What to do with severe watery diarrhea in an adult? Diarrhea or diarrhea - what is it, prevention, causes

Diarrhea or diarrhea is not an independent disease - it is just a symptom of many other diseases. Diarrhea is an accelerated passage of food through the intestines with a violation of the absorption of fluid in the large intestine. Sometimes the causes of diarrhea are identified very quickly, but there are times when diarrhea passes before a person goes to the doctor to look for its causes. In adults, diarrhea rarely leads to negative consequences, but in children and the elderly, this condition can lead to dehydration, which is very dangerous for health and even life.

One of the main causes of diarrhea is infection. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and diarrhea can also be caused by toxins that are released by these organisms during their life.
In addition, diarrhea can be caused by disorders of the intestines and stomach, in which there is a violation of the process of splitting food and its assimilation.

There are other causes that can cause diarrhea, these include:

• the use of hard-to-digest foods that contain a lot of fat and / or vegetable fiber;
• fermentopathy, or lack of enzymes in the body, which does not allow food to be fully digested;
• violation of the natural composition of the intestinal microflora.

In most cases, there is acute diarrhea. It appears suddenly and is characterized by the release of stool more than 4-5 times a day. This condition is accompanied by bloating and rumbling in the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, a feeling of thirst and dryness of the skin, a feeling of weakness and fatigue, and staining of urine in a dark color.

This condition rarely lasts more than two weeks. If, during diarrhea, fever, blood in the stool, severe and sharp pains in the abdomen and darkening of the stool appear, then you should consult a doctor to exclude dangerous diseases such as dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera and others. If diarrhea continues for more than two weeks, you should also consult a doctor, as this may be a sign.

The main complications of diarrhea are dehydration, hypovitaminosis and general exhaustion of the body. Dehydration is most dangerous for children and the elderly, as their body is not able to cope with its consequences on its own. This often leads to complications and even death.

Treatment of diarrhea with diet

Treatment of diarrhea always begins with a dietary change. It should be as gentle as possible for the digestive system. With diarrhea, foods that mechanically stimulate peristalsis, such as fresh vegetables and black bread, as well as foods that stimulate peristalsis reflexively, such as spices and caffeine, are prohibited.

Disaccharides that can cause osmotic diarrhea are prohibited, such as lactose, which is contained in. It is very important to give up too fatty foods, which require a lot of enzymes to digest, as they greatly burden the already weakened intestines.

The best foods to eat during diarrhea are boiled rice, bananas, crackers and baked sour apples.

What can you eat with diarrhea? It is best to give preference to boiled pureed food without spices, fat and coarse fiber. You need to eat small portions every three hours. You can use soups on a weak broth with white bread, low-fat boiled meat or fish, low-fat cottage cheese. But sweets should be abandoned, as well as fresh milk, legumes and mushrooms. If there are signs of decay, such as belching rotten or putrid smell of feces, it is necessary to limit the protein in food and give preference to cereals and kissels. And with signs of fermentation, such as frothy feces with a sour smell, you need to reduce the amount of carbohydrates and eat more proteins, such as meat and cottage cheese.

Antidiarrheal medicines

If diarrhea needs to be stopped immediately, antidiarrheal drugs are often recommended. One such drug is loperamide, which is the active ingredient in many drugs. It inhibits the release of acetylcholine and prostaglandins, slows peristalsis, slows secretion production, and increases the tone of the anal sphincter.

In most cases, diarrhea is a positive phenomenon, as it allows you to remove toxins from the body, so you should not stop it with medication.

Loperamide is part of the popular drug Imodium Plus. It also contains simethicone. This drug not only stops diarrhea, but also eliminates flatulence and reduces discomfort in the abdomen.

But when using drugs with loperamide, one must be as careful as possible, since it is similar to opiates and, in large doses, can lead to depression of the nervous system. Medicines based on loperamide should not be used by young children under 6 years of age, and it is not recommended to give them to children under 12. In young children, Immodium can cause intestinal muscle paralysis, which is deadly. It is forbidden to take medicines for diarrhea and in the presence of blood and pus in the stool.

