Who doesn't know from TV commercials what to do when adult diarrhea occurs? Drink a "magic" pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such a “treatment” at best will not help, and at worst it will harm. Firstly, drugs for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce, and secondly, the use of such drugs is contraindicated in a number of diseases. What to do when tormented by 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 the discharge of liquid stools both once and with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation passes in 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, more than 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 the stool occur due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, feces are 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

• violations of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces, it is excreted often, 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 resolves in 3-4 days, and the sick person is likely to 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 insufficiency of organs (deficiency of certain enzymes);
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of unclear etiology (Crohn's disease);
• toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough just to stop diarrhea: it is necessary to establish a diagnosis and conduct qualified treatment, often in a hospital. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when, in addition to loose stools, spastic abdominal pain and dyspeptic symptoms (seething, bloating,) can be observed.

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

Warning signs that require an immediate response are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, chapped lips, intense thirst, rare urination, dark urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition is very dangerous: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do with diarrhea in an adult - first aid

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

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and persistent, has been going on for several days, accompanied by vomiting. It is necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the feces. 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 observed in any case of diarrhea. This is diet food, taking adsorbing drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in adults

The nature of the diet obviously affects bowel movements. Many products have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and they should be forgotten with diarrhea 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 need to limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

• wheat bread croutons;
• vegetable purees;
• mucous porridges;
• pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steam, boiled);
• tea, blueberry jelly, decoction of bird cherry fruits, rice broth.

You can start the diet from a "hungry" day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

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

The 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 products under the ban:

• any fried meat;
• offal;
• saturated broths;
• fatty fish cooked in any way, and lean 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 with diarrhea in adults? Here is an approximate list of dishes from which it is recommended to make a diet menu:

• steam cutlets from minced meat, meat puree (can be from "children's" jars), soufflé;
• boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish meatballs, steamed cutlets;
• cereals boiled in water, you can add a little milk, a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
• rice pudding;
• puree soups on vegetable or weak meat broth;
• boiled pasta;
• fermented milk drinks;
• fresh cottage cheese;
• omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
• boiled, baked or mashed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
• baked fruits, in compote, some fresh strawberries;
• jelly and mousses from berries and fruits;
• crackers from white bread, drying, biscuits like "Maria";
• water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

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

Since trace elements 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, besides, salt contributes to fluid retention in the body.

There are special preparations for the preparation of rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but in their absence, you can prepare the liquid with your own hands by diluting it in a liter of water:

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

Medications to treat diarrhea in an adult

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

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature during diarrhea rises above 38, 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 defecation is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or clotted (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate the criticality of the situation: it is urgent to call an ambulance.

Diarrhea(diarrhea) - rapid, repeated loose stools. Diarrhea is usually accompanied by pain, rumbling in the abdomen, flatulence, tenesmus. Diarrhea is a symptom of many infectious diseases and inflammatory processes of the intestine, dysbacteriosis, and neurogenic disorders. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease plays an important role in the prevention of complications. The loss of a large amount of fluid during profuse diarrhea leads to a violation of the water-salt balance and can cause heart and kidney failure.

General information

Diarrhea is called a single or frequent bowel movement with liquid stools. Diarrhea is a symptom that signals a malabsorption of water and electrolytes in the intestine. 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 vegetable fiber consumed, poorly digestible substances, liquids). In the case of increased intestinal motility, the stool may become more frequent and thin, but its amount remains within the normal range. When the amount of fluid in the feces increases to 60-90%, then they talk about 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 plentiful stools (more than 300 grams per day). Patients suffering from malabsorption of various nutrients tend to polyfaeces: the excretion of large amounts of stool containing undigested food debris.

Causes of diarrhea

With severe intoxication in the intestine, excessive secretion of water with sodium ions into its lumen occurs, which helps to thin the stool. Secretory diarrhea develops with intestinal infections (cholera, enteroviruses), taking certain medications and dietary supplements. Osmolar diarrhea occurs with malabsorption syndrome, insufficiency of sugar digestion, 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 diffusion of fluid along the osmotic gradient.

A significant factor contributing to the development of diarrhea is a violation of intestinal motility (hypokinetic and hyperkinetic diarrhea) and, as a result, a change in the rate of transit of intestinal contents. Strengthening of motility is facilitated by laxatives, magnesium salts. Motor function disorders (weakening and strengthening of peristalsis) occur with the development of irritable bowel syndrome. In this case, they talk about functional diarrhea.

