What diseases cause constant diarrhea in an adult? Causes of loose stools in an adult for a long time, characteristic symptoms and methods of struggle

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.

The occurrence of diarrhea signals any diseases in the gastrointestinal tract. If the disease is of a protracted nature, then this leads to disruption of the whole organism. Why is loose stool in an adult a concern for doctors for a long time? In a short review, you will learn about the main causes of the disease and methods of treatment at home.

The main causes of loose stools in adults

The norm for a healthy person is a bowel movement once or twice a day with a normal stool. With diarrhea, the number of urges increases. Diarrhea with water in an adult for three days is a reason to see a doctor. When conducting a comprehensive study, the causes of chronic loose stools are established:

• infectious diseases;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• toxic diarrhea;
• food allergy;
• reaction to drugs (after antibiotics, iron-containing drugs);
• ulcerative exacerbations;
• in the morning after removal of the gallbladder;
• oncology.

In case of poisoning with toxic substances (mushrooms, household chemicals), diarrhea, or loose stools, becomes the first sign that signals problems in the body. If you do not follow the rules of hygiene, then digestive disorders are possible due to poorly washed products, hands. Visiting tropical countries is always dangerous for an unprepared tourist, and the load on the gastrointestinal tract causes loose stools. Exotic dishes or local water are unaccustomed to the traveler, so the possibility of diarrhea after them is increased.

Therapy is prescribed after a comprehensive study, when the cause of loose stools is clear. A person is embarrassed to go to the doctor with his problem, considering it insignificant. The result of prolonged diarrhea will be a dangerous complication - dehydration. It leads to irreparable consequences, up to a lethal outcome. At the first manifestations of chronic diarrhea in adults, you should contact medical professionals for help.

How to stop diarrhea and related symptoms

The human body is an integral system, the failure of one of the organs signals health problems. Liquid stools in an adult for a long time makes you think about eliminating unpleasant symptoms. How do you determine if medical intervention is needed? There are a number of signs that need attention:

• frequent urge to defecate;
• nausea and vomiting;
• heaviness, pain in the abdomen;
• increased formation of gases in the intestines;
• increased body temperature;
• liquid yellow stool;
• the appearance of blood or black stools;
• frothy green stool.

Rotavirus infection in adults, internal hemorrhoids, a protective reaction of the body to toxic substances are accompanied by feces with blood, so you should immediately consult a doctor. A change in feces to a darker color simultaneously with loose stools indicates possible tumors in the stomach and intestines. , severe diarrhea for a long time informs about problems that should be quickly resolved.

How to treat diarrhea in adults

Treatment of diarrhea at home in an adult involves a set of measures that are aimed at eliminating the symptoms and causes of the disease. Watery stools are eliminated by special dietary nutrition and medications. To restore the water balance, droppers with sodium chloride are used. Then you should work out rehabilitation actions for the regeneration of the body.

Plentiful drink

Any disease has complications, while loose stools in adults become the cause of dehydration for a long time. Therefore, you need to quickly restore the body's water balance. The patient is prescribed a plentiful drink of clean, boiled liquid or special solutions with the addition of salt. The patient's condition should be carefully monitored. If vomiting begins, they drink water often, in small portions.

sparing diet

To eliminate the symptoms and restore the proper functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, you should review your diet. A sparing diet is based on basic principles:

• a balanced menu throughout the day to ensure the normal process of life;
• reducing the load on the digestive system;
• gradual expansion of the diet.

The diet for chronic diarrhea places special demands on the technology of preparation. Therapists recommend boiling or steaming food. Smoked or fried foods should be forgotten in order to get rid of loose stools. The framework of therapeutic nutrition provides for the use of dishes only in the form of heat (exclude hot and cold). The volume of servings is reduced so that the stomach gradually gets used to the correct work.

Chronic diarrhea in adults occurs due to malnutrition. When planning a diet, you should pay attention to the expiration dates of food. There are a number of products that are used for chronic diarrhea:

• stale bread, crackers;
• broth (meat, vegetable);
• lean meats, fish;
• boiled eggs;
• cottage cheese with a low fat content (milk, kefir is impossible);
• baked apples;
• natural jelly (without chemicals and dyes);
• weak tea, coffee.