But sometimes loperamide is useful, for example, in diarrhea of ​​a nervous origin caused by stress, as well as in Crohn's disease and secretory diarrhea, in diarrhea caused by cancer chemotherapy.

Fighting dehydration as a treatment method

The main danger of any diarrhea is dehydration. That is why treatment must begin with the restoration of normal water balance. Loss of more than 20-25% of all water in the body, which is about 15% of body weight, is fatal. Most often this occurs with cholera and salmonellosis.

The risk of dehydration is much higher if the diarrhea is accompanied by nausea and vomiting and the patient is unable to drink. In such cases, it is better to go to the hospital, where the fluid will be administered intravenously.

The main signs of dehydration are: intense thirst and weakness, a small amount of dark urine, weight loss, wrinkled and flabby skin, sunken cheeks and eyes, sharpening of facial features, thickening of the blood and lowering blood pressure, as well as tachycardia, bluish skin color and convulsions.

Diarrhea requires fluid replacement or rehydration. The optimal drinks for rehydration are special preparations, such as Regidron and Gatsrolit. They help replenish lost fluids and some nutrients. You can also drink strong unsweetened tea, a decoction of rose hips, compotes and weak broths.

The use of adsorbents

These drugs have the ability to absorb toxins, poisons, some endogenous metabolites, as well as liquids and gases. They then excrete them naturally. The intake of adsorbents reduces the amount of intestinal contents and slightly slows down peristalsis. This leads to a decrease in the number of bowel movements, and also reduces intoxication and flatulence. A variety of substances are used as adsorbents, the most famous being activated carbon, it is also possible to take lignin processing products and polymer drugs based on polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Activated charcoal should not be used if there is bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, as its particles can enter the bloodstream and lead to blockage of blood vessels.

Quite popular is the drug Smecta, which can have the trade names smecta, dioctite, diosmectite, neosmectin, etc. Smecta not only absorbs and removes toxins from the body, but also gently lines the surface of the stomach and intestines, allowing cells to recover from illness. Everyone can use this drug, including children and lactating women. Another option for a good adsorbent is enterosgel. Its action is similar to smecta and patients of all ages can use it.

You can also use Polysorb, the active ingredient of which is colloidal silicon dioxide. And also Neointestopan and Kaopektat, which are not recommended for children under 6 years of age.

And how long has the well-known activated carbon? This is an inexpensive and very effective remedy, so it can also be used, but you need to remember that to achieve a real effect, you will have to eat much more than the recommended tablet per 10 kg of weight. If you are not sure that you can swallow a few handfuls of coal, it is better to choose a more modern remedy.

Identification of the causative agent and treatment of the causes of diarrhea

Very often, diarrhea is a symptom of an acute intestinal infection, which is caused by a variety of pathogens. Most often these are:

• bacteria, such as salmonella, shigella vibrios, cholera, etc.;
• viruses, for example, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, etc.;
• protozoa, such as amoeba, giardia, balantidia, trichomonads, amoeba (amoebic dysentery), cryptosporidium, etc.;
• helminths, for example, whipworm, pinworms, schistosomes, etc.

With watery diarrhea without a temperature, determining the pathogen is usually not required, since such symptoms are typical for viral diarrhea, which go away on their own with proper nutrition and timely rehydration. An exception may be cholera, which is accompanied by just such diarrhea.

It has been proven that recovery from cholera is possible without the use of antibiotics, but subject to timely rehydration, including with the help of intravenous fluids.

If pus, mucus and blood are noticeable in the feces, then you should immediately contact the infectious diseases hospital. Most likely, doctors will diagnose a bacterial infection and recommend antibiotic treatment. Most often, systemic antibiotics are used, even before the precise determination of the pathogen. To determine the pathogen, sowing on a nutrient medium is usually used, so the result of the analysis will be only after 3-5 days.

Under no circumstances should you prescribe antibiotics on your own. This is due to the fact that they are useless against viruses, but they can easily kill the beneficial intestinal microflora and further worsen the patient's condition.