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

Diarrhea may 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

There are the following types of diarrhea: infectious (with dysentery, salmonellosis, amoebiasis, food poisoning and entroviruses), alimentary (associated with disorders in the diet or an allergic reaction to food), dyspeptic (accompanies digestive disorders associated with insufficiency of the secretory functions of the digestive system: liver, pancreas, stomach; as well as insufficiency of secretion of enzymes in the small intestine), toxic (with arsenic or mercury poisoning, uremia), drug (caused by drugs, drug dysbacteriosis), neurogenic (with changes in motility due to impaired 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 that lasts more than 3 weeks is considered chronic. It can be the result of various pathologies, the identification of which is the main task for determining treatment tactics. History data, concomitant clinical symptoms and syndromes, and physical examination can provide information about the causes of chronic diarrhea.

Particular attention is paid to the nature of the stool: the frequency of defecation, daily dynamics, volume, consistency, color, the presence of impurities in the feces (blood, mucus, fat). When questioned, the presence or absence of concomitant symptoms is revealed: tenesmus (false urge to defecate), abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting.

Pathologies of the small intestine are manifested by abundant watery or fatty stools. For diseases of the large intestine, less abundant stools are characteristic, streaks of pus or blood, mucus may be noted in the feces. 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, as a rule, is characterized by a very pronounced loss of fluid and electrolytes in the feces. On examination and physical examination of the patient, signs of dehydration are noted: dryness and a decrease in skin turgor, increased heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. With a pronounced calcium deficiency, the symptom of a "muscle roller" becomes positive, there may be convulsions.

With diarrhea, the patient's stool is always carefully examined, in addition, it is desirable to carry out a proctological examination. Identification of an anal fissure, fistula, paraproctitis may suggest the presence of Crohn's disease. With any diarrhea, a comprehensive study of the digestive tract is performed. Instrumental endoscopic techniques (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, irrigoscopy, sigmoidoscopy) allow you to examine the inner walls of the upper gastrointestinal tract and large intestine, detect mucosal damage, inflammation, neoplasms, bleeding ulcers, etc.

Microscopy of feces 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 malabsorption of fats. Together with the remnants of muscle fibers and a high content of starch in the stool, steatorrhea is a sign of malabsorption syndrome. Fermentation processes due to the development of dysbacteriosis contribute to a change in the normal acid-base balance in the intestine. 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 adenoma of the pancreas). 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 an inflammatory process, biochemical markers of liver and pancreas dysfunction, hormonal disorders that can 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, an infectious disease specialist, or a proctologist. It is imperative to seek medical attention if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 4 days, or if you notice streaks of blood or mucus in the stool. In addition, symptoms that should not be ignored are: tarry stools, abdominal pain, fever. If there are signs of diarrhea and there is a possibility of food poisoning, it is also necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment for diarrhea depends on the type of diarrhea. 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).

With diarrhea, foods are introduced into the diet that help reduce peristalsis, reduce the secretion of water into the intestinal lumen. In addition, the underlying pathology that caused diarrhea is taken into account. Diet components should 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 for the duration of acute diarrhea.

Antibiotic therapy for diarrhea is prescribed to suppress the pathological flora and restore normal eubiosis in the intestine. With infectious diarrhea, broad-spectrum antibiotics, quinolones, sulfonamides, nitrofurans are prescribed. The drugs of choice for intestinal infections are drugs that do not adversely affect the intestinal microbiocenosis (combined drugs, nifuroxazide). Sometimes, with diarrhea of ​​various origins, eubiotics may be prescribed. However, more often such treatment is prescribed after the signs of diarrhea subside to normalize the intestinal flora (eliminate dysbacteriosis).

As symptomatic agents, adsorbents are used, enveloping and astringent agents that neutralize organic acids. To regulate intestinal motility, loperamide is used, in addition, acting directly on the opiate receptors of the small intestine, reducing the secretory function of enterocytes and improving absorption. A pronounced antidiarrheal effect is exerted by somatostatin, which affects the secretory function.

In infectious diarrhea, drugs that reduce intestinal motility are not used. Loss of fluid and electrolytes with prolonged and profuse 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

Diarrhea prevention includes body hygiene and nutrition. Washing hands before eating, thoroughly washing raw vegetables and fruits, and properly cooking foods help avoid food poisoning and intestinal infections. In addition, it is worth remembering the need to avoid drinking raw water, unfamiliar and suspicious foods, foods that can cause an allergic reaction.

With diarrhea, or diarrhea, faced by everyone, even a healthy person. There are a huge number of reasons for its appearance, starting with foods that are incompatible with each other and ending with very serious infections.

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

Watery diarrhea

Watery diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is involved in the pathological process. This may be a situation where food poisoning has occurred or in case of acute intestinal infections.

Sometimes the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines can be quite small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but the products of their vital activity, the toxins that they secrete.

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

Why is water diarrhea dangerous?

