What foods cause diarrhea

The association of food intake with diarrhea and indigestion is determined not only by the type of food consumed, but by the amount of food consumed, the time of day when it was eaten, and other individual physiological characteristics.

Digestive disorders occur at least once in every person's life, especially if he often eats too much and too quickly, under stress, or drinks alcohol.

Foods that may cause diarrhea or stomach upset

A large number of people experience peculiar reactions (pseudo-allergic reactions), meaning that certain foods upset the balance gastrointestinal tract. Spicy foods, citrus fruits and artificial sweeteners often cause indigestion.

Causes of indigestion and diarrhea

Diarrhea and stomach upset are usually problems caused by changes in eating habits. Improper nutrition can cause unpleasant reactions in the body, and even some diseases.

Painful symptoms in the stomach area can be a sign of hernia, cancer, peptic ulcers, Crohn's syndrome, viruses and bacteria. Irritable bowel syndrome causes recurring episodes of indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation. Some medications, such as antibiotics, disrupt the natural balance of intestinal flora.

Last but not least, food causes diarrhea and indigestion. Alcohol, red meat, fats and caffeine can stimulate bowel irritation and affect normal functioning gastrointestinal tract.

Artificial sugar substitutes are a major cause of indigestion in many people. When diarrhea and indigestion occur, the body's natural defense system kicks in. If unpleasant symptoms do not disappear within two days, then you need to consult a doctor to determine the real cause of the problem. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is very dangerous, especially for children.

Foods that cause stomach upset and diarrhea

Research has shown that repeated episodes of indigestion and diarrhea can be avoided by avoiding certain foods that cause digestive problems. Among these products, the most notable ones are:

Caffeine

Caffeine stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, which often leads to strong contractions even in healthy individuals. All foods and drinks that contain caffeine can have a strong diuretic effect, which leads to even more intense dehydration.

Fats

Too much fat in the diet can lead to steatorrhea, a condition that causes feces to smell strongly. Fat can also increase peristaltic activity, leading to frequent and watery stools.

Carbonated drinks

The acid from carbonated drinks causes bloating, which makes it difficult to digest food effectively and leads to increased discomfort after eating.

Vegetables that cause gas

Although they represent a source of important nutrients, vegetables such as onions, garlic, beans, broccoli and cauliflower cause gas to form in the intestines, thereby increasing the discomfort of bloating and indigestion.

Red meat

Red meat contains significant amounts of vitamin B2, but it is difficult to digest. Therefore, it is preferable to consume less red meat and replace it with white meat or fish.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a strong irritant to the gastrointestinal tract. Not only can it cause diarrhea and stomach discomfort, but it also stimulates dehydration.

Insoluble dietary fiber

Fruits and raw vegetables, seeds and nuts are a good source of insoluble fiber, which stimulates the digestive system and can cause diarrhea. On the other hand, the effects of insoluble fiber can be counteracted by eating foods that contain soluble fiber, such as pasta, rice, baked potatoes and oats.

Artificial sweeteners

Dairy products

Dairy products only cause imbalance in the digestive system in people with lactose intolerance. This immune reaction in the body causes unpleasant effects such as bloating, diarrhea and flatulence. In this case, it is necessary to take enzymes that help digest lactose.

Allergenic products

Many people have food allergies, diagnosed or not. Food allergies can also cause frequent episodes of stomach upset and diarrhea.

There are 7 main potential food allergens:

  • milk and dairy products;
  • eggs;
  • peanut;
  • fish;
  • crayfish, mollusks;
  • wheat.

Cow's milk, soy and wheat cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as effects similar topics which are observed in the case of enterocolitis. Anaphylactic shock and the allergic reaction itself are accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing and vascular insufficiency requiring emergency medical intervention.

Foods High in Toxins

There is a product category with high content toxins that cause stomach upset and diarrhea after consumption. Many species of wild mushrooms produce unpleasant reactions, along with other neurological effects (blurred vision, confusion), kidney or liver failure.

Everyone, even healthy people, has experienced diarrhea, or diarrhea. There are a huge number of reasons for its appearance, starting with food products that are incompatible with each other and ending with very severe infections.

In this article, we will not consider severe infections accompanied by painful diarrhea, such as cholera and others. This is a separate topic.

Watery diarrhea

Watery diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is involved in the pathological process. This may be a situation where poisoning has occurred with substandard food products or for acute intestinal infections.

Sometimes the number of pathogenic bacteria present in the intestines can be very small. It is not the bacteria themselves that are dangerous, but their metabolic products, the toxins they release.

In the cold season, watery stools sometimes occur due to a number of viruses that are active in winter. These are so-called rotavirus infections, which are very easy to catch.

Why is water diarrhea dangerous?

Diarrhea can be roughly divided into watery stools without pathological impurities, such as blood, and diarrhea streaked with blood. If blood appears in the intestinal discharge, this is a signal to seek medical help, because... The reasons for this symptom can be very serious: intestinal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding or serious bacterial infection. All these conditions can threaten the patient's life. But this also needs to be discussed separately.

So, if water diarrhea occurs in an adult, treatment should be immediate. It should be noted that with watery stools there is a large loss of water, and if this process is also accompanied by vomiting, then we can talk about dehydration, and it can occur very quickly if emergency measures are not taken.

The human body normally contains about 85-90% water. More precisely, the brain, muscles and heart contain approximately 76% fluid, blood - 84%, and only the human skeleton consists of 15-20% water. From this you can understand what important water is for humans. Every cell of our body consists of water, and if there is a lack of fluid, all systems and organs will suffer. In addition, during diarrhea, along with water, a huge amount of minerals that the body needs is released.

For small child a loss of 10% of body weight due to watery diarrhea is fatal. If a child weighs 5 kg, then a loss of 500 ml of fluid will be fatal for him. For adults, losing 10% of their body weight in a short period of time is more problematic, because... their weight is much greater, so they have time to make a decision. Dehydration (dehydration) is most dangerous for children and the elderly. Diarrhea in an adult - what to do? Of course, treat.

Diarrhea is not a diagnosis, but a symptom. To choose the right treatment tactics, it is necessary to establish the true cause of loose stools. Even if loose stool in an adult, it happens 2-3 times a day, which does not pose a threat to his life; anyway, over time (if it lasts several days), the body will be severely depleted and the water-salt balance will be disrupted. Recovery will take much longer than the duration of the illness. If an adult has water diarrhea, treatment is necessary, especially if an elderly person suffers from this symptom.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a kind of defensive reaction to the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and bacteria. In this way, the body itself is protected from the harmful effects of pathogenic microflora and carries out its detoxification. But if this condition does not go away within a few hours, help is needed. Especially if there is a temperature and in this case it is necessary. Hyperthermia (increased temperature) may indicate general intoxication of the body. This condition requires an appropriate attitude. You can't leave everything to chance. Some people believe that diarrhea is not really a disease. Diarrhea still needs to be treated if it lasts more than one day. This way you can save your body from serious consequences.

If the patient complains of diarrhea, abdominal pain, treatment is also necessary. Pain is a serious symptom that may indicate a serious illness such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, gallstones or appendicitis. If you experience pain with diarrhea, you should see a doctor. In some of these situations, surgical treatment is necessary.