Treatment with intestinal antiseptics Nifuroxazide can be produced under the name stopdiar, enterofuril, ersefuril. It effectively destroys staphylococci and streptococci, as well as some common gram-negative bacteria of the intestinal group, such as salmonella, shigella, klebsiella, E. coli.

Rifaximin is marketed under the name Alfa Normix. This drug has a wide spectrum of activity, but sometimes causes side effects such as dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, which go away on their own.

The drug Intetrix destroys not only bacteria, but also amoeba and fungi of the Candida genera. It is most often used to treat amoebiasis, as well as fungal diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea.

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Indigestion has many causes and most often manifests itself suddenly. That is why it is necessary to have information about what to do with diarrhea at home and in what situations urgent medical attention is required.

Diarrhea is not an independent, but a concomitant disease. Frequent loose stools appear due to a functional disorder of the digestive system. This pathology develops against the background of:

The cause in adults is alcohol intoxication and nervous disorders. Prolonged diarrhea causes life-threatening dehydration (dehydration) of the body. This situation poses the greatest danger to children and the elderly. Together with feces, a person loses water and essential trace elements (potassium and sodium). The cardiovascular system suffers most from the lack of these substances. Frequent loose stools with blood is a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. In some cases, such a pathological condition is a symptom of a life-threatening disease (cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis).

Mild diarrhea can be treated at home. But if severe dehydration is suspected, urgent medical attention is required. Signs of a critical decrease in fluid in the body:

• dry mucous membranes;
• lethargy, apathy;
• increased thirst;
• confused mind;
• low pressure;
• convulsions;
• fainting;
• rapid breathing and heartbeat;
• change in color and amount of urine (dark and little);
• wrinkling of the skin.

The lack of appropriate treatment in such a situation will lead to irreversible pathological processes in the body.

Diet

It is necessary to start the treatment of acute diarrhea at home with a complete refusal of food. In case of severe hunger, you can drink a mug of warm sweet tea with crackers. When the condition improves, they switch to a sparing diet. Food should be light, non-greasy, mashed.

1. mucous boiled porridges;

2. kissels (on dried fruits);

3. apples (baked or stewed);

4. crackers or stale bread (white);

5. lean soups or on the second broth (chicken);

6. bananas;

7. meat (low-fat varieties);

8. omelets (steam) and boiled eggs.

It is undesirable to take long breaks between meals. Especially if the cause of diarrhea is stomach disease.

• milk;
• fatty, fried, smoked, salted, canned foods;
• coarse food rich in fiber;
• carbonated drinks;
• fresh fruits and vegetables.

A sparing diet is observed until the complete cessation of diarrhea. Return to normal nutrition should be gradual.

Medical therapy

What medicines can be used at home to stop diarrhea depends on the cause of its occurrence and the severity of the patient's condition. If diarrhea is caused by food poisoning (nausea and vomiting are usually present), enterosorbents should be added to the treatment. They are able to absorb and remove toxic substances from the body.

1. The most effective and safe enterosorbent of the latest generation is Smekta. In acute diarrhea in adults, accompanied by intoxication, the first dose may be doubled. Replace Smecta with similar drugs: Enterosgel, Kaopektat, Polysorb MP or regular activated charcoal tablets. Before using the medicine, it is advisable to rinse the stomach (with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or 1% soda). In extreme cases, plain boiled water will do.

2. If the cause of diarrhea is a bacterial infection, intestinal antiseptics will help in the treatment. The most famous of them are: Enterofuril (Nifuroxazide), Alfa Normix (Rifaksimin) and Intetrix. They are almost not absorbed in the intestines and do not cause microflora disturbances. Antimicrobial drugs are ineffective against viruses.