After the restoration of the gastrointestinal tract, you should gradually expand your diet. Including a new type of product in your menu, carefully monitor the reaction of the body. If there are no negative results in the form of a resumption of loose stools, then after a certain period of time introduce a new dish. Do not forget about processing technology, giving preference to steam or boiled types of food.

Medications for diarrhea

Do not self-medicate - only a doctor will prescribe for adults, so a visit to a medical institution is mandatory. Antidiarrheal drugs with improper therapy cause damage to the intestinal mucosa. If loose stools are caused by inflammatory processes, then an integrated approach is needed. Infectious diseases are eliminated by a course of antibiotics.

Treatment of acute diarrhea, which is accompanied by pain, spasms, vomiting, is carried out with medications to reduce intestinal motility. If malabsorption is the cause of loose stools, bile acid preparations are prescribed during therapy. Each drug is prescribed by a doctor individually, according to the diagnosis. Independent use of liquid stool remedies will provoke a complication.

One of the consequences of diarrhea is dysbacteriosis. The task of the therapist is to restore the microflora of the digestive organs. To do this, after treating loose stools, he uses preparations with beneficial bacteria. Additionally, a course of vitamins (in tablets, injections) is prescribed to avoid vitamin deficiency. The loss of fluid in loose stools is then compensated by droppers with glucose, sodium chloride. Preparations quickly restore water balance, have a detoxifying effect.

Folk remedies for treatment at home

Problems with stool disorder are a common occurrence, there are a lot of recipes that will help get rid of the disease. Folk remedies for diarrhea in adults are used only for a mild condition or as directed by a therapist. One of the most effective tools in the fight against loose stools is oak decoction:

• pour a pinch of tree bark with a glass of boiling water;
• steam in a water bath for 10 minutes;
• take 18 g three times a day.

Effective treatment of diarrhea in adults involves the use of agents that have fixing properties. Tinctures and decoctions from walnut partitions or pomegranate peels contain tannins. They are used for loose stools, problems with the gastrointestinal tract. If after three doses the diarrhea does not stop, then you should seek help from a doctor.

A milder remedy to help cure loose stools is unsalted rice broth. The water in which the cereal was cooked is drunk three times a day for half a glass. Strong unsweetened tea with crackers is a proven method for frequent urges. It is recommended to take several times a day instead of food: toxins are released thanks to dry bread, and caffeine tones.

Video about the causes and treatment of diarrhea in an adult

Diarrhea is an unpleasant disease that disrupts the usual rhythm of life, causing constant discomfort. Chronic loose stools need special treatment. Improper therapy will lead to irreparable consequences and complications. In a short video, you will learn about first aid for diarrhea: what to do and how to quickly get rid of an obsessive ailment.

Diarrhea significantly impairs the quality of life of the patient, and also negatively affects his health. Loose stools are almost always a concept, the manifestations of which are also characterized by a complete breakdown. Not stopping for a long time, diarrhea becomes protracted. The solution to the problem is relegated to the background. Along with this, it becomes increasingly difficult for the patient to endure the symptoms of loose stools that have become chronic. The body loses moisture and nutrients, its water-salt balance is disturbed. If problems arise, it is necessary to treat frequent loose stools in an adult: the causes and treatment are described in detail in the article below.

Symptoms of chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea in adults manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

• the appearance of the urge to empty at least 3 three times a day for 20-25 days;
• liquid nature of the stool;
• concomitant flatulence;
• abdominal pain and constant rumbling;
• body weakness.

The mass of stool, which is observed with diarrhea, is about 300 grams per day, up to 85% of this mass is water. At the same time, food is digested poorly, so its remains can also be observed in feces. The characteristics of the stool vary and depend on the pathogenesis of the disease that provoked diarrhea.

Etiology

The main causes of diarrhea in adults are:

1. Persistent diarrhea in adult men for a long time is a sign of bacterial infection. Viruses, bacteria and protozoa that enter the body through the mouth release enterotoxins and consume much-needed nutrients. This causes severe intoxication, an indicator of which is the fetid smell of stools and their greenish color.
2. Severe liver damage in women and men also causes liquid dark stools in the morning, which does not stop for more than three weeks. You should be especially careful about health in situations where parallel symptoms are accompanied: yellowing of the white of the eye, heaviness in the right side, pain in the spine.
3. Elevated temperature is an indicator of the inflammatory process that develops in the body, for example, in the digestive tract. The reasons why this may be due may be very different.