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

So, if there is water diarrhea in an adult, treatment should be immediate. It should be noted that with watery stools there is a large loss of water, and if this process is also accompanied by vomiting, then we can talk about dehydration, and it can come very quickly if emergency measures are not taken.

The human body normally contains about 85-90% water. More precisely, the brain, muscles and heart contain approximately 76% fluid, blood - 84%, and only the human skeleton consists of 15-20% water. From this you can understand how important water is for a person. Each cell of our body consists of water, and with a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, with diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals are released, which are so necessary for the body.

For a small child, the loss of 10% of body weight with watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then the loss of 500 ml of fluid for him will be fatal. For adults, losing 10% of their body weight in a short time is more problematic, because. their weight is much greater, so they have time to make a decision. Dehydration (dehydration) is most dangerous for children and the elderly. Diarrhea in an adult - what to do? Of course, treat.

Diarrhea is not a diagnosis, but a symptom. To select the correct treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if loose stools in an adult happen 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life, anyway, over time (if it lasts for several days), the body will be severely depleted, and the water-salt balance will be disturbed. Recovery will take much more time than the illness lasted. If diarrhea is watery in an adult, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a kind of protective reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. Thus, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and conducts its detoxification. But if this condition does not go away within a few hours, help is needed. Especially if there is fever and diarrhea, treatment in this case is mandatory. Hyperthermia (fever) may indicate a general intoxication of the body. Such a state requires an appropriate attitude. You can't let everything go by itself. Some people think that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea should still be treated if it lasts more than one day. So you can save the body from serious consequences.

If the patient complains of diarrhea, abdominal pain, treatment is also necessary. Pain is a serious symptom that may indicate a serious illness, such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, gallstones, or appendicitis. If there is pain during diarrhea, then you need to see a doctor. In some of these situations, surgical assistance is needed.

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 the food absorbed;
• infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoeba and food toxins;
• alimentary is an allergic reaction to food;
• toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
• medication - caused by side effects of medications, for example, some antibiotics in the intestines kill not only the pathogenic flora, but also the beneficial one, thereby causing diarrhea;
• neurogenic - can be caused by strong feelings or fear, such diarrhea is also called "bear disease".

Diarrhea in an adult. What to do?

Patients tolerate diarrhea in different ways, it depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. So, for example, loose stools in some people 2-3 times a day cause weakness and poor health, while in others, diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negative consequences.

If diarrhea lasts for 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 (exhaustion), then this condition requires emergency medical care. It is not uncommon for patients with these symptoms to be hospitalized.

With any nature of diarrhea, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of fluid. Compliance with the drinking regimen can protect against negative consequences and support the patient's body in good shape.

It is better to drink mineral water without gas content in it, it will help maintain the water-salt balance. If there is prolonged water diarrhea in an adult, treatment is necessary. If home treatment does not help, and diarrhea does not go away within a few days, this is a serious reason to seek help from a medical institution. If severe diarrhea develops, the doctor will determine the causes and treatment.

Diet for diarrhea

A sparing diet for diarrhea, regardless of the causes 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 on the water;
• jelly;
• lean boiled or steamed meat;
• steam cutlets;
• boiled or steamed fish.

Prohibited Products:

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

After the disappearance of diarrhea and the improvement of the diet, you need to adhere to a few more days, at least for a week. By gradually adding other previously prohibited foods to the diet, the weakened body is prepared for the usual diet. You can't go back to your normal diet right away. A sharp return to the menu of the wrong dish can upset the balance that is fragile and unstable after illness.

Diarrhea: causes and treatment

The treatment for diarrhea depends on the underlying cause. What drugs are most effective for diarrhea? We will 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 that caused the pathological process really poses a serious danger. This applies to diseases such as salmonellosis or cholera. In this case, the patient must be hospitalized, and he will undergo further treatment under the strict supervision of doctors. If there is water diarrhea in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring the water-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 for half a cup. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these drugs within 12 hours.

Medicines for diarrhea

Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. In the treatment of diarrhea, a number of measures should be taken into account. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against dehydration. Consider the drugs for diarrhea in adults, which are used most often.

All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:

• sulfanilamide preparations ("Ftalazol");
• antibiotics (tablets "Levomycetin", "Tetracycline");
• nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
• antimicrobials ("Enterofuril", "Sulgin");
• antifungal (Intetrix) - used for amoebic dysentery;
• enterosorbents (Enterosgel, activated carbon);
• antiviral drugs.

Consider the most famous remedies for diarrhea in adults. In which case is it advisable to take this or that drug?

What to give from diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with Enterosgel, 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 with the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract in any way, unlike other sorbents that stick to the inflamed mucosa and further injure it. The drug does not provoke constipation, does not cause allergies, is allowed to be taken from the first days of life.