3. Diarrhea with water in an adult, and especially in an elderly person, requires a quick replenishment of the lost fluid in the body (rehydration). For this, drugs such as Gastrolit, Regidron, Hydrovit, Citroglucosolan are used. They dissolve in water (according to the instructions), are taken in small portions. The ideal option is to consume 2-3 sips every 5-10 minutes. Absorbed in the small intestine, the composition quickly replenishes water and electrolytes lost with feces. It is best to start the rehydration procedure from the first hours of diarrhea development. This normalizes the water-salt balance and metabolism.

4. Long-term use of certain drugs (especially antibiotics) violates the quantitative and qualitative composition of the intestinal microflora. This causes diarrhea, which aggravates the situation even more.

Biologically active drugs help restore the intestinal microflora (Enterol, Eubicor, Linex, Hilak forte) . They are made up of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and nutrients (prebiotics) that promote their growth. Adults in the treatment of diarrhea is better to use Enterol. It has a complex action: antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antitoxic, antiviral (suppresses rotoviruses). Resistant to antibiotics and hydrochloric acid of the stomach.

5. If diarrhea is accompanied by fever, it is recommended to use Galavit (an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating agent). It is safe, has virtually no side effects, is well tolerated and is compatible with other drugs for the treatment of intestinal disorders.

6. Frequent urge to defecate causes painful muscle spasms. For their relief, antispasmodics are used (No-shpa, Papaverine).

7. Today, the diarrhea remedy Loperamide (Lopedium, Imodium, Laremid) is very popular. It is able to quickly and effectively cure diarrhea in adults at home by reducing peristalsis and intestinal secretion. In some cases, a single dose causes constipation (lack of bowel movements for several days).

It is very dangerous if diarrhea is the result of poisoning or intestinal infection. In such a situation, toxins remain inside the body and poison it from the inside. The use of this remedy without the recommendation of a doctor is undesirable.

At home, only the alleged cause of diarrhea can be determined, so treatment should be comprehensive and include:

• diet
• enterosorbents;
• rehydration;
• antibacterial drugs;
• antispasmodics (for pain).

If home treatment is ineffective, it is better to consult a doctor.

Treatment of diarrhea with folk remedies

As a medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, traditional healers mainly use various parts of plants. They make decoctions and tinctures.

Alcohol tinctures:

1. Partitions of walnuts (200 - 300 g) pour alcohol (1 tbsp). Insist for 3 days and take 10 drops 4-5 times a day with warm boiled water.

2. Cut the green peel of young walnuts (20 - 30 pieces), put in a jar and pour vodka (0.5 l). Insist 6 - 7 days, take 1 tsp (3 times a day).

3. Vodka mixed with salt (a pinch of salt per 20 grams of vodka). This old folk remedy can help with a single application. If there is no positive result, it is not worth repeating such treatment.

Herbal decoctions:

• St. John's wort pour boiling water over dry herb (1 tbsp. l per 1 tbsp. water). Drink 3-4 times a day, make a fresh drink before each dose.
• A decoction of dry pomegranate peel is prepared and consumed in a similar way.

Cold infusions:

• Pour the fruits of blueberries overnight with cold water (4 tsp per 1 tbsp of water). Drink in small portions throughout the day.
• A well-known folk remedy for diarrhea is an infusion of oak bark (1 tsp per 1 tbsp of water), insist for a day, take 0.5 cup 3 times a day.

Alternative methods of treatment are good for mild digestive disorders or as an adjunct to drug therapy.

Diarrhea (it is called the usual word "diarrhea") is an unpleasant symptom of many pathologies that have a completely different genesis and causative factor. Diarrhea is considered to be a condition characterized by frequent defecation with a change in stool parameters. With diarrhea in parallel, patients often complain of concomitant unpleasant symptoms: colic, abdominal pain, vomiting,. The greatest danger is diarrhea for children, since with diarrhea they quickly become dehydrated, which carries very serious complications, even death.

