Diarrhea

Definition of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a condition when the sufferer defecates (BAB) more often than usual.
In addition, the stool of a person with diarrhea is thinner than usual. Things to
watch out for, although diarrhea can last a short time, it can also last for several
days. In fact, in some cases it can last for weeks.

Diarrhea Risk Factors

At least there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing
diarrhea.

Example:
• Rarely wash hands after going to the toilet.
• Unclean food storage and preparation.
• Rarely clean the kitchen and toilet.
• Unclean water sources.
• Eating leftover food that is cold.
• Not washing hands with soap.

Causes of Diarrhea

There are several conditions that can cause a person to experience diarrhea.
Generally, diarrhea is caused by the following things:

• Intolerance to foods, such as lactose and fructose.

• Food allergies.
• Side effects of certain drugs.
• Bacterial, viral or parasitic infection.
• Bowel disease.
• Post gallstone surgery.
• Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, as in Crohn's disease, ulcerative olitis
or microscopic olitis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Celiac disease or a disease that causes the body to reject gluten protein.

Diarrhea Symptoms

Some of the symptoms caused by diarrhea include:

• Stools are soft and runny.
• Abdominal pain and cramps.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headache.
•Loss of appetite.
• Persistent thirst.
• Stool blood.

Dehydration is the most common symptom that accompanies diarrhea. In children,

diarrhea can be characterized by infrequent urination, dry mouth, and crying
without tears. In a state of severe dehydration, the child may appear to be drowsy,
unresponsive, sunken eyes, and the pinched skin does not return quickly.
Meanwhile, signs of dehydration in adults include fatigue and lack of energy, loss
of appetite, dizziness, dry mouth, and headaches.

Diarrhea Complications

Some of the complications caused by diarrhea include:

• Light to severe dehydration.
• Sepsis, a serious infection that can spread to other organs.
• Malnutrition, especially in children aged less than 5 years, which can result in
decreased immunity of the child.
• Electrolyte imbalance due to electrolytes is also wasted with water that comes out
during diarrhea, which can be characterized by weakness, paralysis, to seizures.
• The skin around the anus is irritated because of the acidic pH of the stool.

Diarrhea Treatment
There are several things doctors can do to treat diarrhea.
For example:
• Consume plenty of fluids to replace lost fluids, either orally or intravenously.
• Administration of drugs that can fight bacterial infections.
Apart from these two things, there are also other treatments. Treatment for diarrhea
will usually be adjusted to what caused the diarrhea.

Prevention of Diarrhea

Some efforts to prevent diarrhea include:

• Always wash your hands, especially before and after eating, after touching
uncooked meat, after using the toilet, or after sneezing and coughing, using soap
and clean water.
• Consuming food and drinks that have been cooked until they are perfectly
cooked, and avoiding foods and drinks that are not guaranteed cleanliness.
Contact your doctor immediately to get the best solution if you experience these
symptoms, especially if diarrhea has been going on for several days.