Acute Diarrhea - A Patient Guidance sheet
Diarrhea is defined as at least three watery stools a day and in a considerable amount.
Most cases of acute diarrhea are due to a transient viral disease, and only a minority of them are true bacterial stomach upsets, i.e., due to the consumption of a spoiled food or drinking water. Typically, the disease will last between three days and one week. Eventually, the immune system will overcome the condition, and the use of medications must be limited.
For example antibiotics have no place in the treatment of common acute diarrhea. On the contrary, diarrhea can occur as a result of the use of antibiotics. Medications with the active ingredient Loperamide hydrochloride ( it`s called Imodium in a lot of countries) only delay recovery, because they prevent the body from getting rid of various toxins that viruses and bacteria produce in the intestinal cavity. These medications can only be of any help for a limited period of time, for example before traveling. Medications with the active ingredient Bismuth sub salicylate might make the feeling better but don`t replace fluids and have little if any scientific evidence of their effectiveness. On the other hand, probiotics (friendly bacteria), a product that is not a prescription drug but is sold on the shelf in pharma chains and health food stores, has been proven in controlled studies to shorten the recovery period, especially in children. There are also types of yogurt that contain probiotics, for example Actimel or Activia.
Practical Recommendations The main issue with acute diarrhea is the amount of water and salts lost through the watery stools, wich are tremendous and must be restored to the body, all the more so if they are accompanied by fever or by vomiting. Also, the body needs a source of sugar, because the disease is a kind of stress for the body`s metabolism, and appetite is usually low to non existent. Without a source of sugar the body produces ketones, which tend to make things worse with nausea and abdominal pain and prevent the adult or child from drinking.
It is not recommended to drink pure water, which will increase nausea on the one hand, and will not correct the lack of salts and sugar and the resulting weakness on the other hand. The recommended oral rehydration has to include sugar and electrolytes (salts like sodium, potassium, chloride and more).This is especially important for children, and is not contra indicated in diabetics, including in type 1 diabetes.
Recommended Drinks During an acute diarrhea
1. Juices of all kinds,they are rich in importants salts and sugars. the first preference is not for citrus fruits, which are considered to be mild laxatives, but for grape juices, peach, pineapple, apples
2. Soft drinks, whether carbonated or not: Coke and Pepsi, Fanta, Nestea, whichever brand but it is important to consume the sweet product and not the diet or zero one.
3. Tea with sugar or honey
4. Chicken broth, you can also consume a little chicken broth powder in the dry form alongside liquids.
5. WHO powders for rehydration
It is not recommended to consume a lot of dairy products during acute diarrhea, because the ability to digest them is limited due to the temporary damage to the intestinal villi. A kind of temporary lactose intolerance.
recommended foods
This is not the time for hot meals cooked in oil. Go for steamed rice, steamed carrots, toasted bread or crackers, bananas.
Signs of concern
monitor the general condition and the urine output, and be aware of any change from that point of view. A baby should be able to communicate, smile, maintain eye contact and speak or vocalize, and not be apathic. As we said the first danger of acute diarrhea is dehydration, loss of salts and sugar, which in severe cases can lead to coma. If there is no way of restoring those losses orally then an intravenous infusion is warranted.
Signs that require examination and possibly fluid infusion
1. Extreme weakness
2. Dizziness when getting up from sitting
3. Lack of urination
4. Weight loss over 2 kilograms for an adult, 500 grams for a baby*
Conditions that require a medical examination
1. Diarrhea for more than a week
2. Presence of blood in the stool or black stool such as charcoal
3. Presence of very large amounts of mucus in the stool
4. High fever