There are a number of factors that can cause diarrhea in both adults and children. These include:

• Problems with intestinal motility.
• Infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which become a source of toxins in the intestines. Such diseases include: enteroviruses, cholera, food poisoning,.
• Violations in the intestinal microflora against the background of taking anticancer drugs, with HIV disease.
• Irritable bowel syndrome, which is formed with disorders of a neuropsychic nature.
• Enzyme deficiency and fermentopathy.
• Pathologies of an autoimmune nature: nonspecific ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease.
• Hereditary pathologies, which are based on intolerance to certain foods or substances. Such congenital conditions include: celiac disease, pancreatitis (chronic and acute), lactose deficiency, cirrhosis of the liver.

Causes of diarrhea with blood in an adult

Diarrhea with blood can occur as a result of various factors. The admixture of blood in the feces in itself already causes anxiety in a person. The reasons for its appearance in the stool can be the following:

• Diverticulitis- inflammation in the lower intestine. This cause is most common in people after 45-50 years.
• Hypodynamia- an inert lifestyle, constantly sedentary work, when a person moves little and there is a lack of movement, sedentary work.
• Ulcerative-erosive processes in the gastrointestinal tract in the upper sections, they can also provoke the appearance of blood impurities in the feces (ulcerative and in the stage of exacerbation or chronicity).
• Haemorrhoids,. In this case, the blood in the feces will be in the form of clots or streaks, and always scarlet in color, since the source of bleeding is close (the blood simply does not have time to clot). In parallel with this symptom, the patient feels discomfort, pain in the anus, itching, burning, etc., but diarrhea will be a sign of concomitant pathology, but the appearance of blood is evidence of hemorrhoids.
• . It can provoke both the appearance of diarrhea in the patient, and the presence of blood in the stool.
• Bleeding. Diarrhea with blood in an adult may indicate internal bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, duodenum. In this case, the chair will be dark in color, "tarry". The cause of bleeding can be: cirrhosis of the liver, peptic ulcer, stomach cancer, varicose veins of the esophagus.
• Chronic pathologies in the form of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis often provoke the appearance of blood streaks (bright) and clots in the stool.
• Infectious diseases. If diarrhea with blood is accompanied by fever, colic, abdominal pain, then you should definitely seek medical help. This clinic can be observed with dangerous diseases that require immediate treatment: salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.

Types of diarrhea

Regarding the course of diarrhea, it happens:

• chronic, when diarrhea persists for a three-week period;
• acute, in which diarrhea disappears up to 3 weeks.

Based on the mechanism of development, diarrhea is classified as follows:

• hypokinetic- with it, the feces are mushy or liquid, there are few of them, there is a fetid odor - all this is the result of a reduced speed of food moving through the intestines;

• hypersecretory - diarrhea is watery and profuse, which is the result of increased excretion of salts and water into the intestines;
• hyperkinetic - loose stools or loose stools mushy, formed with an increase in the speed of movement of digested food through the intestines;

• hyperexudative- it is formed when liquid seeps into the intestinal lumen, which in most cases is already inflamed, such diarrhea is characterized by watery, but not abundant stools, in which blood and mucus may be present.
• osmolar - this is diarrhea as a result of a decrease in the absorption of salts and water by the intestinal walls, in which there can be a lot of bowel movements, they are fatty and contain the remains of undigested food.

diarrhea symptoms

Diarrhea can be accompanied by a number of other signs, which ultimately allows the doctor to differentiate the patient's illness from a number of others based on the current clinical picture. In particular, diarrhea can be:

• quickened stool;
• fecal incontinence;
• foul-smelling stools;
• color change;
• liquid watery or mushy consistency of stools;
• the presence in the stool of the remnants of semi-digested food;
• admixture of blood;
• the presence of mucus.

In parallel, the patient may experience additional symptoms of diarrhea:

• rise in body temperature (from 37 to 40C);
• (may have a spasmodic, dull, pulling, cutting character).

With profuse diarrhea, dehydration often occurs, the symptoms of which will be:

• weakness in the body;
• thirst;
• dry mucous membranes;
• decrease in blood pressure numbers;
• dizziness;
• tachycardia;
• fainting state;
• "flies" before the eyes;
• cachexia is an extreme degree of dehydration.