The drug "Ftalazol" from diarrhea

These pills for diarrhea in adults of the sulfanilamide group are most appropriate to take with infectious types of diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the drug "Ftalazol" with allergic types of diarrhea and ordinary indigestion will be ineffective. Its effect is noticeable only on day 2-3, when the growth of pathogenic microflora under the action of the drug will be stopped.

Means "Imodium" from diarrhea

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

Treatment with Loperamide and Simethicone

This is a new generation drug, it is a combined remedy for diarrhea "Imodium plus" and includes the so-called defoamer - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to him, spastic pains and a feeling of fullness of the intestine disappear. These are chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. It is not recommended to give them to children under the age of 12.

natural remedies for diarrhea

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

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

Tablets "Lineks" from diarrhea

This remedy contains beneficial microflora and has a positive effect on the entire gastrointestinal tract. It includes 3 types of positive microflora:

• lactobacilli - positively affect the functioning of the small intestine;
• enterococci - have a similar effect and help the small intestine to function properly;
• bifidobacteria - actively work in the large intestine.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Traditional medicine knows many ways to treat such an ailment as diarrhea. Folk remedies for treating diarrhea have been tested 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 on low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours for 2 tbsp. spoons.
2. Alternative treatment of 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 to cope with diarrhea. But with this tool you need to be careful: do not exceed the dosage and do not use for too long. To prepare the medicine, 1 teaspoon of dry grass should be poured with one glass of boiling water and insisted for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
4. A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcohol infusion of walnut partitions has long been known. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops each), otherwise it can provoke a backlash - constipation. As soon as the number of trips to the toilet decreases, you need to reduce the dosage to 2-3 drops. It is clear that only adults can use alcohol tinctures inside for treatment. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ground walnut partitions and pour one glass of vodka. Insist in the dark for 5-7 days. This remedy is prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to always have this medicine on hand for those who are prone to frequent bowel disorders.

Conclusion

With such an ailment as diarrhea, folk remedies can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you can’t cope with the intestinal disorder on your own, and besides, pain or fever joins, in this case you need to seek medical help. This is especially true for elderly citizens, because. they become dehydrated much earlier than young people in their prime.

Diarrhea is one of those delicate issues that people prefer not to talk about. An unpleasant condition is manifested in frequent urge to defecate, accompanied by a disorder of the stool.

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

Which means are the most effective? In this article, we will review the most popular ways to deal with this unpleasant ailment.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is dangerous due to dehydration

Before starting treatment for diarrhea, it is necessary to try to determine the causes of its occurrence. A stool disorder can be caused by:

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

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

• peptic ulcer;
• hemorrhoids;
• tumors;
• gastric or intestinal bleeding and other serious disorders in the body.

Diarrhea can often 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-treatment of diarrhea is allowed only in cases where unpleasant symptoms bother no more than three days and are not accompanied by severe pain, as well as additional signs that indicate a serious illness.

Immediate medical attention is necessary when:

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

It should be remembered that it is necessary to start self-treatment only after finding out the factor that caused the bowel disorder.

The main task of treating diarrhea at home is to prevent dehydration of the body, quickly eliminate discomfort and normalize stools.

Conducted therapy is based on several basic provisions. For a quick recovery, the patient needs:

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

Proper nutrition for diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom of poisoning

At the first sign of a bowel disorder, you need to reconsider your diet in order to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

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

In such cases, the unsuitable type of food should be excluded from the diet. This measure can significantly alleviate the patient's condition, as well as reduce unpleasant symptoms.

With severe diarrhea, the following are excluded from the diet for a while:

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

In addition, it is necessary to include in your diet foods that have fixing properties and are easily digested 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.

Drinking enough fluids is very important to prevent dehydration. It is better to drink clean non-carbonated water, as well as compotes from dried pears, blueberries.

Compliance with 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 unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to adhere to a sparing diet for another three to four weeks.

Treatment of diarrhea with medications

Treatment of diarrhea at home

Every first aid kit should have remedies to help stop diarrhea. But before you take 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 medicine after consulting a specialist. Pharmacies offer a wide range of drugs that fight indigestion and are sold without a doctor's prescription.

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

• Medicines (sorbents) that promote the compaction of feces.
• Drugs that have a slowing effect on intestinal motility.
• Probiotics that populate the intestinal microflora with beneficial live bacteria

Consider the most popular drugs in more detail.