With loose stools, a person should pay attention to its structure and contents. When protozoa are found, it is important to understand that their presence is a possible cause of chronic diarrhea.

Osmotic diarrhea

Osmotic diarrhea occurs when a patient has consistently abused laxatives. Substances that could not be absorbed into the body increase intra-intestinal pressure. The secretion of water at the same time increases significantly.

Symptoms of the disease include:

• bloating;
• thrush;
• increase in body temperature;
• frothy stool;
• the presence of undigested food in the feces;
• dehydration;
• pain attacks.

Treatment of persistent osmotic diarrhea begins only after the nature of the change in stool is determined.

secretory diarrhea

The main sign of secretory diarrhea is an increase in the transport of electrolytes. The amount of fluid removed is greatly increased. Basically, the stool changes due to a decrease in the ability of the intestine to absorb water.

This type of diarrhea occurs for the following reasons:

• infections;
• poisoning;
• hereditary diseases;
• oncological diseases (tumors that depend on the level of hormones in the body).

Sometimes the character of the stool becomes different after the body receives bile or fatty acids. This is especially true for older people. Insufficiency of pancreatic lipase is another reason for the development of loose stools. The frequency of defecation reaches 15 times in a row, but the patient may not experience pain. Body temperature is almost always elevated, feces may contain green impurities.

Exudative diarrhea

This type of disease is characterized by the appearance of holes in the walls of the intestine. Perforation can be through, as a result of which the exudate (a mixture of pus, blood and mucus) enters the peritoneum. This may be the beginning of the development of peritonitis.

The development of this type of diarrhea is due to the vital activity of protozoa, for example, salmonella, giardia or amoebas. Due to their functioning, the intestinal contents consist not only of digested food residues, but also of exudate. The stools are filled with pus or blood. Fever and severe intestinal pain is a reason to see a doctor as soon as possible, especially if the victim is a traveler. Complications received in another country are difficult and expensive to treat.

Motor diarrhea

This type of diarrhea is caused by abnormalities in intestinal motility. Often this situation develops against the background of diabetes, weight loss, chemotherapy, stress, cancer, scleroderma. Semi-formed feces are excreted in small portions. The digestive track constantly shrinks urgently and also relaxes. Motor diarrhea is accompanied by such "companions" as gas formation, bloating, weakening of the anal sphincter and loose stools.

Treatment

It is possible to cure diarrhea at home. Therapy should include a set of measures aimed at both eliminating the symptoms and curing the patient of the disease that provoked the disease. Before starting the process, it is necessary to pass tests.

To a greater extent, the normalization of the patient's nutrition can have an effect on watery stools. In parallel, it is necessary to take a number of medications. Drip administration of sodium chloride will help restore the water-salt balance. Rehabilitation measures are also needed to restore the body's field of moisture loss.

A patient under treatment for diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids because chronic diarrhea causes dehydration. To restore the balance of fluid in the body, you should use clean drinking water or special preparations containing salts. With vomiting, the frequency of fluid intake is increased, and the portion size is reduced.

To eliminate the symptoms of dysfunction of the rectum and the problem that provoked it, the use of the following groups of drugs is recommended:

1. antidiarrheal medicines;
2. Antibiotics to eliminate infection;
3. Medicines that reduce intestinal motility;
4. Preparations containing bile acids for malabsorption.

In addition, it is necessary to drink a course of vitamin preparations or give injections, because during the ongoing loose stools, the body has lost a lot of useful substances. Do not neglect folk remedies.

Rehydration for diarrhea

With prolonged diarrhea, it is necessary to understand that the body needs to restore the water-salt balance. Pharmaceutical preparations are perfect for this, which must be diluted in a certain amount of water before taking. Some of them should be used with great care when breastfeeding.