In childhood, the causes of diarrhea are slightly different than in adults. Very often they are associated with malnutrition and intestinal infections. Diarrhea in children can occur as a result of such reasons:

Important: often in children, diarrhea is the result of indigestion of certain types of foods or their quantities. The inability of the child's gastrointestinal tract to digest and assimilate this or that food is manifested by diarrhea after taking it. In this case, the rejection of this food is the treatment of the disease.

Diarrhea in infants may have several other causes due to the nature of its nutrition (breast or artificial feeding). These include:

• untimely introduction of complementary foods (very early);
• artificial feeding;
• the introduction of the wrong products in the form of complementary foods;
• non-compliance with the required interval between the introduction of a new product;
• infection with intestinal infections;
• large portions of complementary foods;
• intolerance to the introduced products;
• the use of some food by the nursing mother;
• lactase deficiency, in which diarrhea in those who are charmed is observed from the first days of life;
• cystic fibrosis - characterized by profuse diarrhea (liquid) with an unpleasant odor and greasy sheen;
• ARI, in addition to catarrhal phenomena in the nasopharynx, also often provokes diarrhea in infants.

The causative factors of diarrhea during pregnancy are the same as in adults. The only difference is the severity of the clinical picture, since during this period of a woman's life, any diseases, infections, poisonings are much more difficult.

note: diarrhea during pregnancy can have negative consequences, so it is very important to seek medical help as soon as the first symptoms appear.

In this case, the duration of pregnancy and the cause of diarrhea are of paramount importance. Diarrhea during early pregnancy can be the result of toxicosis, which is quite common. It does not pose a danger to the fetus, because the bacteria that provoke it do not leave the intestines. Severe poisoning can become a threat to the fetus if there is severe intoxication of the mother's body and toxins penetrate the placenta into the fetus.

Especially dangerous is poisoning by the poisons of fungi, which bypass the placental barrier and cause various kinds of defects in the development of the embryo. Diarrhea during early pregnancy is dangerous if the frequency of defecation becomes more than 5 times in 24 hours. If there is diarrhea and vomiting, then this further complicates the situation and requires immediate medical attention. The consequences of severe diarrhea in a pregnant woman can be:

• spontaneous miscarriage;
• decrease in blood pressure in the mother;
• accession of renal failure in a pregnant woman;
• the formation of congenital anomalies in the fetus.

note: after the 30th week, diarrhea most often causes a virus or late toxicosis. Complications of this situation can be premature birth and thrombosis, so if you have symptoms of diarrhea, you should see a doctor. Sometimes diarrhea from 38 to 40 weeks of gestation is a sign of a natural cleansing of the body and an early birth.

The disease can have very different causes and be a manifestation of many pathologies. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a routine examination and be sure to tell the doctor about the accompanying symptoms. Diagnosis of diarrhea includes:

If necessary or if indicated, the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

The most informative may be such instrumental studies as:

• colonoscopy - optical examination of the mucous membrane of the large intestine;
• EGDS - endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum;
• taking material from the stomach for the presence of bacteria Helicobacter pylori;
• - examination of the colon by X-ray method;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - allows you to evaluate the work of the digestive tract;
• Sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon.

Diarrhea: treatment and prevention of dehydration

Water diarrhea in an adult involves treatment, which consists of an integrated approach. It is important not only to eliminate the symptoms, but also the cause that caused diarrhea. Diarrhea treatment includes:

MEANS FOR ELIMINATION OF INFECTION

The treatment of diarrhea should be comprehensive: first of all, it is necessary to get rid of the cause of the ailment and, in parallel, start the process of restoring the disturbed intestinal microflora. The drug "Ekofuril" will help to cope with both tasks. The active substance of Ecofuril is nifuroxazide. Ecofuril is not absorbed and acts on the cause of diarrhea - microbes, only in the intestines, reduces the amount of toxins produced by pathogenic microorganisms, this improves the general condition of a person with diarrhea. The prebiotic lactulose, an excipient of the drug, creates a breeding ground for the growth of its own beneficial bacteria in the intestine. It is recommended to take Ecofuril capsules or suspension for 5-7 days, but even after the end of taking the drug, the action of the prebiotic continues and therefore does not require additional courses of pro- and prebiotics in the recovery period. Ecofuril® for children over 3 years old and adults is available in capsules, and for children aged 1 month to 3 years - in the form of a suspension with a banana flavor. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy and you should consult your doctor.