There are other causes of diarrhea:

  • dyspeptic - this is the most common cause of diarrhea; it can occur due to insufficient secretion of the stomach, improper functioning of the glands and, as a result, improper digestion of ingested food;
  • infectious - can be caused by a dysentery bacillus, various intestinal viruses, amoebas and food toxins;
  • nutritional is an allergic reaction to food;
  • toxic - poisoning with poisons and toxic substances, such as arsenic or mercury;
  • medicinal - caused side effects medical supplies, for example, some antibiotics in the intestines kill not only pathogenic flora, but also beneficial ones, thereby causing diarrhea;
  • neurogenic - can be caused by strong emotions or fear; such diarrhea is also called “bear disease”.

Patients experience diarrhea differently, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. So, for example, loose stools 2-3 times a day cause weakness and poor health in some people, while in others diarrhea 5-6 times a day does not cause negative consequences.

If diarrhea lasts a short time, it usually does not cause negative consequences and goes away without special harm for health. If diarrhea continues long time and is accompanied by bloating, rumbling, false urge to defecate (tenesmus), nausea, vomiting, heartburn and causes severe weakness (depletion of the body), then this condition requires emergency medical care. Often patients with such symptoms are hospitalized.

For any type of diarrhea, it is necessary to drink enough fluid. Compliance with the drinking regime can protect against negative consequences and keep the patient’s body in good shape.

It is better to drink mineral water without gas content, it will help maintain the water-salt balance. If prolonged water diarrhea occurs in an adult, treatment is necessary. If home treatment does not help, and diarrhea does not go away within a few days, this is a serious reason to seek help from a medical facility. If severe diarrhea develops, a doctor will determine the cause and treatment.

Diet for diarrhea

Gentle, regardless of the reasons that caused it, is necessary. Until the condition improves and the symptoms of intoxication disappear, you need to follow a diet.

The following products are allowed:

  • porridge with water;
  • jelly;
  • lean boiled or steamed meat;
  • steam cutlets;
  • boiled or steamed fish.

Prohibited products:

  • fatty foods;
  • fried foods;
  • sweets;
  • spicy dishes;
  • pickled products;
  • any canned food;
  • carbonated drinks;
  • coffee;
  • tea is too strong;
  • any alcohol.

After the diarrhea disappears and the diet improves, you need to stick to it for a few more days, at least for a week. By gradually adding other previously prohibited foods to the diet, the weakened body is prepared for the usual diet. You cannot immediately return to your usual diet. A sudden return of the wrong dish to the menu can upset the fragile and unstable balance after illness.

Diarrhea: causes and treatment

Treatment of diarrhea directly depends on the cause that caused it. What medications for diarrhea are most effective? We'll talk about this in this section.

First of all, any diarrhea should not be treated with antibiotics. This is done only in severe cases, for example, if the cause of the pathological process really poses a serious danger. This applies to diseases such as salmonellosis or cholera. In this case, the patient must be hospitalized, and further treatment it will take place under strict medical supervision. If water diarrhea is observed in an adult, treatment should be aimed at preventing dehydration and restoring water-salt balance. For these purposes, solutions such as “Regidron” or “Oralit” are suitable; you can also drink mineral water without gas.

Solutions are taken after each stool, half a glass. In addition, you should drink at least 4 glasses of one of these medications within 12 hours.

Medicines for diarrhea

Medicines for diarrhea are not a panacea at all. A range of interventions should be considered when treating diarrhea. The most important of which, as already mentioned, is the fight against Let's look at medications for diarrhea in adults, which are used most often.

All of them are divided into several pharmacological groups:

  • sulfonamide drugs ("Fthalazol");
  • antibiotics (Levomycetin, Tetracycline tablets);
  • nitrofurans (drug "Furazolidone");
  • antimicrobial drugs ("Enterofuril", "Sulgin");
  • antifungal (Intetrix) - used for;
  • enterosorbents (activated carbon);
  • antiviral drugs.

Let's look at the most famous ones among adults. In what case is it advisable to take this or that drug?

Activated charcoal for diarrhea

What to give for diarrhea to an adult? Enterosorbents are a group of drugs that have an adsorbing and enveloping effect. Treatment should begin with activated carbon. Sometimes this is enough. These tablets for diarrhea in adults (and children) are not absorbed in the intestines.

Activated carbon is taken at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of patient weight. So, if the patient weighs 60 kg, then, accordingly, he should take 6 tablets and drink plenty of water.

Activated carbon absorbs all harmful toxins, bacteria and viruses, and also binds water and covers the intestinal wall with a protective layer. After this, it is excreted naturally. It should be noted that after taken pills If you take this drug, your stool will be black. There is no need to be afraid of this. If diarrhea occurs due to poor-quality products, then activated carbon in most cases is sufficient for treatment.

The drug "Fthalazol" for diarrhea

This group is most appropriate to take for infectious types of diarrhea (dysentery, enterocolitis and colitis of an infectious nature). Taking the medicine "Fthalazol" for allergic types of diarrhea and ordinary indigestion will be ineffective. Its effect is noticeable only on day 2-3, when the growth of pathogenic microflora under the influence of the drug is stopped.

Imodium for diarrhea

The drug "Imodium" (its other name is "Suprelol", "Lopedium" and "Loperamide") begins to act within the first 40-60 minutes. This drug is effective for diarrhea caused by poor-quality foods, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and initial stages infectious diarrhea. It helps well with frequent vomiting. This drug is convenient to take with you on the road. Diarrhea is a common companion for travelers.

Treatment with Loperamide and Simethicone

This is a new generation drug, it represents combination remedy for diarrhea "Imodium Plus" and includes the so-called antifoam agent - simethicone. This substance eliminates bloating and adsorbs unnecessary intestinal gases. Thanks to it, spastic pain and the feeling of intestinal distension disappear. This chewable tablets for diarrhea in adults. It is not recommended to give them to children under 12 years of age.

Natural Remedies for Diarrhea

This includes drugs such as Smecta and Kaopectate. These drugs are used for rotavirus infections. It should be noted that the drug "Kaopectate" is contraindicated in childhood.

These drugs belong to the group of enterosorbents; they gradually reduce the frequency of trips to the toilet, and also relieve bloating and rumbling in the abdomen.

Tablets "Linex" for diarrhea

This product contains beneficial microflora and has a positive effect on the entire gastrointestinal tract. It includes 3 types of positive microflora:

  • lactobacilli - have a positive effect on the functioning of the small intestine;
  • enterococci - have a similar effect and help the small intestine function properly;
  • bifidobacteria - actively work in the large intestine.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Traditional medicine knows many ways to treat such ailments as diarrhea. Folk remedies for treating diarrhea have been proven for centuries.

  1. Decoction pomegranate peels considered an effective remedy for intestinal disorders. To prepare the medicine, you need to take a well-washed peel of one fruit and pour a glass of cold water. Boil over low heat for 10 minutes, cool and strain. Take this remedy every two hours, 2 tbsp. spoons.
  2. Traditional treatment for diarrhea involves the use of rice water. Taking this remedy every 20-30 minutes for 3-4 hours will relieve bloating and stop diarrhea.
  3. Wormwood will help cope with diarrhea. But you need to be careful with this product: do not exceed the dosage and do not use it for too long. To prepare the medicine, add 1 teaspoon of dry herb to one glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Take the medicine 30 minutes before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon.
  4. A very strong folk remedy for diarrhea using an alcohol infusion of partitions walnuts has been known for a long time. It must be taken without exceeding the permissible dose (5-6 drops), otherwise it may provoke a reverse reaction - constipation. As soon as the number of trips to the toilet decreases, you need to reduce the dosage to 2-3 drops. It is clear that alcohol tinctures can only be used internally for treatment by adults. To prepare the drug, take 1 tbsp. spoon of ground walnut partitions and pour one glass of vodka. Leave in darkness for 5-7 days. This product is prepared for future use and stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to always have this medicine on hand for those who are prone to frequent intestinal disorders.