Preparations - sorbents

Adsorbent means allow you to remove toxic substances that caused diarrhea 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 urination by taking:

• Activated charcoal is a cheap remedy that can remove toxins and toxic substances from the body in case of food poisoning. It can be used by pregnant women. The drug is contraindicated in dysbacteriosis and viral diarrhea.
• "Smects". The drug is effective in combating diarrhea caused by an intestinal infection, and also eliminates nausea and heartburn. Approved for use from birth.
• "Polifepan", which allows to eliminate diarrhea provoked by an infection in adults and children.
• "Polysorb", which has powerful detoxifying properties.
• "Enterosgel", which helps to cleanse the body of toxins, pathogenic bacteria and allergens.
• "Attapulgita" and many other means.
• 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

With the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome, it is recommended to take drugs that help reduce intestinal motility. These drugs include:

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

They slow down the formation of feces and reduce the frequency of urging to the toilet. These drugs should not be taken if an intestinal infection is suspected, as their action slows down the healing process.

Probiotic preparations

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

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

Medicines should be taken with caution, observing the dosage. When diarrhea decreases or stops, it is necessary to stop taking them to avoid constipation.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Treatment of diarrhea at home: herbal infusions

In folk medicine, there are many antidiarrheal remedies that allow you to fix the stool, avoid dehydration and remove toxic substances. Many of them are time-tested and have proven their effectiveness in practice. Let's take a closer look at some of them.

Rice congee

One of the simplest and most affordable remedies for the treatment of intestinal disorders. It is necessary to boil the rice in a sufficient amount of water to the state of liquid porridge.

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

onion peel

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

Oak bark

2-2.5 tablespoons of crushed oak bark is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and infused for 30-40 minutes. It is necessary to take the remedy 50-60 grams three times a day.

pomegranate peel

A few pomegranate peels are poured with 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 three times a day. But it should be remembered that each of the folk remedies also has contraindications.

Thus, the treatment of diarrhea at home can be carried out using various medications or folk remedies. With severe pain, blood blotches, severe vomiting, it is better to seek medical help as soon as possible, and not to self-medicate.

To improve the functioning of the digestive system, the prevention of diarrhea, it is necessary to observe the daily routine, the 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 medicines 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

The symptoms of this disease doctors include:

• liquid stools that are excreted at least 4 times a day;
• constant flatulence;
• seething in the abdomen and bloating of the abdominal cavity;
• feeling of heaviness and spasms in the lower part of the abdominal cavity;
• acute pain in the abdomen;
• complete loss of appetite;
• feeling of nausea, which turns into vomiting;
• drowsiness;
• fatigue.

The average duration of diarrhea is 3 days.

Before you cure 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, a decoction of bird cherry, blueberry jelly. The diet includes dry biscuits and white bread crackers. After a while, you can use mucous porridges cooked in water and without oil. You can cook rice water.

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

• rotavirus;
• adenovirus.

• nausea turning into vomiting;
• headaches;
• liquid stool with blood.

Symptoms of the disease

Dehydration is the main threat to the life of children. With diarrhea, a large number of elements, including electrolytes, are excreted from the body. Before using folk remedies and medicines 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. In the process of its development, the performance of internal organs deteriorates, which can lead to death. Therefore, it is recommended to quickly start treating diarrhea at home in children under 2 years of age.

At this age, green loose stools often appear (due to malnutrition). Before stopping diarrhea at home with 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 worsens, then the help of a doctor is required. When a loose stool with blood appears, you need to call an ambulance.

Diarrhea is treated with garlic. 4 cloves of garlic will require 450 g of honey. For 1 glass of water, use 1 tablespoon of the resulting mixture. Folk remedy should be drunk 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. Treatment of diarrhea at home with the help of rice water prevents intestinal irritation when gastric juice enters it. This composition has good enveloping ability and astringent properties. Starch, when ingested, absorbs excess accumulated fluid, which favorably affects the thickening of the entire contents of the intestine. Such folk remedies are safe for humans, and they quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease.

Before you cure diarrhea with rice water, you need to boil 1 liter of water. Soak in liquid 2 tbsp. l. rice (water should be boiled, but cold). The product is stored in the refrigerator. Soaked rice is added to 0.5 l of water. The mixture is boiled for 50 minutes. After preparing the broth, 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.

Decoction of bird cherry

For the treatment of diarrhea folk remedies use the fruits, bark and color of bird cherry. Medicines prepared on the basis of bird cherry contain tannins. Such drugs are recommended to be taken if diarrhea does not occur against the background of infections.

You can not take in large quantities folk remedies based on bird cherry. This is explained by the fact that the plant contains a glycoside, which, in the process of entering the body of 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. You can not take such funds to pregnant and lactating mothers.

A decoction of bird cherry can be prepared according to the following recipe: ripe bunches of plants 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 decoction is boiled in a water bath for 30 minutes. Then the broth is filtered. Blueberry juice is added to the composition. The resulting remedy is used every hour. Children over 3 years of age give the composition every 2 hours.