To avoid dehydration, it is important to follow these rules:

1. Drinking plenty of water is the basis of the treatment of diarrhea, because without it, all other drugs will be ineffective.
2. Drink more fluids immediately after the onset of diarrhea.
3. It is allowed to drink such drinks with diarrhea: ready-made saline pharmaceutical solutions (Rehydron), rosehip broth, raisin compote, chamomile decoction.
4. It is forbidden to drink juice, milk, soda, sweet tea with diarrhea.
5. It is necessary to drink after each act of defecation.
6. The amount of liquid you drink should be approximately 150 to 300 ml at a time.
7. If there is vomiting and diarrhea, then you should drink in small sips, otherwise heavy drinking in one gulp can provoke a vomiting attack.
8. It is not necessary to eat during diarrhea, it is important to drink a lot, but if the patient wants to eat, then you should not refuse him.
9. BRYAS - the optimal diet on the first day of diarrhea - banana - rice - apple (baked) - crackers.

note: when there is relief in the patient's condition, then from the 2nd or 3rd day it is already possible to introduce meat and yogurt into the diet, but low-fat, as well as cereals and pasta.

What to do at home with diarrhea

If diarrhea occurs, general medical prescriptions should be followed, which will alleviate the patient's condition, improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They include:

1. Refusal to eat certain foods (fatty meat, eggs in any form, milk, hot spices, soda, cabbage, cucumbers, radishes).

If going to the toilet today has already become the third (fourth, fifth ...), and the chair cannot be called “shaped” even with a fair margin of optimism, we are talking about diarrhea - acute if this condition lasts less than two weeks, or chronic if it lasts longer or recurs. In this article, we will talk about the treatment of diarrhea in adults and the means that will help to cope with this unpleasant ailment.

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom of various diseases. Clarification of the diagnosis is a matter of paramount importance, because treatment depends on it. Say, with severe dysentery, antibiotics are needed, but with Crohn's disease they are completely useless, and the effect can be expected only with the appointment of glucocorticosteroids.

However, there are general rules for getting rid of diarrhea, regardless of its cause.

Diet

Replenishment of fluid losses

And this can be significant - up to several liters - volume. And not only water is lost, but also trace elements, so it’s better to drink not just water or a decoction of herbs, but pharmacy ones (regidron, citroglucosolan) or self-prepared glucose-salt solutions: per liter of water - a teaspoon of salt, half as much soda, a quarter of a spoon of chloride potassium, 4 tablespoons of sugar. If there is no potassium salt in the house (which is quite likely), it can be replaced with a glass of orange juice or dried apricot compote.

Sorbents

These include:

• first aid preparation - 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.
• activated charcoal, up to 10 tablets per day,
• kaolin (white clay),
• calcium carbonate and gluconate,
• bismuth salts, which are practically not absorbed in the intestines and contribute to the compaction of feces (venter, de-nol),
• smecta: dissolve a sachet in water, take 3-4 times a day;
• lignin preparations (polyphepan, bilignin): these wood derivatives do not dissolve in water, but the powder is still easier to drink if a tablespoon is shaken in half a glass of water;
  attapulgite - silicate of aluminum and magnesium, is available in tablets, during the day you can take up to 14 pieces with water, it is undesirable to use more than 2 days,
• cholestyramine - an ion exchange resin that can bind bile acids, helps with hologenic diarrhea that occurs after operations on the gallbladder, stomach.

Sorbents are able to bind and remove liquid and gas, viruses, bacteria and toxins from the intestine. They are effective in infectious diarrhea, reduce flatulence in irritable bowel syndrome, but in malabsorption (enteropathy, amyloidosis), such drugs can aggravate the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies.
It should not be forgotten that the drugs of this group are also capable of binding drugs, so they should be taken with a gap in time, preferably at least 2 hours.

