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Chronic Diarrhea :- Symptom, Cause, Diagnosis, Treatment, Cure, General Home Care, Home Remedy and Home Treatment of Diarrhea

Most people experience frequent, watery bowel movements once or twice a year. This change from the usual pattern of stools is recognized as diarrhea, although many less "formal" names are sometimes used.

For most people, the episode is more an inconvenience than an illness. Sometimes diarrhea lasts for weeks or months, and then it can be an indication of major disease. This more serious form of diarrhea may be accompanied by blood, mucus, or undigested food in the stools.

The underlying cause of diarrhea also may produce fever, abdominal cramps, weight loss, nausea, and/or vomiting. So, we should try to separate the mild and short-lived episodes of diarrhea from continuous and severe diarrhea with these other features.

Although most infectious diarrheas are brief illnesses, some do not go away after a few days. More serious forms can be caused by microbes such as amoebae and giardia, which can become established in the bowel and cause problems that persist for weeks or months. Contaminated food or water, public swimming pools, and communal hot tubs are possible sources of these infections.

Infectious diarrhea can have serious consequences in certain persons. Young infants, very old people, or those who have major illnesses can be seriously weakened by even a minor infection. Simple infectious diarrhea is still a major killer in underdeveloped countries, where infections of the bowel are estimated to cause millions of deaths annually among infants.

Diarrhea Symptom

Frequent, loose, liquid stools

Abdominal pain, cramping

Urgent need to defecate

Blood and/or mucus in stool

Fever

Dehydration

Nausea, vomiting

Muscle aches and pains

Weight loss

Malnutrition

Cause of Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea may be caused by a temporary problem, like an infection, or a chronic problem, like an intestinal disease. A few of the more common causes of diarrhea are

Bacterial infections . Several types of bacteria, consumed through contaminated food or water, can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli.

Viral infections . Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.

Food intolerances . Some people are unable to digest some component of food, such as lactose, the sugar found in milk.

Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium.

Reaction to medicines, such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antacids containing magnesium.

Intestinal diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease.

Functional bowel disorders , such as irritable bowel syndrome, in which the intestines do not work normally.

Some people develop diarrhea after stomach surgery or removal of the gallbladder. The reason may be a change in how quickly food moves through the digestive system after stomach surgery or an increase in bile in the colon that can occur after gallbladder surgery.

In many cases, the cause of diarrhea cannot be found. As long as diarrhea goes away on its own, an extensive search for the cause is not usually necessary.

People who visit foreign countries are at risk for traveler's diarrhea, which is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or, sometimes, parasites.

Diagnosis of Chronic Diarrhea

Diagnosis of diarrhea begins with a medical history and physical exam. If there is severe pain or blood in the stool, the doctor will generally examine the abdomen. Occasionally, the provider may order one or more of the following tests:

Abdominal X-rays

Blood tests

Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, which involves placing a lighted tube into the bowel

Cultures of stool specimens to look for certain organisms

Urine tests

Chronic Diarrhea Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of the diarrhea and its severity. Ferrets that are sick and severely dehydrated may need to be hospitalized. Fluids may be given along with nutritional support. Once a specific diagnosis is made, the appropriate treatment can be given.

Chronic Diarrhea Cure

Take antibiotics only when you and your doctor feel it's absolutely necessary. Keep in mind that antibiotics won't help viral infections such as colds and flu.

Use antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Don't increase the dose, double up on missed doses, or take the medication longer than your doctor recommends.

Consider eating yogurt or taking probiotic capsules before, during and after antibiotic treatment.

General Home Care

Even not-so-severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, which often leads to weakness and dizzinesss. Drinking clear liquids during a particularly nasty bout helps prevent dehydration, but sports drinks are even better because they replace glucose and potassium-nutrients vital to good health.

Cut the caffeine. Because caffeine stimulates the intestine, it can worsen your diarrhea. You'll want to avoid drinks high in caffeine, such as coffee.

You may be able to dump noninfectious diarrhea by eliminating the foods that could be causing the problem. If you're suffering from lactose intolerance, for example, removing milk products from your diet may end the problem.

Instead of trying to make up for lost meals, ease back into eating after your symptoms begin to subside by sticking with bland fare. When you can tolerate this lighter fare, try more solid bland food, like chicken or baked fish.

Home Remedy for Chronic Diarrhea

Buttermilk is the residual milk left after the fat has been removed from curd by churning. It helps overcome harmful intestinal flora. The acid in the buttermilk also fights germs and bacteria. Buttermilk may be taken with a pinch of salt three or four times a day for controlling this disease.

Carrot soup is another effective home remedy for diarrhea. It supplies water to combat dehydration; replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, and magnesium; supplies pectin; and coats the intestine to allay inflammation. Half a kilogram of carrots may be cooked in 150 ml of water until they become soft. The pulp should be strained and enough boiled water added to it to make a litre. Three-quarters of a tablespoon of salt may be added. This soup should be given in small amounts to the patient every half an hour.

Fresh ginger is very useful. A piece of dry ginger should be powdered along with a crystal of rock salt, and quarter of a teaspoon of this powder should be taken with a small piece of jaggery. It will bring quick relief as ginger, being carminative, aids digestion by stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.

Mint juice is beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea. One teaspoon of fresh mint juice, mixed with a teaspoon each of limejuice and honey, can be given thrice.

The juice of bottle gourd is a valuable for excessive thirst due to severe diarrhea. A glass of plain juice with a pinch of salt should be taken every day in treating this condition.

The pomegranate has proved beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea on account of its astringent properties. If the patient develops weakness due to profuse and continuous purging, he should repeatedly be given about 50 ml of pomegranate juice to drink.

Mango seeds should be collected during the mango season, dried in the shade and powdered, and kept stored for use as a medicine when required. A dose of about one and a half to two grams with or without honey should be administered twice daily.

Two tablespoons of the Sesame seeds should be lightly roasted in a frying pan. They should then be ground into a fine powder and mixed with one tablespoon of cow's ghee. The mass should be divided into three parts and each part should be taken with half a cup of boiled goat's milk thrice daily for six days by the patients.

Turmeric is a very useful intestinal antiseptic. It is also a gastric stimulant and tonic. One teaspoon of fresh turmeric rhizome juice or one teaspoon of dry rhizome powder may be taken in one cup of buttermilk or plain water.

Rice is useful in treating diarrhea in children. A teaspoon of powder of charred parboiled rice, mixed with a glass of buttermilk, should be given in does of thirty grams every half an hour.

Home Treatment for Chronic Diarrhea

For home treatment for diarrhea in infants and children under age four

Eat small amounts of bland food several times a day. Take frequent; small sips of water or a rehydra­tion drink.

Since diarrhea may sometimes speed recovery of the underlying problem, avoid antidiarrheal drugs for the first six hours. After that, use them only if there are no other signs of illness, such as fever, and if cramping or discomfort contin­ues.

Begin eating mild foods, such as rice, dry toast or crackers, bananas, and applesauce, the next day or sooner, depending on how you feel. Avoid spicy foods, fruit, alco­hol, and coffee unti148 hours after all symptoms have disappeared. Avoid dairy products for three days.

Take care to avoid dehydration.

CALL THE DOCTOR

If the stools are black or bloody. However, Pepto-Bismol or other medications containing bismuth can cause stools to look black.

If abdominal pain or severe dis­comfort accompanies diarrhea and is not relieved by passing stools or gas.

If signs of severe dehydration

If severe diarrhea (large loose stools every one to two hours) lasts longer than two days in an adult.

If mild diarrhea continues for one to two weeks without obvious cause.