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 WHAT
IS DIARRHOEA?
You have diarrhoea when you
are moving your bowels a lot more times
than you usually do and the stool is loose
and watery.
WHAT
CAUSES DIARRHOEA?
Diarrhoea may be caused by
- Viruses, bacteria or protozoa
- toxins
- allergy to certain foods or medicines
These may cause food to pass too quickly
through the bowels such that there is insufficient
time for water to be reabsorbed. Any of
these factors may also affect the surface
cells of the intestines so that they cannot
carry out water and salts exchange effectively.
Both of these occurrences can lead to loose
and watery stool.
WHAT
CAN I DO TO RELIEVE DIARRHOEA?
To aid recovery:
- Drink plenty of water and
clear fluids or soup
- Do not eat for a day. If you do, have
light meals only
- Avoid dairy products such as milk, cheese,
etc.
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid fatty and highly seasoned food
- Avoid dried foods, fruits or acidic vegetables
Consult
a doctor when:
- Baby is below one year
old
- There is severe pain in the abdomen
- There is an association of severe vomiting
and fever
- The suspected cause is a drug
-
Your are not able to eat or drink due to
nausea
- There is presence of blood and mucus in
the stool
Treatment
How will the doctor treat diarrhoea?
DIARRHOEA
IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
Most diarrhoea usually stops in three or
four days even if no treatment is administered.
Therefore for children below 5 years of
age, when drugs should be used minimally
and carefully, the first measure to consider
is ORT or Oral Rehydration Therapy.
ORAL
REHYDRATION THERAPY
Oral Rehydration Salts are
easily available in pharmacies and simple
directions can be followed to prepare a
drink which will replace the water and salts
lost in diarrhoea. This replacement will
prevent dehydration or excessive loss of
water and salts from the body. ORT can be
used together with medication.
DIARRHOEA
IN OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Even though diarrhoea is
self-limiting, it can be inconvenient, especially
when one is at school or at work. Various
medications are available to relieve symptoms
of diarrhoea, such as
- toxin absorbents
So-called because they are thought to adsorb
the diarrhoea- causing toxins onto their
surface. Toxin adsorbents can be useful
for very mild diarrhoea.
Examples of toxin adsorbents are charcoal
and kaolin mixtures.
- motility inhibitors
These are effective in reducing bowel contractions
and urgency.
Examples of motility inhibitors are loperamide
and diphenoxylate + atropine sulphate.
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