Agents that reduce intestinal secretion

These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: indomethacin, diclofenac. They are used in short courses for acute bacterial diarrhea: on the first day from the onset of the disease. Sulfasalazine, belonging to the same group, on the contrary, has been taken by patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis for years.
The same effect is with steroid drugs (prednisolone, metipred). They are successfully used to treat Crohn's disease.

Phytotherapy

The effect of most "astringent" herbs is also based on a decrease in intestinal secretion: oak bark and alder cones, bird cherry fruits, cinquefoil root, chamomile flowers have been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat diarrhea.

Enzymes

They are especially indicated for diarrhea associated with malabsorption and cavitary digestion. Preference is given to drugs that do not contain bile acids: Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim-Forte, Pancitrate.

Drugs that act on intestinal motility

Lopedium (imodium, loperamide) is the most advertised drug for diarrhea. It really works effectively with functional disorders associated with increased motility (with irritable bowel syndrome). It can also be used for Crohn's disease. However, it is undesirable to use it for infectious diarrhea. Slowing down the evacuation of feces from the intestines will delay toxins and bacterial agents in the body, that is, it will not speed up, but slow down recovery. It is not effective in diabetic enteropathy, intestinal amyloidosis.
Octreotide is an analogue of the hormone somatostatin. It slows down the motor activity of the intestine, but at the same time enhances absorption, which makes it indispensable for enteropathy.

Anticholinergics (atropine, platifillin), antispasmodics (papaverine, no-shpa) reduce intestinal motility, they can be used in the early days with acute diarrhea, especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain.

Probiotics

Obligate intestinal microflora ensures normal digestion and absorption. With diarrhea, it always undergoes changes. To restore it, use

• drugs containing transient microflora (enterol, bactisubtil),
• preparations that contain particles of intestinal microorganisms, products of their metabolism (hilak-forte),
• drugs that contain obligate intestinal flora (bifidumbacterin, lactobacterin, acilact, narine, linex)

Diarrhea often resolves on its own without treatment. Symptomatic therapy for loose stools is effective in most cases, regardless of the underlying cause. But behind the innocuous symptoms, serious problems can lie, from thyrotoxicosis to colon cancer. Therefore, prolonged or repeated diarrhea, blood in the stool or black stools, weight loss - all this is a definite reason to see a doctor and undergo a full examination.

Which doctor to contact

If frequent loose stools are accompanied by vomiting and fever, you should consult a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist. If diarrhea is prolonged, but proceeds against the background of a relatively satisfactory condition of the patient, a gastroenterologist should be visited to clarify the cause of this symptom.

Professor V.T. Ivashkin about diarrhea in the program "Embrace the Immensible"

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 a temperature and in this case it is necessary. 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 may occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, improper functioning of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of the food consumed;
• infectious - can be caused by dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebas and food toxins;
• alimentary is an allergic reaction to food;
• toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
• medication - caused by side effects of medications, for example, some antibiotics in the intestine 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".

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 of the body), 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

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

The following products are allowed:

• porridge 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. 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;
• enterosorbents (activated carbon);
• antiviral drugs.

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

activated charcoal for diarrhea

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 activated charcoal. Sometimes this is enough. These tablets for diarrhea in adults (and children) are not absorbed in the intestines.

Activated charcoal is taken at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of the patient's weight. So, if the patient weighs 60 kg, then, accordingly, he should take 6 tablets and drink plenty of water.

Activated charcoal absorbs all harmful toxins, bacteria and viruses, and also binds water and covers the intestinal wall with a protective layer. After that, it is excreted naturally. It should be noted that after taking the tablets of this drug, the stool will be black. This is not something to be afraid of. If diarrhea occurred due to poor-quality products, then activated charcoal in most cases is sufficient for treatment.

The drug "Ftalazol" from diarrhea

This group is 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" for 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 those 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 may 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.