For adults, a decoction of bird cherry bark helps with diarrhea. For its preparation, 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, peel the fruit peels. They are dried and crushed. For 1 tablespoon of the mixture you will need a glass of boiled water. The broth is boiled for 20 minutes in a water bath. The mixture is then infused for 40 minutes. Folk remedies from pomegranate are taken until the stool normalizes.

For the 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. Medications and folk remedies based on oak bark are effective against diarrhea developed against the background of viruses, overeating or poisoning. From this plant, you can prepare a decoction, tinctures and infusions. To do this, use oak at the age of 15-20 years. The bark is removed from young shoots in early spring.

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

There is another way. Mix 1 tablespoon of chamomile and oak bark. The mixture is poured with boiling water, insisted and filtered. 10 drops of valerian are added to the resulting composition. This tool is used for enemas for children.

Medical therapy

In severe cases of the disease, medical 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, put a dropper. 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 proceeds with a pain syndrome, then the patient is prescribed "No-shpa".

For diarrhea, the following drugs 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 for small children. "Smecta" is sold in powder form.
3. "Kaopektat" is prescribed for pregnant women and is contraindicated in children under 6 years of age. The drug is available in the form of tablets and suspensions.
4. "Polifepan" helps with infectious diarrhea. It is given to newborns. The drug is available in the form of a powder, which must be diluted in water. Before treating diarrhea with it, it is recommended that you 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 dysbacteriosis and infectious diarrhea.
6. "Enterofuril" has an antimicrobial effect. Assign to children older than 1 month.
7. "Enterosgel" is a sorbent, the action of which is aimed at removing toxins, allergens and bacteria from the body.
8. "Activated carbon" is a strong adsorbent that eliminates toxins from the body, as well as essential vitamins. It is recommended to take if diarrhea is caused by food poisoning. If diarrhea is caused by a violation in the microflora or viruses, then "Activated charcoal" will aggravate the condition. The composition of this remedy for diarrhea includes natural ingredients, so it can be taken by children. It is preliminary recommended to find out the cause of the disorder and consult with 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 irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. To replenish the water-salt balance, a glucose-salt solution is prepared: 1 tsp is added to 1 liter of water. salt, ½ tsp. soda, 4 tsp. sugar and ¼ tbsp. l. potassium chloride. You can use ready-made preparations of a similar effect ("Regidron").

In case of 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 medicines, they should be taken with short interruptions (maximum 2 hours). Antibiotics are taken for acute bacterial diarrhea.

In the treatment of diarrhea, folk remedies are taken that have antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. Treatment at home is to use herbs such as sage, wormwood, mint, black elderberry, cuff. Herbs can be prepared independently or bought at a pharmacy. Before treating diarrhea with herbs and drugs, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the contraindications and consult a doctor.

If persistent diarrhea occurs, people cannot lead a normal life, because the patient may be overcome by discomfort in the abdomen, frequent urination and bloating. The causes of diarrhea in an adult can be many: from simple indigestion to serious illness, so if the stool is broken 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. Do not be fooled by manufacturers who claim that one tablet is enough to solve problems with the stool. It is important to remember that by eliminating the symptom, the disease will not go anywhere and, even worse, it can be harmful to health, since many drugs have contraindications.

Causes of Diarrhea

Experts divide the causes of diarrhea into infectious and non-infectious. Also, diarrhea is divided into chronic - it can disturb the patient for a long time, causing damage to health and acute - the urge to go to the toilet can disturb 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 provoked 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. Causes of infectious diarrhea include:

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

non-infectious type

Non-infectious type of diarrhea is less dangerous than infectious, but also requires treatment, since prolonged loose stools can cause circulatory problems and dehydration. Non-infectious diarrhea can be triggered by the following factors:

• frequent use of laxatives;
• antibacterial therapy;
• frequent use of milk;
• thyroid disease;
• reduced level of immunoglobulin;
• diseases of the pancreas;
• insufficient production of digestive enzymes;
• the presence of tumors and cysts that provoke circulatory disorders;
• ulcerative colitis;
• violation of the diet;
• consumption of low-quality food;
• intolerance to some food substances.

Chronic diarrhea is most often non-infectious and occurs almost every day for several weeks or months. The main reason for its occurrence is malnutrition or inflammatory diseases of the digestive system.

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

Intestinal dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis is one of the most common causes of stool disorders. As the chyme moves forward, feces are formed in the intestines. At the same time, the processing and assimilation of nutrients, as well as the absorption of water and electrolytes, take place. Digestion of food, as well as the absorption of nutrients, occurs due to the microflora, which, during normal functioning, contains lacto-, 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, diarrhea of ​​3 or 4 degrees is observed, which leads to the exhaustion of the patient, his weight loss and the development of chronic enterocolitis. The main reasons for the development of diarrhea in dysbacteriosis are:

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

With dysbacteriosis, a violation of the stool 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 digestion of food and in case of violation of its work, namely, when diagnosing chronic pancreatitis, there is always a violation of the stool. This disease is characterized by a decrease in the production of enzymes involved in the digestion of food. Pancreatitis most often develops in people who abuse alcohol, in the presence of diseases such as peptic ulcer, inflammation of the small intestine, as well as in the predominance of fatty foods in the diet and overeating.