A similar remedy for diarrhea can be prepared independently. To do this, a spoonful of salt and 4 tablespoons of sugar are dissolved in a liter of water, adding a spoonful of soda there. The resulting composition should be divided into several parts and drunk in equal portions throughout the day. In the absence of vomiting, the patient can also take other drinks. It will be useful to use probiotics and prebiotics to restore normal microflora. Often doctors prescribe Hilak Forte, useful for the intestines, stomach and other organs.

Diet for diarrhea

Recovery of the body after prolonged diarrhea with blisters requires increased attention to nutrition. So, a certain number of products should be completely excluded from the diet:

• fatty foods;
• dairy products;
• spices;
• alcohol;
• plums and beets;
• sauces;
• sugar cookies.

When compiling the menu, it is worth including products recommended for diarrhea:

• stale bread;
• low-fat cottage cheese;
• lean meat or fish;
• boiled eggs;
• weak tea or coffee;
• meat broth;
• natural kissel.

Expansion of the diet is possible only after the full restoration of frequent stools. The better the treatment received by the patient, the faster the problem will go away and it will be possible to diversify the diet. The rate of recovery depends on the choice of drugs used in the treatment of diarrhea. Self-medication should not be done, the appointment of tablets is the competence of the attending physician.

Diarrhea cannot be called a disease, rather it is a certain syndrome, accompanied, in addition to the presence of characteristic liquid and frequent bowel movements, fever, abdominal pain with cramps, nausea or vomiting. Diarrhea can be caused by various reasons. Adults endure diarrhea, a state of diarrhea, somewhat easier than children, since the children's body is more sensitive to the phenomenon of dehydration. However, the appearance of diarrhea in an adult should alert anyone who cares about their health, because without effective treatment of this syndrome, serious complications are possible.

Loose stools in an adult can be not only due to common problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but also be the result of other causes and complications, ranging from human nutrition (choice of food) to other, more serious and chronic diseases of various organs and organ systems in the human body.

Loose stools in an adult can be either acute or chronic. Depending on the type of diarrhea, there are certain effective ways to treat diarrhea. In order to properly treat diarrhea and quickly get rid of diarrhea in an adult, you must first determine the cause of frequent and loose stools.

What is diarrhea, liquid diarrhea?

Intestinal infections should be treated in a hospital, so you should not delay a visit to the doctor at the slightest suspicion of them, otherwise the consequences can be very serious. Diarrhea is acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea is when the symptoms of frequent and loose stools last from 3 to 7 days. If frequent and loose stools torment you for more than 1 week and up to 3 months, then this type of diarrhea can be called chronic. In any case, the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea can only be made by a specialist doctor based on the results of additional tests.

What diseases can be if symptoms and signs of chronic diarrhea appear? Frequent diarrhea can cause diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal giardiasis, adenocarcinoma.

Why does an adult have loose stools, reasons

Liquid and frequent bowel movements with loose stools can appear due to the ingestion of untreated or poorly boiled water, as a reaction to the use of certain types of drugs, as well as due to allergies to certain foods or food poisoning. Not the last role in the occurrence of diarrhea is played by stressful situations. One of the common causes of diarrhea is the penetration of an intestinal infection, which can enter the body due to neglect of basic hygiene rules.

The presence of such serious pathologies as ulcerative lesions of the intestine, Crohn's disease, oncological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, impaired absorption in the intestine can also be manifested by the presence of loose stools. Often, adults do not resort to the help of specialists and try to cure sudden diarrhea on their own. Usually, diarrhea resolves in a few days, unless the cause is related to a serious pathology or an intestinal infection that has got inside. Fans of visiting exotic countries need to take the necessary precautions so as not to become a victim of infections common there, since they are very dangerous and can even lead to death.

To understand the causes of loose stools in an adult, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the presence of abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, elevated or high body temperature, but the color of the feces is also very important. In an adult, by the color of the feces, it is possible to assume with a high probability the cause of loose stools, why it could appear. Liquid feces in an adult are when the feces are yellow, black, green, light yellow, feces with a red tint, or feces with a scarlet color. It is also important if there are blood clots, mucus, pus or other symptoms of a pathological problem in the stool.