Conclusion

For ailments such as diarrhea, folk remedies can be very effective. Whatever the nature of the origin of diarrhea, this fact must be taken seriously. If you cannot cope with an intestinal disorder on your own, and pain or fever also occurs, in this case you need to seek medical help. This is especially true for elderly citizens, because... They become dehydrated much earlier than young people in full bloom.

Who doesn’t know from television advertising what to do if diarrhea occurs in adults? Take a “magic” pill that will instantly stop diarrhea! However, any doctor will say that such “treatment” will not help at best, and will do harm at worst. Firstly, medications for diarrhea do not act instantly, they only reduce it, and secondly, the use of such medications is contraindicated for a number of diseases. What to do when you suffer from loose stools?

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract or in the body as a whole. Therefore, it is impossible to cure diarrhea without knowing what causes it. Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose stool either once or with an increased frequency of bowel movements. If such a violation goes away within 2-3 weeks, we are talking about acute diarrhea, over 21 days - chronic.

In a normal state, the body of a healthy adult excretes 100–300 g of formed feces daily or at other intervals that are comfortable for a particular gastrointestinal tract. Liquefaction and accelerated evacuation of stool occurs due to a sharp increase in water content: with diarrhea, stool is 90% liquid. The amount of feces suggests the etiology of diarrhea:

  • disturbances of intestinal motility usually do not increase the daily volume of feces; it is excreted frequently, but in small portions;
  • if the problem is in the absorption of substances by the intestinal wall, there is a significant increase in the volume of feces due to the mass of undigested food.

The main causes of loose stools in adults:

Such diarrhea usually goes away within 3-4 days, and the patient will most likely be able to associate the onset of diarrhea with previous events.

However, the causes of diarrhea in an adult can be more serious:

  • infection with bacteria, viruses, protozoa (dysentery, salmonellosis, intestinal flu);
  • inflammatory diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, hepatitis, ulcers);
  • functional organ failure (deficiency of certain enzymes);
  • gastrointestinal diseases of unknown etiology (Crohn's disease);
  • toxic damage (poisoning with lead, mercury).

In such cases, it is not enough to simply stop the diarrhea: a diagnosis must be made and qualified treatment must be carried out, often in inpatient conditions. As for the clinical manifestations of diarrhea, they may be mild. This applies to ordinary indigestion, when in addition to loose stools, cramping pain in the abdomen and dyspeptic symptoms (boiling, bloating, etc.) may be observed.

In case of food poisoning, the pain is accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea and vomiting, refusal to eat, and the temperature may rise. Similar symptoms are accompanied by intestinal infections and viral diseases.

Alarming signs that require immediate attention are symptoms of dehydration. Dry skin and mucous membranes, cracked lips, severe thirst, rare urination, darkening of urine occur with debilitating diarrhea, and this condition poses a great danger: the pulse increases, blood pressure drops, and muscle cramps may begin.

What to do for diarrhea in an adult - first aid

To prevent dehydration, the water and salts lost by the body must be compensated by drinking plenty of fluids: it is best to take rehydrating solutions (Rehydron and analogues); in their absence, you can drink saline solution, salted water, chamomile tea. Prevention of dehydration should begin as soon as it becomes clear that loose stools are not an isolated case.

Especially if the diarrhea is profuse and constant, has been going on for several days, and is accompanied by vomiting. It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of blood in the stool. It may appear with dysentery, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, .

Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will select a specific treatment, but there are general rules that must be followed in any case of diarrhea. This is dietary nutrition, taking adsorbent drugs, enzymes.

Diet for diarrhea in an adult

The nature of the diet obviously influences bowel movements. Many foods have an irritating effect on peristalsis, and during diarrhea you should forget about them until complete recovery. These are spices, raw vegetables, plums and other laxatives.

Some foods have a fixing effect, so in the first few days of the diet you should limit yourself to the following set of dishes:

  • wheat bread crackers;
  • vegetable purees;
  • slimy porridge;
  • pureed meat and fish of lean varieties (steamed, boiled);
  • tea, blueberry jelly, bird cherry fruit infusion, rice infusion.

You can start the diet on a “fasting” day: drink only strong sweet tea (8-10 cups during the day).

If diarrhea is caused by lactose or gluten intolerance, then diet is the main, and often the only, factor in treatment. For these diseases, therapeutic nutrition is prescribed, completely excluding products containing milk sugar and the cereal protein gluten.

Diet is important: you need to eat often (every 3 hours) and in small portions.

The diet must be followed throughout the treatment and beyond, but after the first “hard” days, you can remove the restrictions and expand the diet, adhering to the following principles:

Thus, we list the prohibited products:

  • any fried meat;
  • offal;
  • rich broths;
  • fatty fish prepared in any way, and lean fish if it is fried, canned, smoked;
  • milk, high fat cream;
  • scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs;
  • cabbage in any form, beets, spicy root vegetables, turnips, radishes, cucumbers;
  • canned vegetables;
  • mushrooms;
  • sour berries and fruits;
  • pastries and bread;
  • carbonated drinks, kvass, cold drinks.

What then can you eat for diarrhea in adults? Here sample list dishes from which it is recommended to create a diet menu:

  • steamed minced meat cutlets, meat puree (can be from “children’s” jars), soufflé;
  • boiled fish (such as pollock, cod), fish balls, steamed cutlets;
  • cereal cooked in water; you can add a little milk and a piece of butter to the finished porridge;
  • rice pudding;
  • puree soups with vegetable or weak meat broth;
  • boiled pasta;
  • fermented milk drinks;
  • fresh cottage cheese;
  • omelet, soft-boiled eggs;
  • boiled, baked or pureed vegetables: potatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, green beans;
  • baked fruits in compote, some fresh strawberries;
  • jellies and mousses from berries and fruits;
  • white bread croutons, dryers, “Maria” cookies;
  • water, tea, compote, cocoa without milk.

In addition to diet, it is important to organize the correct drinking regime. The fluid entering the body should be several liters in volume in order to fully compensate for the loss of water through diarrhea.

Since microelements are washed out with loose stools, plain water Not very suitable for drinking. It is better to take glucose-salt drinks, which will replenish the loss of electrolytes, maintain normal blood sugar levels, and salt also promotes fluid retention in the body.

There are special drugs for preparing rehydrating drinks, these are Regidron, Citroglucosolan, Gastrolit, but if they are not available, you can prepare the liquid yourself by diluting it in a liter of water:

Instead of potassium chloride You can pour a decoction of dried apricots and freshly squeezed orange juice into the solution. You need to drink in small portions, but constantly throughout the day.

Medicines to treat diarrhea in adults

As an important piece of advice, it should be noted that diarrhea in an adult that has not gone away within 3 days is a reason to consult a doctor. Chronic diarrhea may indicate the presence serious illnesses, it occurs even in some forms of cancer.

