cure diarrhea:

• sorbents for adsorption and removal of bacteria (viruses, toxins) from the intestines – bismuth, Smecta, De-nol, Polyphepan;
• herbal remedies with an astringent effect to reduce secretion in the intestines ( cinquefoil root, oak bark, chamomile);
• enzymes ( Pancitrate, Mezim, Festal, Creon) to replenish the deficiency of digestive juice, simulate impaired absorption in the intestine;
• (Lopedium, Imodium) to reduce intestinal motility, activate intestinal activity, enhance absorption capacity;
• antispasmodics ( No-shpa, Papaverine) to relieve excited peristalsis;
• medications to reduce the production of intestinal mucus with an anti-inflammatory effect ( Sulfasalazine, Indomethacin, Diclofenac);
• hormonal drugs ( Prednisolone, Metypred) exclusively as prescribed by a doctor;
• antiseptics with antimicrobial effect to suppress streptococci, salmonella, E. coli ( Enterofuril, Intetrix);
• immunomodulators ( Galavit) to relieve attacks of intoxication, improve general well-being;
• probiotics, indispensable for imbalance of intestinal microflora, diarrhea, regardless of etiology ( Enterol, Baktisubtil, Linex, Hilak forte).

Many people call diarrhea a traveler's disease, since it is on the road, traveling to countries with a hot climate that digestive disorders, bloating, and accumulation of unnecessary intestinal gases are often observed.

Pharmaceuticals today offer various new generation drugs with a combined effect in the composition with simethicone - an antifoam to eliminate the unpleasant feeling of intestinal distension, spastic pain, disorders with ( Kaopectate, Imodium, Simethicone, Loperamide).

Alternative home treatments

Timely contact with specialists for diarrhea in adults will help avoid serious consequences.

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