Let's highlight the main and most common causes of loose stools in an adult, what it can be, which causes diarrhea. Immediately all the causes of diarrhea and an adult should be divided into pathological and physiological. If the cause of diarrhea is not dangerous and does not cause complications, it can be attributed to physiological. But if diarrhea is not just a temporary disorder of the digestive tract, but a consequence of serious problems with the intestines or stomach, then the causes of diarrhea can be called pathological.

Non-dangerous factors in the development of diarrhea in an adult: diarrhea as a symptom of food allergies, diarrhea as a result of an intestinal infection (for example, gastric flu), neurogenic diarrhea (emotional stress, neurotic disorders, prolonged stress and emotional overstrain). A relatively benign cause of diarrhea can be a viral or bacterial infection. In some people, diarrhea is the result of an allergic reaction of the body to lactose intolerance.

Dangerous causes of loose stools in an adult are primarily diseases, including chronic ones. Diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis (including chronic, other problems with the development of inflammatory diseases in the pancreas), cystic fibrosis, hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease), hepatitis, metabolic diarrhea (hypovitaminosis), kidney disease (which are associated with systematic violation of metabolic processes in them).

What to do, how to treat loose stools in an adult

It should be noted right away that if a person does not know how to properly treat loose stools in an adult, then it must be understood that the treatment of infectious diarrhea and functional diarrhea is very different. That is why many cases of self-treatment of diarrhea are very ineffective or do not bring results at all.

Treatment of infectious diarrhea, when the causative agent of diarrhea is an infection, depends on which form of infection affects the body and causes loose stools as a result of its manifestation. If the nature of infectious diarrhea in an adult is mild, then the doctor may prescribe the necessary funds, tablets, drugs for diarrhea, which can be taken at home, treat diarrhea at home. For mild infectious diarrhea, doctors usually prescribe absorbent drugs and drink plenty of fluids until the diarrhea ends.

If the form of infectious diarrhea is severe, then hospitalization of a person and his further treatment in a hospital will be required.

If diarrhea in an adult is functional, then it also has its own special approach to treatment. What does functional diarrhea mean? What is functional diarrhea? This type of loose stool means that bowel movement with loose stools is due to a malfunction in the digestive system or nervous system. Treatment in this case is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, because. pathology is not observed. With this type of loose stool, if the irritant is removed, the stool of an adult is restored very quickly. Often, with functional diarrhea, if the reason for frequent bowel movements goes away, the stool is restored after 1 day, a maximum of two days.

Not all people understand that if diarrhea has begun, if diarrhea has suddenly begun, pills alone will not be enough to eliminate symptoms. The first thing to do when diarrhea appears, for a short time, 4-5 hours, refuse to eat. However, this does not mean that you need to starve for days. A weakening body needs nutrition, so you need to strictly follow a diet, make sure that the diet contains foods that are easily digestible and do not overload the gastrointestinal tract.

What else should be done if an adult has diarrhea? The second rule is related to the prevention of the dangerous phenomenon of dehydration. Since a large amount of fluid is excreted from the body during diarrhea, it must be constantly replenished. But do not drink fruit juices, milk or coffee. The best options here would be: herbal tea, warm fat-free broth, or just good quality water. It is important not only to use the liquid itself, but also how to drink it. If a large amount of liquid enters the body at the same time, then it does not have time to be absorbed in the intestines and is excreted in transit without fulfilling its important function of normalizing the water balance. Therefore, you need to take liquid in small portions, but do it more often than usual.

Diarrhea is often accompanied by general weakness, nausea, and lack of appetite. In the absence of serious pathologies in an adult, such phenomena disappear within 1-2 days. During this time, until the symptoms of diarrhea are completely gone, you need to drink more, and when your appetite is restored, it is advisable to include foods that help to fix the stool in your diet. Hard-boiled eggs, rice dishes (porridge, pudding cooked without milk), crackers are perfect. Nutrition should provide a gentle regimen for the digestive system, without causing irritation of the intestinal mucosa and helping to fix the stool.

If the diet is followed, a couple of days are enough for the adult's condition to stabilize and the stool to return to normal. In the absence of a positive result, you need to help the body with medicines. The simplest and cheapest of them are activated charcoal tablets. The most effective remedy for diarrhea is Imodium. The line of medicines for diarrhea includes many options, each of which is suitable for different cases.