It is also worth seeing a doctor if the temperature rises above 38 during diarrhea, signs uncharacteristic of indigestion or poisoning appear: rash, yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, sleep disturbances. Constant excruciating pain in the abdomen should not be the norm (spastic pain before and during bowel movements is acceptable).

Black or green diarrhea, vomiting mixed with fresh or coagulated (dark) blood, fainting, signs of severe dehydration indicate that the situation is critical: it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

These days, digestive problems can affect everyone almost every day, and not all episodes of bowel upset require medical attention. How do you know if diarrhea is a symptom of a serious illness? They will help with this additional symptoms or properties of diarrhea itself:

Diarrhea + bloating when eating certain foods– may indicate an allergy to these products or an enzyme deficiency ( lactase deficiency, celiac disease).

Diarrhea + bloating not related to the nature of food taken– more often observed in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In which neuropsychic factors ( overwork, stress) lead to disruption of the entire nervous system.

Diarrhea + vomiting + abdominal tenderness– often found in food poisoning, salmonellosis, and enterovirus infections. In this case, only a personal consultation with an infectious disease specialist can help make a diagnosis.

Diarrhea + dehydrationthis symptom may indicate a dangerous infectious disease. In such cases, consultation with a surgeon and infectious disease specialist is necessary. Treatment of such patients at home is impossible; hospitalization is required.

Diagnosis of the causes of diarrhea

Diagnosis of the causes of diarrhea is difficult in some cases - there are so many diseases that manifest themselves with this symptom. However, a number of clinical, laboratory and instrumental methods are used to identify the causes of diarrhea.

Clinical examination of a patient with diarrhea
Includes a conversation to identify possible causative factors:

  • When did the diarrhea start?
  • Does any other family member have diarrhea?
  • What food was consumed the day before?
  • Do people who consumed the same food have diarrhea?
  • Is there pain? Nature of pain?
And some other questions may be asked by your doctor during diagnosis.
Feeling and tapping the abdomen– allows you to identify pain in a specific location. Tapping helps identify bloating and its location.

Laboratory examinations
Coprogram– studying the appearance of stool, studying the structure and composition of stool under a microscope helps to identify diseases such as: pancreatic enzyme or liver failure,
Bacteriological analysis of stool is the method of choice in the diagnosis of intestinal dysbiosis or infectious diseases which lead to diarrhea.

Temperature
An elevated temperature accompanies diarrhea if it is caused by an inflammatory process. If diarrhea develops due to viral and bacterial infections, the temperature can rise to very high limits ( up to 38 – 39 degrees). Also, a high rise in temperature is observed with food poisoning.

Tenesmus
Tenesmus is a painful urge to defecate. They are most characteristic of intestinal infections, for example, dysentery or colitis.

Vomit
Vomiting also often accompanies diarrhea. Typically, this symptom occurs with diarrhea caused by food poisoning or infection.

Weakness
Weakness and malaise are caused by dehydration due to diarrhea. So, with diarrhea, water also leaves the body along with feces. Water provides the most important functions of the body and accounts for 60 to 70 percent. If the percentage of water in the body decreases, then it begins to suffer. In this case, all organ systems suffer without exception. Therefore, even a small loss of water is difficult for a person to bear, and he experiences weakness.
Subsequently, if emergency measures are not taken, the body’s salts leave along with the water. Lack of salts further increases weakness, malaise and lethargy.

Chronic, periodic diarrhea is a manifestation of pathologies such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic colitis, Crohn's disease. With chronic diarrhea, extraintestinal symptoms are also present. Intestinal symptoms in chronic diarrhea are the same as in acute diarrhea.

Extraintestinal symptoms of chronic diarrhea are:

  • nausea;
Anemia
Anemia is a low number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. It develops as a result of enteropathy, which is observed with frequent diarrhea. Thus, with chronic diarrhea, the intestinal mucous layer is damaged, through which substances beneficial to the body are normally absorbed. As a result, the body experiences a lack of iron, folic acid and other microelements. The type of anemia depends on what substance the body “lacked” the most. If it is iron, then iron deficiency anemia develops, if it is vitamin B12, then B12 deficiency anemia. Anemia, in turn, is accompanied by symptoms such as poor skin condition, brittle hair and nails.

Nausea
With colitis, Crohn's disease and other diseases that are accompanied by chronic diarrhea, nausea is an integral companion.

Loss of appetite
Many intestinal pathologies, which are characterized by chronic diarrhea, lead to loss of appetite. First of all, this is due to constant nausea and periodic vomiting. At later stages, when anemia sets in, appetite decreases due to impaired metabolism.

It should be borne in mind that loose stools are not a separate disease, but are a symptom of a pathological process developing in the body.

What are the main causes of diarrhea in adults?

Exists large number factors that can trigger the development of diarrhea.

Tuberculosis of the alimentary tract
With this pathology, the parts most often affected are the small intestine and the cecum. Diarrhea due to tuberculosis is not permanent and occurs periodically. As the disease progresses, stool disorder is accompanied by pain, localized to the navel.

Food poisoning
Loose stools are often caused by foodborne diseases (infection not by bacteria, but by their metabolic products, which are most often formed in spoiled food products). Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause intoxication of the body. Alcohol contains substances that stimulate the intestines, causing them to contract faster. Sources of nutritional intoxication most often are food products that have expired or those that were prepared without taking into account the necessary sanitary standards.

Products that most often cause poisoning are:

  • dairy and fermented milk products;
  • confectionery with cream;
  • cooked sausage products;
  • meat pates;
  • salads with mayonnaise or sour cream;
  • tomato juice.
Allergic reaction
Diarrhea can be caused by individual intolerance to a certain product. Unlike other allergy symptoms ( respiratory or skin), which occur quickly after consuming an allergen product, loose stools can develop only after 5 – 6 hours. This fact makes it difficult to diagnose the allergic nature of diarrhea.

Irritable bowel syndrome
With this disease, digestive disorders are not caused by damage to the intestine itself. People with an unstable psyche and a high level of emotionality are most susceptible to this pathology. The syndrome is characterized by loose stools, which bother patients after eating, most often in the first half of the day. Exacerbation of the disease and the development of acute diarrhea in half of the patients is associated with severe stress, excitement, anxiety.

Dysbacteriosis
An imbalance in the ratio of beneficial and harmful microflora in the intestines can be caused by taking a number of antibacterial drugs, dietary habits, or other factors. A decrease in the number of bacteria that are responsible for the process of digestion and absorption of food leads to a disorder of intestinal functions, which is manifested by diarrhea.

Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
In the practice of a gastroenterologist ( a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating the digestive system) diarrhea is one of the most common complaints of patients. Chronic inflammatory processes affecting the digestive system have a negative impact on the intestines and cause disruption of its functionality.

Chronic diseases in which diarrhea develops are:

  • gastritis ( inflammation of the gastric mucosa);
  • stomach ulcer or duodenum;
  • duodenitis ( inflammatory lesion of the duodenal mucosa);
  • enterocolitis ( inflammation of the small and large intestine);
  • biliary dyskinesia ( gallbladder motility disorder);
  • cholecystitis ( gallbladder inflammation);
  • pancreatitis ( inflammatory process in the pancreas);
  • Crohn's disease ( formation of ulcers on the intestinal mucosa and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract);
  • ulcerative colitis ( intestinal inflammation).
Rectal cancer
With a cancerous tumor located in the rectum, diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of a small amount of blood in the stool and a false urge to defecate.

