Diarrhoea - A Quick Read

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Have you been passing stool more frequently than usual?

Has the stool become looser and more liquid than before?

What is diarrhoea?

• having watery or loose bowel movements more frequently than the usual daily routine.

Signs and Symptoms

• accompanying abdominal pains and cramps

• nausea

• fever

• bloating and uneasy stomach

• feeling weak

• stool passed is watery and loose

• more frequent stool passed upto more than 3 times in a day

• stool may also contain mucus or pus with blood and accompanied by fat

Causes:

• infections - viral, bacterial or parasites

• dietary changes

• food intolerance or allergy

• excessive alcohol 

• Underlying disease conditions

• medicines

• travelling to different place / country

• anxiety

• excessive glucose consumption either directly or in food sources

Affected and risk group

• IBS patients

• Inflammatory bowel disease patients

Treatment

• Oral rehydration salts

• Anti-diarrhoeals (if advised)

• Bulking agents

Prevention

• Improve hygiene practices

• Wash and clean toilet properly after bout of diarrhoea

• Avoid sharing personal utensils with others

Lifestyle Adaptations

• Wash hands properly before consuming food

• Wash hands properly after visiting toilet.

• Boil tap water where possible if unsafe

• Consume properly cooked food

Complications

• Dehydration

• fatigued and weakened

• dizziness and light headed

• decreased urine production

• blood in stool

• associated vomiting

• severe pains

• sudden weight loss

• discoloration of stool

All these and more are available at Health First pharmacy...visit us for all your health needs first...talk to us first!!!