If within 2-3 days it is not possible to normalize the stool on your own, you need to contact a medical institution and consult with specialists. It may be necessary to undergo an examination to determine the cause of diarrhea and prescribe effective treatment.

Prevention of diarrhea, what to do so that there is no diarrhea again

You can prevent the occurrence of diarrhea by following a number of rules, including compliance with hygiene procedures and the right attitude to nutrition. Vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly washed, eggs, meat, fish subjected to proper heat treatment. Kitchen utensils should always be clean. All products must be stored in the refrigerator, protecting them from spoilage.

The situation when the stomach hurts and diarrhea is not so rare. There are many reasons why this condition develops. Diarrhea is accompanied by stools supersaturated with water, sometimes with an admixture of blood. In the first case, everything is not so scary, since the treatment process is short, and is aimed at replenishing the lost trace elements and fluids. If a bowel movement is accompanied by bloody inclusions in the feces, this signals the development of a serious illness in the patient's body.

This article will talk about the causes that provoke liquid stools in an adult (occurring constantly), types of diarrhea in a chronic form, symptoms of a pathological condition, treatment features and prevention of persistent diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea is a dangerous pathology that causes dehydration of the body. Disorder of bowel functions develops for various reasons, causing its division into several types. According to the timing of the flow, they distinguish:

• acute diarrhea lasting up to 14 days;
• frequent diarrhea that has become chronic, lasting 4 weeks or more.

Loose stools are accompanied by discomfort, pain, discomfort around the rectum, fecal incontinence.

Permanent diarrhea in an adult also has its own classification, and it happens:

• secretory;
• fatty;
• osmotic;
• inflammatory.

Frequent loose stools in an adult develop under the influence of psycho-emotional factors (for example, chronic stress, depression, neuroses), gastrointestinal diseases, and intoxications. Frequent diarrhea that occurs in adults also appears as a result of prolonged use of potent antibiotics.

The development of secretory diarrhea in adults is due to exposure to potent drugs, fatty and bile acids, and toxic substances. Chronic loose stools are caused by laxative stimulant medications (such as Aloe or Bisacodyl). Daily diarrhea and abdominal pain are caused by regular alcohol consumption. The reason that an adult develops chronic diarrhea may be poor absorption of bile acids.

The condition when a person seethes in the stomach and liquid stools appear, occurs due to the accumulation of bacteria in the intestines, inflammation in the ileum, its complete or partial removal. It rarely happens that frequent diarrhea occurs due to the course of cancer:

• gastrinoma;
• carcinoid tumors;
• oncological diseases of the thyroid gland.

If diarrhea appears against the background of cancerous pathologies, then it is usually accompanied by additional symptoms. However, a patient with persistent diarrhea should not immediately suspect the presence of cancer. It is better to visit a specialist and pass the necessary tests that will confirm or refute the fears.

Frequent diarrhea of ​​the osmotic type occurs due to an increased number of osmolar components located in the lumen of the rectum. A feature of this type of diarrhea is that liquid stools appear even with complete starvation.

Causes of frequent osmotic diarrhea:

• products containing mannitol or sorbitol components;
• taking medications with Lactulose, Magnesium sulfate, Oristat or the constant use of Neomycin or Colestyramine;
• syndrome of shortening of the small intestine;
• fistulas in the intestines;
• lack of lactase in the body (this condition can be both congenital and acquired due to inflammation in the intestines).

Inflammatory type diarrhea develops against the background of intestinal inflammation resulting from:

Constantly loose stools in an adult may be the result of increased activity of the pancreas, irritable bowel syndrome, taking prokinetic drugs (Cytapride, Metoclopramide). All these problems accelerate the contraction of the intestinal walls, and as a result, a disorder of its functions occurs.

Fatty diarrhea

Fatty diarrhea is one of the most common disorders that develop as a result of a malfunction in the digestive system and malabsorption of food. Such conditions are often provoked by diseases of the pancreas. The diseased organ is unable to fully fulfill its excretory functions or, conversely, produces pancreatic juice in large quantities. Because of this, individual components (for example, fats) are not absorbed in the intestine. A similar problem arises due to certain liver diseases, prolonged starvation, bacterial infections.