Liver diseases
One of the liver diseases in which stool disorders develop is hepatitis ( inflammation of liver tissue). Diarrhea is a symptom of all forms of this disease, but most often and most acutely manifests itself in viral hepatitis A. With other types of hepatitis, loose stools occur periodically, most often as a result of intolerance fatty foods. Another disease in which patients may suffer from diarrhea is cirrhosis of the liver ( pathological changes in liver tissue).

Emotional disorders
The activity of the gastrointestinal tract, like other organ systems, is controlled by the nervous system. In stressful situations, the nervous system is stressed, which affects the activity of the intestines. That's why anxiety states often cause diarrhea. The symptom disappears after the person stops experiencing stress and anxiety.

Unbalanced diet
Poor diet with a lot of roughage plant origin may cause diarrhea. Also, the appearance of loose stools can be facilitated by the abuse of hot seasonings, spices, and carbonated drinks. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract can be disrupted by non-compliance with a certain regimen when eating food. Often the cause of diarrhea is an insufficient amount of vitamins that ensure the proper functioning of the stomach and intestines. The development of the disorder is caused by a deficiency of substances such as phylloquinone ( vitamin K), riboflavin ( vitamin B2), niacin ( vitamin PP).

Change of usual cuisine, water
The body's reaction to new food and water in the form of loose stool is called traveler's diarrhea. Stool disorder may appear 3 to 7 days after the change familiar surroundings. In most cases, this symptom goes away on its own when you return home or refuse food ( food and water) locally produced.

What are the main causes of diarrhea in children?

Diarrhea in children develops as a result of a number of reasons that lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the digestive system.

The main ways infectious agents enter the child’s digestive tract are:

  • dirty hands;
  • contaminated food;
  • contaminated household items and household items;
  • contact with sick children ( in case of intestinal viruses).
Genetic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Many genetic diseases gastrointestinal tract in children lead to disruption of food digestion and the development of diarrhea.

The main genetic diseases of the digestive tract are:

  • lactase deficiency;
  • maltase deficiency;
  • sucrase deficiency;
  • atrophy of the intestinal mucosa.
For normal absorption of substances in the intestine, food must be well digested by intestinal enzymes. The lack of these enzymes leads to insufficient breakdown of food into easily digestible substances. In this case, food remains in the intestinal lumen and is quickly excreted. This condition is popularly called food allergy.

The most common problem in children is lactase deficiency ( lack of intestinal enzyme lactase), which causes diarrhea when milk and some dairy products are consumed. Less common are maltase enzyme deficiency ( substance involved in the digestion of grains), sucrase ( substance that breaks down sugar).

The absorption process in the intestine can also be disrupted due to congenital atrophy of the child’s intestinal mucosa. In this case, the absorption of all substances is difficult.

Acute food poisoning
Often in children, diarrhea develops as a result of acute food poisoning, due to the action toxic substances that have entered the gastrointestinal tract.

The main sources of acute food poisoning in children are:

  • expired products;
  • spoiled fruits and vegetables;
  • stale meat and fish;
  • spoiled dairy products;
  • toxic substances ( arsenic, insecticides, organophosphates);
  • alcoholic drinks;
  • medications ( antibiotics, magnesium and potassium preparations, barbiturates);
  • poisonous plants and fruits.
When a child eats “bad” food, a large amount of toxic substances enter the gastrointestinal tract. Toxins cause inflammation of the stomach and intestinal mucosa, increase peristalsis and slow down water absorption. In children, toxins are absorbed very quickly, and diarrhea also develops quickly.

Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition of a child leads to disruption of the digestive system. Constant digestive disorders cause the development of diarrhea.

The most common eating disorders in children are:

  • overeating;
  • eating too many fruits and vegetables;
  • abuse of herbs, spices, garlic and hot pepper;
  • abuse of salty and sour foods;
  • too fatty food ( fatty varieties meat and fish, oil).
Large volumes of food eaten put pressure on the walls of the digestive tract, causing accelerated peristalsis. Food passes too quickly and does not have time to be digested. Nutrients and water are absorbed in small quantities, remaining in the intestinal lumen. As a result, diarrhea with particles of poorly digested food appears. The rough skins of vegetables and fruits cause similar problems as a result of intestinal irritation from the rough fibers.
Spicy, sour or salty foods also greatly irritate the child's intestines, leading to the development of diarrhea.

Feeding a child too fatty foods leads to disruption of the liver and gallbladder. In the lumen of the digestive tract, a large amount of bile and free fatty acids. They stimulate the accumulation of water in the intestinal cavity, causing diarrhea.

Why does a baby develop diarrhea?

Diarrhea in an infant develops due to the introduction of new foods into the diet that the child’s digestive system cannot digest normally. Also, stool disorder is a symptom of various pathological processes developing in a child's body.

The causes of diarrhea in infants are:

  • introduction of complementary foods;
  • artificial feeding;
  • intestinal infections;
  • other factors.
Introduction of complementary foods
Changes in the color and consistency of stool are a common reaction of the body to the introduction of new foods into the children's diet. Often, stool turns green when feeding a child vegetable or fruit dishes. A change in the color of feces is not a sign of diarrhea and is normal. Indigestion is indicated by such signs as the child’s constant desire to empty the intestines, the appearance of a sour smell in the stool, and a watery or foamy consistency of the feces.

The causes of diarrhea when introducing complementary foods are:

  • untimely introduction of complementary foods;
  • non-compliance with dosage recommendations;
  • too short pauses between new products;
  • intolerance individual products.
Late introduction of complementary foods
Diarrhea infant may cause complementary feeding to be introduced too early. Experts recommend introducing new foods after the child reaches five months of age. At this point, the necessary enzymes for digesting adult food are formed in the intestines. Since childhood maturation is an individual aspect, in addition to age, the advisability of introducing complementary foods is also determined by several factors.

Signs that a baby is ready for complementary feeding are:

  • the child’s weight increases by 2 times from the moment of birth;
  • the child does not push out the spoon with his tongue;
  • the baby can sit independently, tilt his body, turn his head;
  • the child holds an object in his hand and puts it in his mouth;
  • The baby shows interest in adult food and tries to taste it.
Failure to follow dosage recommendations
When switching to adult food, you must follow the recommendations for increasing the dosage of each individual product. If the portion increase is not done in a timely manner, it can cause dysfunction of the digestive system. Diarrhea in such cases occurs because in a short period of time the necessary enzymes do not have time to mature in the child’s intestines. Therefore, the dose of a new product should be increased 5–7 days after it was introduced into the diet for the first time. Yes, recommended by pediatricians average rate cottage cheese per day is from 5 to 10 grams. Within six months, the dose of cottage cheese can only be increased to 40 - 50 grams.

Too short pauses between new products
Each new product should be offered to the child a week after the introduction of the previous product. Violating this rule can cause diarrhea in the baby. When transferring a baby to fundamentally new look complementary feeding must be paused for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Types of complementary foods are vegetable, grain, dairy, meat, fish.

Intolerance to certain products
Allergies to certain foods can cause diarrhea in infants. The most common cause of allergic reactions during complementary feeding is intolerance ( partial or complete) gluten. This pathology is called celiac disease. With this disease, loose stools are provoked by porridge ( wheat, barley, rye), bread, cookies. With celiac disease, diarrhea in an infant becomes chronic and is accompanied by symptoms such as poor weight gain and skin rashes.

