DEFINITION
Diarrhea is the frequent evacuation of feces or the decrease in the consistency of them. In acute cases, the most common cause is intestinal infection. Chronic diarrhea may indicate a serious illness or, conversely, a functional sign of no importance. In this case it is necessary to consult a specialist.Acute diarrhea is usually presented as a process of sudden onset and short duration. In most cases this is an infectious gastroenteritis.
It is an extremely common process, one to two episodes per person per year in Western countries and twice in developing countries.
CAUSES
The germs involved are numerous:
- Bacteria : Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella.
- Virus : enterovirus, adenovirus.
- Parasites : Entamoeba histolytica amoebae-, Giardia lamblia.
- Fungi : Candida albicans
The food toxic infection also common, is caused by the ingestion of a toxin produced by a bacterial germ rate, which typically originates from consumption of spoiled food. The toxin-producing microorganisms are staphylococci, clostridia, E. Coli.
The indiscriminate use of certain drugs, mainly antibiotics, laxatives, and some toxic irritant foods such as alcohol, arsenic, lead, mercury and others can cause severe diarrhea. Less common are food allergies, appendicitis, gastrointestinal bleeding and others.
SYMPTOMS
The main symptoms include abdominal cramps, feeling urgent bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, along with the emission of soft or watery stool, sometimes accompanied by mucus or blood. There may be fever and muscle aches. In severe cases, symptoms of dehydration.
TREATMENT
The treatment of acute diarrhea consists primarily of managing a soft diet and astringent (made from rice, carrots, apples, bananas, chicken) and if there is dehydration, give plenty of fluids orally or intravenously depending on the seriousness of the case.
Most episodes of acute diarrhea of viral or bacterial cause does not require specific treatment because they are self-limiting. In cases caused by parasites or if the infection is widespread, antimicrobial treatment is needed. Nonspecific antidiarrheal preparations, abused in many cases are rarely indicated.
In acute gastroenteritis are unnecessary and may even be as harmful as it prolongs the course of the disease in some cases when produced by Salmonella or Shigella uncomplicated. In Chronic diarrhea with antidiarrheal treatment can mask the process and delay the correct treatment of the causative agent of the disease.
REMEMBER…
Acute diarrhea can be accompanied by signs and symptoms such as high fever or condition of the general state, blood in stool, painful bowel movements or intense thirst, dry mucous
Persistent diarrhea or worsening of signs and symptoms associated with it may require a microbiological examination of stool and in some cases, antibiotic treatment and even hospitalization.
The presence of chronic diarrhea suggests a serious condition that requires monitoring by a specialist. Often accompanied by weight loss and anemia.
Tags: Bacteri, Diarrhea, E. Coli, Fungi, microorganisms, Parasites, Treatment, Virus
