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Definition of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools or frequent bowel movements that usually lasts a few days. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. Common causes include food intolerances, medications, viral or bacterial infections, intestinal diseases, and parasitic infections. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, dehydration, fever, and bloody stools. Treatment focuses on rehydration through drinking fluids, and antibiotics may be used for bacterial infections. Prevention strategies include proper food handling and increased handwashing.

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86 views5 pages

Definition of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools or frequent bowel movements that usually lasts a few days. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. Common causes include food intolerances, medications, viral or bacterial infections, intestinal diseases, and parasitic infections. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, dehydration, fever, and bloody stools. Treatment focuses on rehydration through drinking fluids, and antibiotics may be used for bacterial infections. Prevention strategies include proper food handling and increased handwashing.

Uploaded by

Syilvia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Definition of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools or a frequent


need to have a bowel movement. It usually lasts a few days
and often disappears without any treatment. Diarrhea can be
acute or chronic.

The WHO defines diarrhea as the passage of three or more


loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is
normal for an individual. It is caused by bacterial, viral, and
parasitic organisms and is usually a symptom of
gastrointestinal infection.
The Causes of Diarrhea
You may experience diarrhea as a result of a number of conditions or
circumstances. Potential causes of diarrhea include:
 a food intolerance, such as lactose intolerance
 a food allergy
 an adverse reaction to a medication
 a viral infection
 a bacterial infection
 an intestinal disease
 a parasitic infection
 gallbladder or stomach surgery

According to the Mayo Clinic, Rotavirus is a common cause of childhood


diarrhea. Bacterial infections due to Salmonella or Escherichia coli, among
others, are also common.

Chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a more serious condition such as irritable


bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Frequent and severe diarrhea
could be a sign of intestinal disease or a functional bowel disorder.
The Symptoms of Diarrhea
There are many different symptoms of diarrhea. You may
experience only one of these or any combination of all of
them. The symptoms depend on the cause. It’s common to
feel one or more of the following:
 Nausea
 Abdominal pain
 Cramping
 Bloating
 Dehydration
 A fever
 Bloody stools
 A frequent urge to evacuate your bowels
 A large volume of stools
The Treatment of Diarrhea
The treatment for diarrhea usually requires replacing
lost fluids. It's important to drink plenty of fluids to
avoid dehydration, particularly if you're also
vomiting. This simply means you need to drink
more water or electrolyte replacement beverages,
such as of liquids that contain water, salt, and sugar. .
In more serious cases, you may get fluids through
intravenous therapy. If a bacterial infection is the
cause of your diarrhea, you may get antibiotic.
Moreover, can also provide antidiarrhoeal medicines.
Antidiarrhoeal medicines may help reduce your
diarrhea and slightly shorten how long it lasts.
The Prevention of Diarrhea
Although diarrhea can occur for various reasons, there are actions
that you can take to prevent it:
 You can avoid developing diarrhea from food poisoning by
washing the cooking and food preparation areas more frequently.
 Serve food immediately after preparing it.
 Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
 Always thaw frozen food in a refrigerator.
 Preventing Traveler’s Diarrhea
If you have diarrhea that’s due to a viral or bacterial infection, you
can prevent spreading the infection to others by washing your hands
more frequently. When you wash your hands, use soap and wash for
20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when washing your hands isn’t
possible.

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