Artificial feeding
In children who are bottle-fed, digestive disorders in the form of diarrhea are observed more often than in infants fed breast milk. This is explained by the fact that in children's intestines a neutral or slightly acidic environment predominates, which disrupts the digestion of proteins and fats. The composition of fats in breast milk is simpler and in addition it contains enzymes that facilitate the digestion process ( lipases). Therefore, with artificial feeding, especially with overfeeding, infants develop diarrhea.

Intestinal infections
Diarrhea in infants is often caused by intestinal infections. When bacteria or viruses enter a child's body, an acute digestive disorder develops, which is accompanied by intense loose stools, which may contain blood, mucus, and foam. Often the infection occurs with vomiting, fever, crying, and refusal to eat.

The causative agents of intestinal infections are:

  • rotavirus– the infection begins with vomiting, followed by diarrhea and elevated temperature bodies;
  • enterovirus– the disease is characterized by a wave-like increase in temperature and foamy, loose, green stools;
  • salmonella– the infection is manifested by a sharp increase in temperature, bloating and diarrhea, which may contain mucus and blood;
  • Shigella(provoke dysentery) – initially loose stools with the progression of the disease become similar to lumps of gray mucus with inclusions of blood;
  • coli– infection is accompanied by intense diarrhea and sharp pain in the stomach;
  • staphylococcus– the infection is manifested by foamy liquid stools and a fever above 38 degrees.
Infection most often occurs through the oral-fecal route if personal hygiene rules are not observed. Also, pathogenic bacteria can enter the body along with low-quality products or dirty water. Infection of an infant is possible through contact with carriers of the infection.

Other factors
In addition to infections and feeding errors, various external and internal factors can cause diarrhea in an infant.

Causes of diarrhea include:

  • dysbacteriosis– loose stools are often a consequence of taking antibacterial drugs that interfere with normal composition intestinal microflora;
  • maternal consumption of certain foods(while breastfeeding) – diarrhea in infants often occurs after eating cucumbers, beets, or pears;
  • teething– stool disorder in such cases is called physiological diarrhea;
  • lactase deficiency ( lactose intolerance) – manifests itself as diarrhea in newborns from the first days of life;
  • cystic fibrosis(a disease that affects organs that secrete mucus, including the intestines) – this pathology is characterized by copious loose stools with a greasy sheen and a strong unpleasant odor;
  • helminthic infestations – accompanied by loose stools, which may alternate with constipation;
  • acute respiratory diseases– in children under one year of age, diarrhea often develops against the background of colds.

Why is diarrhea dangerous during pregnancy?

The degree of danger of diarrhea during pregnancy is determined by such factors as the cause that caused the syndrome and the characteristics of its course. Also great value has a gestational age at which this syndrome develops.

Impact of diarrhea in early pregnancy
Weak and short-lived diarrhea at the beginning of pregnancy, which is accompanied by toxicosis, is a common occurrence. The bacteria and viruses that provoke it do not leave the intestines, so they do not carry big threat for the fetus. In some cases, when diarrhea is caused by severe poisoning, intoxication is possible female body and penetration of toxins to the fetus. Thus, mushroom poisoning while pregnant is extremely dangerous. Poisons, penetrating the placental barrier, can cause various violations in embryo development.
The greatest danger in the first trimester of pregnancy is diarrhea, in which a woman visits the toilet more than 5 times a day. The danger of this condition increases when a bowel disorder is combined with vomiting.

The consequences of severe diarrhea are:

  • the formation of congenital developmental anomalies in the fetus;
  • spontaneous abortion;
  • decreased blood pressure in women;
  • renal failure in the expectant mother.
The danger of diarrhea in late pregnancy
Diarrhea at the 30th week of pregnancy is most often a symptom of late toxicosis rather than viral disease. If an intestinal disorder is accompanied by frequent bowel movements, the woman should see a specialist, as this can provoke intense uterine contractions and premature birth. In addition, severe diarrhea, as in the initial stages, can cause dehydration of the female body. Fluid deficiency can provoke thrombosis ( blockage of blood vessels) and others dangerous conditions. In the third trimester of pregnancy, drugs that are contraindicated in earlier stages are allowed. Therefore, timely consultation with a doctor will quickly eliminate diarrhea and its accompanying symptoms.
This syndrome is most dangerous in the period from 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. Diarrhea can cause labor to begin, which can lead to the birth of a premature baby.

Another factor that causes this disorder is the pressure that the fetus puts on the digestive organs of a pregnant woman.

Regardless of the circumstances that caused diarrhea, the main danger is the rapid development of dehydration. At this stage, the woman begins to move less, and the fetus needs a large amount of fluid. These factors, combined with diarrhea, provoke severe dehydration and the risk of various complications. The body of a pregnant woman stops supplying the fetus with necessary nutrients, resulting in starvation.
Doctors react most calmly to diarrhea that develops from 38 to 40 weeks of pregnancy. Most often, the syndrome occurs against the background of a woman’s normal condition and indicates a natural cleansing of the body and impending childbirth.

How does chronic diarrhea occur?

Chronic diarrhea is manifested by stool disorder that lasts more than 3 weeks. In this case, the patient is concerned about the frequent urge to defecate, in which the daily weight of feces exceeds 300 grams.

  • pathological changes in feces;
  • discomfort in the abdominal area;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • nervous system disorders;
  • deterioration of the condition of nails, skin, hair;
  • weight loss;
  • exhaustion of the body.
The nature and intensity of these symptoms depend on the cause against which chronic diarrhea develops.

Pathological changes in feces
The color and consistency of stool, as well as the number of urges to defecate, may vary with chronic diarrhea. In diseases of the small intestine, the patient is bothered by copious watery or fatty stools. With pathologies of the large intestine, the mass of feces is not so abundant, and they may contain mucous, blood or purulent inclusions. If the cause of chronic diarrhea is diseases of the rectum, patients experience a frequent urge to defecate, while the mass of bowel movements is insignificant.

Other stool changes include:

  • Watery stool– can cause viral infections of bacterial or viral origin. Appearance stool may resemble rice water.
  • Liquid black stool– the cause may be bleeding in the stomach, esophagus or intestines caused by an ulcer or tumor formation. The blood reacts with digestive enzymes, causing the stool to turn black.
  • Yellow chair – can develop while taking a number of medications. It is also very often observed in young children due to infections or diseases of the digestive system, as a result of which food is poorly digested.
  • White feces– white feces can be a manifestation of chronic diarrhea, which develops against the background of gallbladder pathologies and jaundice. Certain medications can cause white stool to turn white.
  • Green chair – feces of this color are most often the result of increased fermentation processes in the intestines due to dysbiosis, dysentery or other intestinal infections.
Discomfort in the abdomen
Patients with chronic diarrhea experience discomfort in the abdominal area, which can vary in type, duration, intensity, and location. With irritable bowel syndrome, patients complain of sharp twisting pains that become less severe after defecation. Painful cramps in the abdomen both before and after bowel movements are observed with intestinal inflammation. Diarrhea manifests itself as pain in the lower abdomen after eating peptic ulcers. Pain that occurs periodically on the right or left side is characteristic of Crohn's disease. Stool disorder in chronic pancreatitis occurs together with pain, which is localized in the upper abdomen and has a girdling character. When chronic diarrhea develops against the background of putrefactive and fermentative processes in the intestines, it is accompanied by rumbling and bloating due to intense formation of gases in the intestines.

