Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Table of Contents

What is Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual)- World Health Organization
Diarrhea is characterized as having three or more loose, watery stools per day
Diarrhea is also commonly known as ‘intestinal flu’ or ‘stomach flu’.
It is one of the most common health issues. It might range from a minor, temporary illness to one that could be fatal.
Diarrhea can be acute, persistent, or chronic:
- Acute diarrhea: is a frequent issue that usually lasts one or two days and disappears on its own.
- Persistent diarrhea: that persists for more than two weeks but less than four weeks.
- Chronic diarrhea: that is chronic and lasts for at least 4 weeks. Its signs and symptoms of might be ongoing or infrequent.
The most frequent causes of diarrhea are bacteria, viruses, or parasites..
Digestive system problems can potentially be the cause of chronic diarrhea.
It is not diarrhea if a person often passes feces that are of a normal consistency. Similar to this, breastfed infants frequently pass loose, sticky feces which are normal.

Diarrheal illnesses is a major cause of morbidity and death in low-income nations among the under 5 years age children.
Diarrhea is also the leading cause of malnutrition in children below five years of age.
Diarrhea is the second most common cause of mortality in children under the age of five, and it resulted in the deaths of 370,000 children in 2019.
Each year diarrhea kills around 525,000 children under five years of age.
Globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrheal disease every year.
One in nine child fatalities worldwide is caused by diarrhea, despite the fact that the majority of these deaths may be avoided with basic, affordable measures.
This leads to 2,195 children dying from diarrhea per day, which is the same as losing 32 school buses’ full of children every day or 801,000 children dying from diarrhea globally every year.
According to current research, interventions including drinking pure water, practicing excellent hygiene and sanitation, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, supplementing with zinc and vitamin A, and receiving the Rota vaccine can effectively reduce diarrhea in young children.

Bacterial infection
The virus
Digestive problems with certain foods (food intolerance/allergy)
Food allergy
Parasites introduced into the body by food or drink
Medication response
Disease of the intestines, such inflammatory bowel illness
Functional bowel disease, such as irritable bowel syndrome, that affects how stomach and bowels operate
Side effect of stomach or gallbladder surgery
Recent use of antibiotics
Laxative abuse
Surgery of the digestive system
Metabolic disorders like thyroid issues
Difficulty in absorbing certain nutrients
Other, less common causes include hormone-producing tumors or radiation damage.
There are several cases of traveler’s diarrhea. This occurs when you consume unsafe food or drink due to germs, parasites, or even food poisoning.

The results of the physical exam and medical history will be taken into account to identify the cause of diarrhea.
Laboratory tests can also be performed on urine and blood samples.
The following additional tests can be performed to determine the cause of diarrhea and other associated conditions:
- Diet elimination tests to identify whether a food allergy or intolerance is the root of the problem
- A stool culture is used to check for bacteria, parasites, or disease indicators. Imaging studies are used to look for intestinal inflammation and structural abnormalities.
- Colonoscopy to check for symptoms of intestinal illness across the whole colon.
- Sigmoidoscopy to examine for symptoms of intestinal illness in the rectum and lower colon
- Finding out if you have severe or persistent diarrhea, an intestinal disease, or both requires a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

Dehydration brought on by diarrhea can be fatal, if left untreated.
Dehydration is especially harmful for children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.

Most frequently in infants and young children, rotavirus frequently causes severe, watery diarrhea.
Children may get dehydrated and require hospitalization, or they may die.
Thus rotavirus vaccination is provided in routine immunization to children to helps protect against the disease

1. Rehydration

Using a solution of oral rehydration salts (ORS) which has water, salt, and sugar as major components
The water and electrolytes lost in the feces are replaced by ORS, which is absorbed in the small intestine.
If very dehydrated or in shock, intravenous fluids should be given

2. Zinc supplements

Zinc supplements are linked to a 30% reduction in stool volume and a 25% reduction in diarrhea frequency.

3. Foods high in nutrients

During an episode, continuing to give nutrient-rich foods, such as breast milk, can help break the vicious cycle of malnutrition and diarrhea.
When a child is healthy, giving them a nutritious diet, which includes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, can help break the cycle as well.

WHO collaborates with its member countries and other partners to:

Encourage national initiatives and financial commitments that assist the treatment of diarrhea and its complications, as well as expanding access to clean water and sanitation in developing nations;
Conduct research to create and evaluate new diarrhea prevention and control methods in this region;
Develop innovative health treatments, like the rotavirus vaccination, and support in training health professionals, especially at the community level.
Build capacity for implementing preventative measures, including as sanitation, source water improvements, home water treatment, and safe storage.