When you have diarrhea, it means that your bowel movements or stools are watery and loose. In most cases, it is not serious and common problem that lasts for a few days. Generally, people tend to get diarrhea a few times per year, which will last between two and three days. 

Some people get it more often, which may happen because they have certain conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, among others. If you wish to learn more about Diarrhea Medicine, you should visit a link we shared with you. We can differentiate a few types of diarrheas, including: 

• Acute Diarrhea – The most common type that lasts a few days and will get better without medications and treatment. 

• Persistent Diarrhea – This one tends to last for a few weeks and may reach a month. 

• Chronic Diarrhea – This particular option can last more than a month and usually it appears and disappears over time. It can be an indication of severe medical condition, meaning you should go to a doctor to determine the best course of action. 

Usually, it starts as the sign of virus that enters your gut, which most people call stomach flu or intestinal flu. We can differentiate other reasons including: 

• Eating foods that upset digestive system
• Diseases of intestines such as ulcerative colitis and Chron’s disease
• Allergies to certain foods
• Infection to bacteria and other organisms like parasites
• Reaction to medications such as antibiotics and cancer drugs
• Running
• Digestive system surgery
• Trouble absorbing certain nutrients
• Overactive thyroid

It is important to remember that rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea issues worldwide. According to CDC or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this infection causes approximately forty percent of hospitalizations in children under five years of age. Globally, diarrhea deaths are result of insufficient sanitations and contaminated water. 

You should click here to learn more about this particular topic. In the US, you are more likely to develop this particular problem due to food poisoning, especially if you are eating contaminated food. According to CDC, we can differentiate more than forty-eight million conditions that happen due to contaminated food in the US. 

Chronic diarrhea can be a symptom of a severe condition such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, among other options. Severe or frequent issues may be sign of intestinal disease, which is something you must handle by reaching a professional. 

Symptoms You Should Remember

You probably understand that the main symptom of diarrhea includes frequent, watery and loose stools combined with pressing urge to have a bowel movement. However, we can differentiate other symptoms as well. For instance, you may experience a few of them or combination depending on your conditions. 

Generally, symptoms depend on the cause, while it is common to feel at least one of the following issues: 

• Dehydration
• Cramping
• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Frequent urge
• A large volume of stools

Connection Between Dehydration and Diarrhea

You should know that diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids quickly, while putting you at risk for dehydration. In case you do not receive proper treatment, the process of losing water can lead to severe problems and effects. If you experience some of following symptoms, you should do something about it:

• Dry mucous membranes
• Increased heart rate
• Fatigue
• Increased thirst
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination
• Increased thirst

If you cannot handle the problem, we recommend you to contact either your primary-care physician or ER to help you deal with it properly. Check out this guide: https://www.wikihow.com/Cure-Diarrhea to learn how to treat this particular problem. 

Diarrhea in Babies and Children

You should know that children are specifically susceptible to dehydration and diarrhea. According to the CDC reports, you should know that this particular problem and complication regarding accounts for one in nine annual child deaths across the globe, meaning it is the second leading cause of death in underage babies. 

You should call a child doctor or emergency service in case you notice following dehydration symptoms in your infant:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination
• Irritability
• Sleepiness
• Sunken eyes
• Dry skin
• Lack of tears when crying

Treatment Options

You probably know that the research shows that the treatment for diarrhea requires replacing lost fluids. It means the first thing you must do is drink as much water as you can as the form of electrolyte replacement. Of course, you can consume sports drinks that will help you ensure you get the required electrolytes, but avoid caffeine and other diuretics. 

In severe cases, you may need to get fluids through IV or intravenous therapy. In case bacterial infection is the cause, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to ensure you deal with the problem properly. 

We recommend you to enter here, which will help you understand the importance of understanding different types of diarrhea. The doctor will ensure whether you will get a treatment depending on several factors, including: 

• Severity
• Frequency
• Degree of dehydration
• Overall health
• Medical history
• Age
• Ability to tolerate various meds and procedures

Most Common Causes for Diarrhea

We can differentiate numerous conditions and diseases that lead to this particular problem. The most common one is virus, bacteria and medicines. When it comes to viruses, you should know that the Norwalk virus can lead to diarrhea, which is also known as astrovirus, enteric adenovirus, and the ones that lead to hepatitis.

Rotavirus is another common cause of sudden childhood diarrhea. At the same time, virus that causes coronavirus disease was also linked to gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea in some situations. 

If you are exposed to certain bacteria such as Escherichia coli or parasites through contaminated water or food, you may end up with such problem too. For instance, when traveling in developing countries, diarrhea caused by parasites and bacteria is also known as traveler’s disease. 

Bacteria known as C. diff or clostridioides difficile can be a cause, meaning it can happen after a course of antibiotics, especially if you are in hospital. Besides, certain medications and medicines such as antibiotics can affect intestines and lead to this particular problem. 

Generally, antibiotics get rid of bacteria that lead to certain illnesses, but they also kill good bacteria that are helpful to regulating balance in body and ensuring optimal gut health. By disturbing the natural balance of intestines, you may end up with different infections. You can treat this particular problem by taking probiotics. 

Another important consideration is to determine whether you are lactose intolerant or not. Generally, lactose is sugar found in dairy products, especially milk. People who have trouble digesting lactose tend to get this particular problem after consuming dairy products. Lactose intolerance increases with age due to lack of enzyme that can digest lactose. 

You should know that fructose is sugar found in honey and fruits. In some cases, it is added as sweetener to certain beverages and soft drinks. Fructose can lead to diarrhea in people who have issues with digestion, similarly as with lactose. 

If you decide to take artificial sweeteners, you should determine whether you can handle them or not. For instance, mannitol, erythritol and sorbitol are nonabsorbable sugars used as artificial sweeteners in sugar-free products such as chewing gum among others. 

Certain surgeries can lead to diarrhea, especially if you undergo partial gallbladder or intestine removal surgeries. Finally, if you have specific digestive disorders, such as IBS, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Chron’s disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and microscopic colitis, you may experience frequent loose stools.