Diarrhea in adolescents and adults

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Article by Dr. Ta Que Phuong - Department of Gastroenterology - Endoscopy, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Diarrhea is loose or watery stools that occur 3 or more times in a day. For adults, the disease is relatively less serious because the person can rehydrate themselves with fluids and electrolytes. However, when diarrhea occurs without prompt treatment, it can lead to dehydration.

1. What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea can be caused by:
● Viruses
Bacteria that live in food or water
Parasites, such as small worms that you may encounter in some countries
● Side effects of some medicines
Problems digesting certain foods
Digestive tract diseases

2. What should I do when I have diarrhea?

Here are some things you should do at home:
Drink plenty of foods with water, salt and sugar. Good choices are water mixed with juices, flavored sodas, and soups. If you are drinking enough water, your urine will be light yellow or almost clear. Try to eat some food. Good choices are potatoes, noodles, rice, oatmeal, crackers, bananas, soups, and boiled vegetables. Salty foods also help.

3. Should I see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if:
You have more than 6 bowel movements in 24 hours You have blood in your stools You have a fever higher than 38.5oC and the fever does not go away after a day You have severe abdominal pain

You are 70 or older Your body has lost too much water. Signs include: Watery bowel movements Feeling very tired Thirsting Dry mouth or tongue Muscle cramps Dizziness Confusion Yellow urine, or not needing to urinate for more than 5 hours

4. Do I need to be tested?

Many cases do not need to be tested. But it's possible that your doctor will do tests to check if you're dehydrated or to find the cause of your diarrhea.
Blood test Test your stool sample

5. How to treat diarrhea?

Treatment depends on the cause of the diarrhea. You may not need treatment, but in some cases it is needed:
People with severe diarrhea may need fluids to treat or prevent dehydration. Stopping certain medications you are taking Change your diet Antibiotics: These drugs treat bacterial infections. Medicines to relieve diarrhea: These drugs include loperamide (brand name: Imodium), diphenoxylate-atropine (brand name: Lomotil), and bismuth subsalicylate (brand names: Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate). You should not take loperamide or diphenoxylate-atropine if you have a fever or bloody stools.
Also, taking too much loperamide has led to serious heart problems in some people. If you have health problems or are already taking other medications, tell your doctor before taking loperamide. For all of these drugs, it is important not to take more than is allowed.

6. Can diarrhea be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of getting and spreading diarrhea by:
Wash your hands after changing diapers, cooking, eating, going to the bathroom, taking out trash, touching animals, and blowing your nose. Stay home from work or school until you feel better. Pay attention to food safety. Tips include:
Do not drink unpasteurized milk or dairy foods. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating Store food in the refrigerator at the right temperature Cook meat and seafood until cooked through Cook eggs until the yolks harden Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling Live food Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading doctors and nurses, a system of modern equipment and technology. The hospital provides comprehensive and professional medical examination, consultation and treatment services, with a civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space.

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Articles refer to the source: update.com