Diarrhea in pancreatitis occurs due to the fact that fragments of digested food enter the large intestine. A high amount of nutrients activates bacteria, as a result, a putrefactive and fermentation process occurs, leading to bloating and impaired stools.

Stool with pancreatitis often has a liquid consistency, usually mushy with inclusions of undigested food. Inflammation of the pancreas, in addition to diarrhea, is also manifested in other symptoms: pain in the lower back or sides on the left, nausea and lack of appetite.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Also, one of the causes of stool disorders are 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 pain in the muscles. In more severe conditions, vision may be impaired.

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 course. Often when diarrhea can be replaced by constipation.

Infectious diseases

With the development of pathogenic microorganisms in the intestines, diarrhea often occurs - the body's reaction to their waste products. In this case, you may experience poor health, the appearance of 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 mucous.

If timely treatment is not prescribed, the disease can become more serious. 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 on its own; qualified assistance from a doctor is needed, 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, in which all layers of the intestine are affected: under the mucous, muscular and mucous membranes. The inflammatory process can occur in the lower and upper segments of the digestive tube, but it is the small intestine that is most often affected.

Crohn's disease has 3 degrees of severity:

1. With a mild course of the disease, the frequency of diarrhea is no more than 4 times, streaks of blood in the stool are absent or mild.
2. The average severity is manifested in more frequent bowel movements, up to 6 times. You can detect the presence of blood in the stool with the naked eye.
3. The severe course of the 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 are still not understood, it is most often diagnosed in people under 35 years of age. In addition to diarrhea, this disease manifests itself in severe pain in the abdomen, the appearance of malaise and weakness. The diagnosis can only be made by a doctor after a preliminary diagnosis.

Psychosomatic causes of diarrhea

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

In some people, when fear occurs, stiffness occurs not only in movements, but in the whole organism. Many patients, when experiencing fear, in addition to the urge to go to the toilet, are worried about abdominal pain and other unpleasant sensations. After the fear is gone, the stools may remain liquid throughout the day. With the frequent occurrence of diarrhea against the background of experiences, experts recommend taking sedatives.

Treatment for frequent diarrhea

If frequent diarrhea occurs, it is necessary to consult a doctor, he will prescribe tests and diagnostics, which will help to identify the cause of the stool disorder. First of all, the treatment is aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptom with the help of antidiarrheal drugs, while the underlying disease is being treated.

Since diarrhea greatly 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 fluids and monitor your diet (exclude: spicy, fresh fruits and vegetables, alcohol).

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

Diarrhea in adults: causes and treatment at home

Diarrhea is a particular discomfort. If it leaves with impurities of 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 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 loose stools more than 6 times a day, exceeding the dose of 300-400 mg.

There is a process of fermentation in the intestines against the background of the development of pathogenic microflora (intestinal invasions), rapidly multiplying, creating entire colonies with the absorption of minerals, 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 nutrients, 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, the washing out of beneficial bacteria.

The main causes of diarrhea in adults:

Most often, diarrhea in adults causes intestinal damage with an acute viral infection (Giardia , , wood lice, enteroviruses , salmonella).

Infections, as they accumulate in the walls of the large intestine, lead to a change in the composition of the microflora, the development of serious pathogenic diseases.

Medicines can provoke diarrhea in adults:

• laxatives;
• anticholinesterase;
• antibiotics;
• probiotics;
• cytostatics leading to indigestion.

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

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

Diarrhea accompanied by additional symptoms

Rarely, when diarrhea in adults on the background of gastrointestinal disorders, there are no other accompanying signs. Often join when diarrhea symptoms are concerned:

• nausea, vomiting with discharge of mushy, loose stools, alternating with constipation - 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 in acute appendicitis;
• headache;
• weakness;
• discharge of a greenish-brown color of feces with mucus, blood, an increase in temperature above +38 degrees with salmonellosis;
• appearance with bleeding - a sign of Crohn's disease,;
• muscle weakness, decreased vision, constipation accompanied by diarrhea, stool discharge more than 5 times a day - with ulcerative colitis or or;
• ), discharge up to 10 times a day, pain and rumbling in the abdomen, blanching (drying) of the dermis, dryness and a bitter taste in the mouth are signs of Crohn's disease.

