Diarrhea is a loose, watery and possibly more frequent stool that usually lasts a few days, but if it lasts for weeks, it’s usually an indicator of a different problem, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In addition, he explained on his website that the main causes of diarrhea are:
- Virus. Viruses that can cause diarrhea include Norwalk virus (also known as norovirus), enteric adenovirus, astrovirus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis virus. Rotavirus is a common cause of acute childhood diarrhea. Additionally, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 has been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Bacteria and parasites. Exposure to pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, or parasites through contaminated food or water causes diarrhea. When traveling to developing countries, diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites is often called “traveler’s diarrhea.” Clostridioides difficile (also known as C. difficile) is another type of bacteria that causes diarrhea and can appear following antibiotic treatment or during a hospital stay.
- Medicines. Many medications, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhea. Antibiotics relieve infections by killing bad bacteria, but they also kill good bacteria. This upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines, causing diarrhea or a superimposed infection such as C. difficile. Other medications that cause diarrhea include anticancer drugs and magnesium antacids.
- Lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products, and people who have trouble digesting lactose get diarrhea following eating dairy products. Also, lactose intolerance can increase with age because levels of the enzyme that helps digest lactose decline as you age.
- Fructose. Fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits and honey. It is sometimes added as a sweetener to certain beverages. Fructose can cause diarrhea in people who have trouble digesting it.
- Sweeteners. Sorbitol, erythritol, and mannitol (sweeteners are non-absorbable sugars found in chewing gum and other sugar-free products), can cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy people.
- Surgery. Surgeries to remove the gallbladder or part of the intestine can cause diarrhea.
- Other digestive disorders. Chronic diarrhea has a few other causes, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, microscopic colitis, and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
Thus, the Better with Health portal revealed some home remedies to alleviate the condition, such as:
1. Water with rice.
2. Yogurt.
3. Water with lemon and baking soda.
4. Apple.
5. Ginger.
For its part, Mayo Clinic listed some suggestions to relieve diarrhea such as:
- Drink plenty of fluids, including water, broths and juices, but it is better to avoid the consumption of caffeine and alcohol.
- Add semi-solid and low-fiber foods gradually as bowel movements return to normal.
- Avoid certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods, or highly seasoned foods for a few days.
- Ask regarding antidiarrheal medications. Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications, such as loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate, may help reduce the number of watery stools and control severe symptoms. However, certain medical conditions and infections (bacterial and parasitic) can be made worse by these medications, because they prevent the body from getting rid of what is causing the diarrhea. Also, some of these medications are not recommended for children.
- Consider taking probiotics. These microorganisms can help restore a healthy balance in the intestinal tract by increasing the level of good bacteria, although it is not clear if they can help shorten a bout of diarrhea. Probiotics are available in capsule or liquid form and are also added to some foods, such as certain brands of yogurt.
