Diarrhea and Chronic Diarrhea

We all know what Diarrhea is, but do you know how dangerous it can get in endemic area? Here at IGH Insurance we have collated a couple of facts, symptoms and tips on how to prevent diarrhea, please have a read below and let us know what you think.

Stay healthy!

 

 

Diarrhea is usually accompanied by stomach pain, abdominal cramps, gas, nausea, bloating, weight loss and fatigue.
An acute condition typically lasts a few days but when it persists for a few weeks it becomes a chronic condition and needs to be addressed in order to avoid serious complications.

Acute and persistent diarrhea however may have different causes than chronic diarrhea.

 

 

The most common causes of acute and persistent diarrhea are infections, travelers' diarrhea, and side effects of medicines. Three types of infections that cause diarrhea include viral infection, bacterial infections and parasitic infections. Common bacteria that cause diarrhea include Campylobacter , Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella , and Shigella.

There are also infections in the digestive tract that spread through foods or drinks which are called foodborne illnesses. Infections lasting more for more than 2 weeks and less than 4 weeks can cause persistent diarrhea.

 

 

It can be caused by some infections, food allergies and intolerances, digestive tract problems, abdominal surgery, and long-term use of medicines.

 

 

If your diarrhea lasts longer than 4 days or there are symptoms such as bloody stools and fever, the medical team will need to find the cause by using the following tests:

Stool test: Stool test can show the presence of blood, bacteria, parasites or signs of diseases causing diarrhea

Blood test

Physical examination: blood pressure rate and sign of rehydration

Fasting test: Fasting test is a good way to find out if a food intolerance or an allergy is causing your diarrhea

Endoscopy

 

 

Anti-diarrheal medications can reduce diarrhea output and zinc supplemen