Nausea and vomiting
Often chronic diarrhea, caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, is accompanied by vomiting, which does not bring relief to the patient. When infection penetrates, diarrhea is accompanied by nausea, and the body temperature rises to 38 degrees.

Nervous system disorders
Often this disorder causes sleep problems and other nervous system disorders.

Manifestations of chronic diarrhea are:

Deterioration of hair, skin, nails
Chronic diarrhea is often manifested by deterioration of the condition of the skin, hair, and nails. Increased activity sebaceous glands leads to increased oiliness of hair and skin, and the appearance of small pimples. Due to vitamin deficiency, hair may begin to fall out, nails may break or peel.

Weight loss
In some cases, chronic diarrhea is accompanied by weight loss. This manifestation is typical for patients in whom the syndrome develops against the background chronic pancreatitis, Crohn's disease or certain pancreatic pathologies.

Exhaustion of the body
Chronic diarrhea is manifested not only by dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, but also by disturbances in the functioning of other body systems. Patients complain of general physical discomfort, which is most severe in the morning. The lack of appetite characteristic of this syndrome causes a decrease in the overall tone of the body. With diarrhea, the time it takes for food to pass through the intestines decreases, as a result of which vitamins and nutrients do not have time to be absorbed. This, combined with poor nutrition, fluid loss and other disorders, can cause severe exhaustion of the body.

Is diarrhea accompanied by fever?

Diarrhea may be accompanied by fever, but not in all cases. In children, unlike adults, diarrhea is almost always accompanied by an increase in body temperature ( sometimes even to critical levels). Depending on the factors that caused diarrhea and the severity of the disease, a hyperthermic reaction ( temperature rise) of the body manifests itself in different ways.
Causes of diarrhea Body temperature Temperature characteristic

Functional disorders of the central nervous system:

36.6 – 37 degrees. Most often, the temperature remains within normal limits. Diarrhea may rarely be accompanied by short-term growth general temperature body to 37.5 degrees.
Acute food poisoning From 37 to 38.5 degrees. A body temperature of 37.1 – 37.5 degrees appears within 6 – 12 hours after eating “bad” foods. In accordance with the severity of the intoxication syndrome, the temperature can increase to 38.5 degrees. A continued increase in body temperature from 38.6 degrees is rarely observed.

Acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT):

  • pancreatitis;
  • hepatitis;
  • appendicitis;
  • enterocolitis.
Can vary from 37.1 to 38.5 degrees. For pancreatitis ( inflammatory process in the pancreas) diarrhea may be accompanied by a temperature that does not rise above 38.1 degrees.

At chronic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver tissue) diarrhea is accompanied by a moderate increase in temperature, maximum – 37.5 degrees. Acute hepatitis can occur with severe diarrhea and high fever.

With appendicitis ( inflammation of the appendix) diarrhea is accompanied by low-grade fever ( 38 – 38.5 degrees). Complicated appendicitis with peritonitis can cause diarrhea with fever above 39 degrees.

With enterocolitis ( inflammation of the small and large intestines) body temperature can vary from 37.5 to 39.5 degrees or more. Highest temperature ( 39.5 – 40.5 degrees) is observed with massive lesions of the intestinal mucosa with severe intoxication syndrome.

Viral infections of the digestive system:

  • rotavirus;
  • adenovirus;
  • enterovirus.
37 – 38 degrees. Body temperature during viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract usually does not exceed 38 degrees, but the patient feels it as a fever with aches and pain in the muscles, increased sweating and a feeling of cold. This temperature may accompany diarrhea for 2 to 3 days.

Bacterial infections digestive system:

  • salmonellosis;
  • shigellosis ( dysentery);
  • cholera.
Above 38.5 - 39 degrees. Bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract are characterized by diarrhea with a very high body temperature. With severe intoxication syndrome, fever can reach 40.5 - 41 degrees.

The basic rules of nutrition for diarrhea are:

  • drink as much fluid as possible;
  • eat only light foods and bland foods;
  • eat small portions;
  • increase the frequency of meals;
  • exclude from the diet foods that irritate the digestive system.
Drinking liquids
Diarrhea causes a large amount of fluid to be lost from the body, which can lead to dehydration ( dehydration) and worsening the patient's condition. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish lost fluid by drinking plenty of fluids.
In case of severe diarrhea, food is completely replaced with liquid for the first 1–2 days.
It is necessary to drink liquid after each episode of diarrhea in small sips. Its volume should be at least 250 - 300 milliliters ( 1 glass). The patient generally drinks up to 2–3 liters of liquid per day.

Drinks you can and cannot drink if you have diarrhea


Food consumption
For diarrhea, you can only eat light foods that do not have any irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the intestines in particular. Food should be balanced with a reduced amount of fats and carbohydrates.
In the first two days of diarrhea, you need to eat crackers of white bread, rice porridge with water and bananas. One serving of rice should be about 100 milliliters ( half a glass). Bananas can be eaten 1 - 2 bananas 4 - 5 times a day.
In the following days, gentle foods are introduced into the diet.

Healthy foods to eat if you have diarrhea


Food Note

Dairy products:

  • milk;
  • fresh cottage cheese;
  • kefir;
  • curdled milk;
  • fermented baked milk;
  • yogurt.
Milk for diarrhea can only be used for making porridge and puree in a ratio of one to three with water.
Consumption of fermented milk products is beneficial because it has a number of positive effects on digestion.

The main positive effects of fermented milk products for diarrhea are:

  • normalization intestinal microflora;
  • preventing the effects of fermentation and rotting;
  • are a source of proteins and calcium necessary for the normal functioning of the body as a whole.

Porridge:

  • rice;
  • buckwheat;
  • oatmeal;
  • barley;
  • millet;
  • wheat
For diarrhea, you need to eat viscous pureed porridge cooked in water. It is acceptable to add a small amount of milk or butter. You can and even should add salt to your porridge to taste.

Meat products:

  • chicken;
  • turkey;
  • beef;
  • veal;
  • rabbit.
If you have diarrhea, meat can only be eaten boiled or steamed. Before cooking, the meat is carefully separated from all tendons, fascia and skin.
Chicken eggs If you have diarrhea, you can eat one or two chicken eggs per day, boiled or scrambled.

Flour products:

  • white bread;
  • white bread crackers;
  • dry biscuits;
  • pasta.
White bread should not be fresh and warm. It is better to eat two-day-old white bread or dried crackers from it.
For pasta, you can eat regular noodles in small portions.

Fish:

  • pollock;
  • cod;
  • carp;
  • zander.
Fish should be steamed or boiled. The most acceptable dishes are meatballs and steamed cutlets.

Vegetables:

  • potato;
  • zucchini;
  • carrot;
  • pumpkin;
  • green peas;
  • tomatoes;
  • asparagus.
If you have diarrhea, you can eat dishes made from boiled or baked vegetables. It is best to prepare vegetable purees and soups, but without spices.
Soups are prepared using meat and fish broths diluted with water.
Fruits and berries Fruits and berries can and even should be consumed in the form of jelly or mousse. You can also eat it in small quantities, baked and boiled.

