A Warning for Frequent Eaters: Beware the Risk of Unknowingly Developing Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common problem in daily life, mostly caused by improper eating habits, including consuming unclean food, eating excessive amounts, and eating spicy foods, which can affect the digestive system. This condition not only causes discomfort but also leads to the loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Controlling eating habits is therefore the best way to prevent this problem. Today, Synphaet Srinakarin Hospital will delve into this condition, exploring its causes, severe symptoms, and proper treatment methods, to provide everyone with a better understanding and the ability to effectively prevent the risk of the disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a condition where the body passes abnormally loose or liquid stools, typically more than 2-3 times in a 24-hour period. It is often accompanied by other symptoms as follows:

• Bloating or gas in the abdomen and intestines.
• Abdominal discomfort or severe abdominal pain.
• Nausea, dizziness, or fatigue due to the body’s loss of water and electrolytes.
• Sometimes, stools may contain blood more than once, which is caused by intestinal inflammation and requires immediate medical attention.

What Causes Diarrhea?

The causes of diarrhea are from the following factors:

• Viral Infections: Especially Rotavirus, which spreads easily and causes intestinal inflammation, leading to diarrhea and subsequent loss of water and electrolytes.
• Bacterial Infections: In the gastrointestinal tract, often from consuming contaminated food or drinks, such as from Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
• Eating Spicy Foods: This can irritate the digestive system and lead to diarrhea.
• Gastrointestinal Diseases: Such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause chronic diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which may cause alternating constipation and diarrhea.
• Intolerance to Sweeteners: Such as lactose or glucose. Consuming foods or drinks with these ingredients can cause diarrhea more easily in susceptible individuals.

What Are the Types of Diarrhea?

Diarrhea can be categorized by its onset and severity as follows:

Acute Diarrhea

Acute diarrhea usually occurs suddenly and resolves on its own within 1-2 days. It is most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection from consuming unhygienic food.

Persistent Diarrhea

Persistent diarrhea is of moderate severity, with symptoms lasting for about 2-4 weeks. It can be caused by gastrointestinal diseases, such as certain types of colitis.

Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea is often severe, with symptoms lasting for more than 4 weeks. The cause may be a serious illness, such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.

What Kind of Stool Indicates Diarrhea?

To determine if you have diarrhea, you can generally classify stool characteristics as follows:

• Watery, liquid stool: Sometimes uncontrollable, often with an unusually strong odor. Patients may occasionally be unable to control their bowel movements.
• Stool with blood or mucus: This can be visible to the naked eye and may be accompanied by other complications such as cramping abdominal pain and fever.

Which Symptoms Require Urgent Medical Attention?

Although diarrhea can sometimes be mild and resolve on its own in 1-2 days, if you experience frequent bowel movements throughout the day along with complications such as high fever, nausea, or bloody stools, you should see a doctor immediately to prevent dehydration, which can be dangerous to your body.

How is Diarrhea Treated?

Many people may wonder how to treat diarrhea. What medicine to take for diarrhea? Generally, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration. The main methods are as follows:

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a type of medication that helps absorb toxins within the digestive system, which are a cause of diarrhea. This medication helps alleviate abdominal discomfort and reduce the frequency of bowel movements. The typical dose is 2 tablets, and if symptoms persist, it can be taken again every 3-4 hours.

Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)

Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) are used to replenish the water and electrolytes lost from diarrhea. To consume, mix the powder with an appropriate amount of clean water.

Anti-diarrheal Drugs

Anti-diarrheal drugs are typically used when treatment with activated charcoal and ORS is ineffective. This group of drugs helps relieve symptoms by reducing the frequency and volume of bowel movements to normal levels.

For dosage, you can take 2 tablets for the first dose, and then 1 tablet after each loose stool. A precaution is not to exceed 8 tablets per day and not to take this medication if there is blood in the stool.

Conclusion

Symptoms of diarrhea are a common problem. However, if symptoms do not resolve on their own within 1-2 days, or if there are other complications such as bloody mucus in the stool, fever, or chills, you should see a doctor immediately to prevent dehydration, which can be life-threatening.