Diarrhoea is a condition where a person passes watery or semi-liquid stool more frequently in a day than is normal for an individual, more than 4-5 times a day. Diarrhoea can be acute or severe, and it can be persistent or present along with underlying diseases.
Types of Diarrhoea
- Acute Diarrhoea: Lasts for a few days up to 7 to 10 days
- Chronic Diarrhoea: When diarrhoea is prolonged for more than a month or 30 days
Causes of Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Infections
- Allergies
- Underlying chronic illness or diseases
Features of Diarrhoea
- Watery stool accompanied by sticky discharges or mucus, three or more times a day
- Offensive smell of stool
- Abdominal cramps or colic
Complications of Diarrhoea
Chronic diarrhoea can cause:
- Malnutrition
- Nutritional deficiency
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
Diagnosis of Diarrhoea
- Symptom History and Physical Examination
- Blood tests
- Stool examination
- Abdominal sonography
- MRI in severe cases to rule out the cause
Treatment of Diarrhoea
- Oral Medications
- Intravenous medications
- Intravenous fluids
- Oral fluids
- Management of underlying diseases
Diet and Exercise Tips for Diarrhoea
- Eat fruit and Drink fruit juices.
- Consider a light diet such as khichdi, Daal, etc
- Rest
- Electrolyte balance is to be maintained
Diarrhoea often indicates an underlying infection or disease; therefore, always consult a doctor as soon as you experience diarrhoea to prevent further complications and promote a rapid recovery.