Worth knowing! With colic in the right quadrant of the abdomen below, an increase in temperature above +38 g, discharge of feces with blood, you should urgently consult a doctor (gastroenterologist, proctologist). Bleeding with diarrhea may indicate a fistula , abscess, the development of the inflammatory process. These are dangerous symptoms of intestinal disorders that should not be ignored.

Of course, a short-lived diarrhea that appears once 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 the defeat of viruses (bacteria), allergies to drugs, food poisoning;
2. chronic with rather long diarrhea, periodically changing to remission, which indicates the development of a latent 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, followed by the release of toxic substances, the settlement of bacteria in the intestinal walls, the development of diseases (dysentery, salmonellosis);
• intoxication;
• enzymatic;
• infectious;
• medication;
• 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 right amount or bacterial infection);
• inflammatory (a consequence of the development of an inflammatory process in the intestinal walls, a number of diseases (Crohn's disease, malignant tumor, immunodeficiency);
• secretory (provoked by toxic substances, fatty acids, drugs, alcohol, cancer (carcinoma)).
• osmotic (a consequence of an increase in osmolar components in an amount located in the lumen of the rectum. A feature of this form is the discharge of liquid stools 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 drugs (cholestyramine, lactulose, magnesium sulfate, neomycin)).

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

Diagnostics

In acute diarrhea at the initial stage, liquid feces and a sharp excretion of electrolytes from the body are observed. 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 with calcium deficiency, convulsions, a symptom of a "muscle roller" are already visually visible.

The main indicator for making an accurate diagnosis is. Also, patients will have to pass if they suspect the development of an inflammatory process in the digestive tract (in the walls of the liver, pancreas), then:

• blood test (biochemical, clinical) to determine the foci of inflammation, disorders of the pancreas (liver), which led to the development of chronic diarrhea;
• gastroscopy;
• irrigoscopy;
• Ultrasound for examination of internal organs in the abdominal cavity;
• sigmoidoscopy;
• colonoscopy.

Treatment

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

Therapy for diarrhea is etiotropic with the appointment of drugs after interpreting the results obtained, examinations carried out, identifying the causes of diarrhea. The basis is medicines, in addition - folk remedies.

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

For example, with a weight of 60-70 kg, you need to drink up to 6 tablets per day, drinking plenty of water.

It is activated charcoal that perfectly binds water, covering the intestinal walls with a protective layer. But you should not be afraid of the appearance of black feces. Charcoal will help with diarrhea, especially caused by the intake of spoiled foods.

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

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

IMPORTANT! If you are worried about bloody diarrhea, then patients need to be hospitalized, which is especially dangerous for children and the elderly.

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

• solutions (Uralit, Hydrolit);
• painkillers (No-shpa, Loperamide).

When developing treatment, the etiology of the origin of diarrhea is taken into account, so self-medication is excluded. You can not thoughtlessly take unknown drugs without the appointment of a specialist.

• In diarrhea caused by pathogenic bacteria, the main prescriptions are synthetic antimicrobials, antibiotics ( , Ofloxacin, Trimoxazole).
• With the enzymatic type of diarrhea, enzymatic agents are the basis.
• In the infectious form - sorbents, antibiotics, antiseptics.
• With IBS, chronic bowel diseases - anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) drugs.
• With diarrhea with bleeding - antiulcer drugs, hemostatics, infusions.
• With intestinal infection - antimicrobials, enterosorbents to remove harmful poisons, toxins from the body.

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

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

Medications, a list of the best and most effective drugs

The following remedies will help cure diarrhea:

• sorbents for adsorption, removal of bacteria (viruses, toxins) from the intestines - bismuth, Smecta, De-nol, Polyphepan;
• phytopreparations with astringent action to reduce secretion in the intestine ( cinquefoil root, oak bark, chamomile);
• enzymes ( Pantsitrat, Mezim, Festal, Creon) to compensate for the deficiency of digestive juice, simulation of 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;
• medicines to reduce intestinal mucus production with anti-inflammatory effects ( Sulfasalazine, Indomethacin, Diclofenac);
• hormonal drugs ( Prednisolone, Metipred) exclusively on doctor's orders;
• antiseptics with antimicrobial effect to suppress streptococci, salmonella, Escherichia coli ( Enterofuril, Intetrix);
• immunomodulators ( Galavit) to relieve attacks of intoxication, improve overall 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, because it is on the road, trips to countries with hot climates that digestive disorders, bloating, and accumulation of unnecessary intestinal gases are often observed.

Pharmaceutics today offers various new generation drugs with a combined action in the composition with simethicone - a defoamer to eliminate the unpleasant feeling of fullness of the intestines, spastic pains, and disorders in ( Kaopectate, Imodium, Simethicone, Loperamide).

Alternative home treatments

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

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