Diarrhea

Diarrhea Treatment in Tardeo, Mumbai

If you are suffering from diarrhea, it means your bowel movements have become erratic resulting in loose, watery stools. With proper treatment, diarrhea can last less than a week. If it persists for more than a week or so, then you can be suffering from chronic diarrhea . And you need immediate medical attention.

For diagnosis, you can visit any of the general medicine hospitals in Mumbai. Alternatively, you can search online for a general medicine doctor near me.

What do we need to know about diarrhea?

Severity of diarrhea depends upon the duration of the condition. It can be mild, moderate or severe diarrhea.

• Mild diarrhea: 4 to 7 loose stool episodes per day for a week with no further evidence of illness.
• Moderate diarrhea: 8 to 15 loose stool episodes per day for longer than two weeks with signs of fever, vomiting and dehydration.
• Severe diarrhea: It means continuous loose stool episodes along with cramps and irritation. 

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

Symptoms include:

• Cramps or pain in the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Abdominal bloating
• Blood in stools
• Urge to frequently use the bathroom

What are the causes of diarrhea?

Some of the clauses include:

• Food allergy
• Lactose intolerance
• Bacterial or viral infection
• Digestive disorders like ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease
• Reaction to medications such as antibiotics, cancer drugs and antacids
• Viruses such as rotavirus are a common cause of mild diarrhea in children. Other viruses like Norwalk and cytomegalic may also cause diarrhea.
• Abdominal or gall bladder surgeries

When do you need to consult a doctor?

Although diarrhea is common in infants and adults, it may worsen if you have persistent symptoms for extended periods. Consult a doctor when there is:

• dehydration in infants
• severe abdominal or rectal pain
• diarrhea persisting for more than 2 to 3 days
• Blood in stools

You can request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Tardeo, Mumbai.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How can diarrhea be diagnosed?

When you visit a hospital, your doctor will go through your medical records and ask general questions regarding your recent medications and foods and then perform a physical examination to know the reason behind diarrhea. 
Other tests are:

Fasting test: It helps to determine any food intolerance or allergy.

Imaging test: It helps to know if there are any structural abnormalities.

Blood test: This is to know about any disorders or diseases.

Stool test: It helps in identifying the cause, whether through bacteria or parasites.

Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy: These are done to examine the colon and the rectum for any intestinal diseases.

What are the treatment options for diarrhea?

Treatments are based on the condition’s severity. In most cases, mild diarrhea does not require any treatment. 
The other treatment procedures are as follows:

Antibiotics: Antibiotics help in treating diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites. If antibiotics are the cause of your diarrhea, then the doctor reduces the dose or changes the medication. 

Fluid replacement: As diarrhea is associated with dehydration, replacing fluid and electrolyte loss can improve the condition. So increase your electrolyte levels by having fruit juices, soups, sports drinks and salty broths. For kids, a doctor might suggest some oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids.

What are the complications from diarrhea?

Mostly, diarrhea has no severe complications. However, diarrhea leads to dehydration, which may be a problem if left untreated in infants and older adults. It may lead to organ damage, coma and shock. Some indications of dehydration include dry skin and mouth, headache, dizziness, thirsty feeling in adults, whereas in infants,

• Little or no urination
• High fever, drowsiness and irritation
• No tears while crying
• Sunken eyes and cheeks

How do you prevent diarrhea?

Some preventive measures may reduce the risk of diarrhea. 

Hygiene and sanitation: 

Traveler's diarrhea is common for people who travel across the country. So, to reduce your risk of diarrhea:

• Wash your hands frequently when you prepare and eat foods. It also helps you to prevent viruses and bacteria from entering your body.
• When you are outside, avoid tap water and use boiled, purified water for drinking. 
• Avoid unhealthy food on roads to decrease your risk of diarrhea. Eat healthy and well-cooked foods.
• Keep an alcohol-based sanitizer with you so that you can use it where washing your hands is not possible.
• Before you travel, ask your doctor about an antibiotic prescription if you have a weaker immune system.

Vaccination:

You can seek information on vaccines from your doctor to get your infant vaccinated against rotavirus, one of the causes of viral diarrhea.

Conclusion

Diarrhea is a symptom of infection in the intestinal tract, and it may get severe with bowel diseases and viral infections. If you do not feel any relief from the symptoms for more than a week, you have to consult a doctor for further treatment. Meanwhile, start taking plenty of fluids and some over-the-counter medications to reduce your bowel movements. Furthermore, take precautions while traveling and vaccinate your child against viruses to prevent diarrhea.