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Diarrhea involves loose or watery stools that may be associated with frequent bowel movements. This may be accompanied by bloating, abdominal pain, or cramps and at times nausea. Diarrhea is a common condition and usually goes away without intervention.
Diarrhea can happen because of many reasons:
- Viral infection (called intestinal flu or stomach flu)
- Infection by bacteria and other organisms. The germs may cause pre-formed toxins in food.
- Allergies to certain foods (gluten and lactose intolerance)
- Spicy or fatty foods
- Disorders of poor food absorption (malabsorption syndrome)
- Diabetes
- Certain medications including some antibiotics
- Radiation therapy
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (a disorder that affects the large bowel causing spells of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation)
- Bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Alcohol abuse
- Laxative overuse
- Certain cancers
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Which foods make diarrhea go away faster?
Certain foods, particularly the bland ones, may help get rid of diarrhea faster. They also make up for the nutrient loss during diarrhea, aiding faster recovery. These foods are as follows:
- Bananas
- Apples
- White rice
- Toast
- Foods containing probiotics (the good bacteria that keep the gut healthy) such as yogurt, curd, kefir, and drinks containing fermented milk
- Boiled or baked potatoes (peeled)
- Oatmeal
- Baked chicken or turkey (skin removed)
- Liquids containing salt and sugar such as over the counter oral rehydration solution
- White rice porridge
- Unseasoned crackers
- White bread
Along with consuming the aforementioned foods, one must avoid foods that may make diarrhea worse. These include the following:
- Spicy foods
- Fried or fatty food such as chips, pastries, and bacon
- Caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee
- Soda
- Beans
- Raw vegetables such as cabbage
- Raw fruits and juices
- Foods containing the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG)
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The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowWhy won’t my diarrhea go away?
Diarrhea is usually self-limiting and goes away in one to three days. If despite proper diet your diarrhea does not go away, it may be due to certain conditions:
- Infection: Diarrhea due to certain bacteria or parasite infections usually does not go away without treatment. Even after the infection is cured, some people may have problems digesting certain foods such as milk and milk products and soy. This problem with digesting food may cause prolonged diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is a common condition after the infection. Post infectious lactose intolerance is due to gut damage due to the toxins of bacteria. In this condition, the affected person cannot digest lactose. Lactose is a carbohydrate seen in dairy products such as milk, cheese, and curd. It is commonly reported as repeated episodes of abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. Fructose intolerance is another similar condition in which the affected individual gets diarrhea due to eating foods containing fructose (a type of sugar) such as honey, fruits, fruit juices, and soft drinks. Certain sugar-free candies and gums contain sugar alcohols (such as sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol) as sweeteners, and they can cause diarrhea in some people.
- Celiac disease: It is a long-term condition, which results from an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Over time, the immune reaction damages the inner lining of the bowel leading to repeated episodes bloating and diarrhea.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): This includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which cause long-term inflammation of the bowel.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): It is a long-term disorder that affects the large bowel. It causes symptoms such as cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation or both.
- Abdominal surgery: Surgery on the appendix, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, bowel, stomach, or spleen may cause long-term diarrhea.
- Long-term use of medications: Certain medications such as antibiotics can change the normal gut flora (the good bacteria). This decline in the good bacteria can increase the chances of infection with bacteria that can cause long-term or chronic diarrhea.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causes#:~:text=Some%20infections%2C%20food%20allergies%20and,medicines%20can%20cause%20chronic%20diarrhea.&text=Some%20infections%20from%20bacteria%20and,go%20away%20quickly%20without%20treatment.
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Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.Digestive Disorders: Worst Foods for Digestion
Discover which foods to avoid in order to prevent diarrhea and digestive problems. Find out which foods can trigger diarrhea and other digestive problems such as gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn and more.What Is the Difference Between Diarrhea and Dysentery?
Learn the difference between diarrhea and dysentery. Discover the symptoms and medical treatments for each.Does Sprite Help With Diarrhea?
Diarrhea causes the body to lose fluids, leading to dehydration. Sugary drinks, such as Sprite, may not be high up on the list of recommended fluids in case of diarrhea. If you don't have any other options but to drink Sprite, it may be a good idea to add some water to it and let the bubbles fizz out before drinking it.How Do I Know If I Have Tapeworms?
What are tapeworms? Learn the signs and symptoms of this parasite. Learn what medical treatment works best to get rid of tapeworms and speed up your recovery from tapeworms.IBS-D (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea)
IBS-D or irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea refers to IBS with diarrhea. Symptoms of IBS-D include
- intestinal gas (flatulence),
- loose stools,
- frequent stools,
- abdominal pain,
- diarrhea, and
- nausea.
New non-FDA approved IBS tests may help diagnose IBS and IBS-D. Treatment of IBS-D is geared to toward managing symptoms with diet, medication, and lifestyle changes.
Can Diverticulitis Cause Urinary Symptoms?
Diverticular disease and diverticulitis both affect the large intestine (bowel). Nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and bladder symptoms such as pain or burning when peeing or the desire to urinate frequently are possible symptoms.What Is Good to Eat and Drink When You Have Diarrhea?
People with diarrhea should eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big meals—clear liquids and plain foods that are easy to digest.What Naturally Stops Diarrhea?
Diarrhea or loose stools are often caused by a virus, bacteria or food allergies. Things that naturally stop diarrhea include the BRAT diet, probiotics, oral rehydration solution (ORS), zinc, turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg.Why Do Hippies Smell Like Patchouli?
Patchouli oil has been in use for thousands of years, but it gained tremendous popularity because of its use by the hippies in the 1960s. Experts suggest that regular use of patchouli oil by hippies is because of the raw, earthy and natural nature of this oil. Hippies preferred using products that were not artificially manufactured and were cruelty free.