Food should be eaten in small portions in order to reduce pressure on the walls of the stomach and intestines. To ensure that the body receives the required daily dose of nutrients and does not “starve”, the frequency of meals is increased to 4–5 times a day.
Don't forget to add salt to your dishes. It is salt that retains fluid in the body and prevents dehydration.

If you have diarrhea, you should definitely exclude from your diet all foods that irritate the digestive system. You should mainly avoid fatty foods, fried foods, fresh vegetables and fruits. You should also forget about spices, garlic, savory sauces and sweets.

What to do if diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting?

If a patient has diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, then it is necessary to provide first “first aid” in order to alleviate the general condition.

The main points that must be performed first in case of diarrhea accompanied by vomiting are:

  • cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole;
  • replenishment of lost fluid and essential minerals;
  • eliminating any irritants to the digestive system.
Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and the body as a whole
Most often, diarrhea, which is accompanied by vomiting, is a sign of acute food poisoning or intestinal infection. In such cases, it is important to clear the gastrointestinal tract of its contents so that less infection and toxins cross the protective barrier and enter the general bloodstream.

In the first one to two days, you should not try to stop diarrhea and vomiting. medications (antidiarrheals and antiemetics). Immediately after the first attacks appear, the stomach must be rinsed thoroughly. To do this, the patient must drink about one and a half liters of water in a short period of time and induce vomiting. Along with the water, the remaining “bad” food that has not yet had time to be digested will come out of the stomach. The water should be boiled and slightly warm so as not to cause further irritation of the stomach walls.

To others good remedy To wash the stomach, use potassium permanganate dissolved in water. A couple of granules of potassium permanganate are enough for a liter of boiled water. Every 30–60 minutes, drink half a glass of this solution.
Certain medications will help cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of toxins that have not yet been absorbed into the blood.

Main medicines that can be used to reduce intoxication are:

  • activated carbon;
  • enterosgel;
  • polyphepane;
  • polysorb.
All these drugs are called sorbents because they adsorb ( absorb) contains the remains of toxins and waste.
Every person should have activated charcoal in their first aid kit. If diarrhea with vomiting occurs, you should take 5 to 10 tablets once - one for each kilogram of body weight. If this is difficult, the tablets can be dissolved in a glass of warm water and drunk. Other sorbents are taken in accordance with the instructions.

Replenishing lost fluids and essential minerals
Second important point with diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, it is to replenish lost fluid and minerals. Profuse vomiting and frequent diarrhea remove large amounts of water and minerals from the body. This may lead to dehydration ( dehydration) with serious disruptions to the functioning of organs and systems.

The main liquids that can be consumed for diarrhea with vomiting are:

  • boiled water;
  • mineral water without gases;
  • weak black tea;
  • dried fruit compote;
  • special solutions.
The liquid should be drunk every hour and after each attack of diarrhea and vomiting. Its volume should be 250 - 300 milliliters per dose.
In addition to water, tea or dried fruit compote, you need to drink at least a liter of a special solution that replenishes all the mineral losses of the body.

Special medications that are used for vomiting and diarrhea include:

  • rehydron;
  • Oralin;
  • trisol;
  • glucosolan.
These preparations contain essential minerals ( potassium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and calcium), which must be replenished in the body first. Solutions are prepared according to instructions and used throughout the day.
You can prepare a similar solution yourself. For this you will need salt, sugar and water. One teaspoon dissolves in warm water table salt and one teaspoon of sugar. After the salt and sugar are completely dissolved, you can drink the water.

Eliminating any irritants to the digestive system
Any irritants to the digestive system can provoke new attacks of diarrhea and vomiting, increasing peristalsis ( muscle wave-like contractions) digestive tract. Food and drinks act as irritants.

Foods that should absolutely not be eaten if you have diarrhea and vomiting are:

  • fatty meat ( pork, lamb);
  • fatty fish ( salmon, tuna, sardine);
  • all spices, especially spicy ones;
  • fresh vegetables;
  • fresh fruit;
  • sweets;
  • fresh baked goods;
  • legumes;
  • milk;
  • carbonated waters and drinks;
  • coffee and coffee drinks;
  • alcohol.
A patient with severe diarrhea accompanied by vomiting should limit food intake in the first two days, even to the point of fasting. When attacks of diarrhea and vomiting become rare, food is introduced, but with a strict diet. The patient can eat porridge with water. Rice porridge is especially useful. It does not irritate the stomach and normalizes peristalsis of the digestive tract. You can add a little salt to porridge, but exclude butter and milk. Also, for diarrhea and vomiting, you can eat white bread crackers and bananas. Food portions should be small but frequent.
Another important gastrointestinal irritant ( gastrointestinal tract) is tobacco smoke. Therefore, if diarrhea and vomiting occur, you should stop smoking.

What to do if you have diarrhea with fever?

If you have diarrhea with fever, you should not take medications to relieve these symptoms. The tactics of first aid depend on the cause that led to the development of this disorder. This is because loose stools and fever are not independent diseases, but signs of pathological processes developing in the body.

Pathologies in which diarrhea with fever is noted are:

  • food poisoning;
  • pancreatitis ( inflammatory lesion of the pancreas);
  • gastroenteritis ( inflammatory process in the stomach and small intestine);
  • viral infection;
  • bacterial infection.
The patient can take a number of measures to alleviate his condition. But the patient’s main actions should be aimed at monitoring his condition. If a number of factors are identified, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Food poisoning
Symptoms in the form of diarrhea due to food poisoning develop in an adult in the period from 1 to 12 hours after a pathogenic microorganism enters the body with food. The main sign of intoxication is profuse, watery diarrhea with severe foul odor. There may be undigested pieces of food in the stool. The temperature rises to 38 - 39 degrees. Patients are also concerned about nausea and intense vomiting.

The first thing to do if there is a possibility of food poisoning is to rinse the stomach. For washing, a weak solution of potassium permanganate can be used, a solution baking soda (2 teaspoons of soda per 2 liters of water) or table salt solution ( 2 tablespoons per 4 liters of water). The total volume of solution required for washing is 8 - 10 liters. Liquid temperature is from 35 to 37 degrees. First, you should drink 3 to 6 glasses of the solution, and then induce vomiting yourself. For this purpose the average and index finger you should tickle the root of the tongue. Next, you need to drink water again and induce vomiting. Repeat the procedure until the flowing water becomes clear.

After washing, the patient must be kept at rest and refrain from eating for the next 24 hours. To remove toxins, you need to take activated carbon or another type of sorbent. Fluid deficiency should be restored using special saline solutions (rehydrona, oralit). Accepted this remedy at the rate of 10 milliliters per kilogram of body weight after each act of defecation. Subsequently, for a week you must follow a gentle low-calorie diet and drink at least 3 liters of water per day. If diarrhea and fever do not decrease within 6 hours after gastric lavage, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Other reasons for seeking medical help are:

  • a small child or an elderly person was poisoned;
  • the cause of intoxication may be mushrooms or home-canned products;
  • diarrhea in combination with severe vomiting does not go away within 2 days.
Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas is accompanied by diarrhea, which differs gray tint, a strong unpleasant odor and a greasy, mushy consistency.

If pancreatitis is suspected, the patient should consult a doctor. Before the doctor’s visit, you should refrain from eating and remain calm, avoiding sudden movements. A position in which the patient sits with the torso tilted forward will help reduce the intensity of pain.

Gastroenteritis
In this disorder, loose stools are accompanied by a moderate increase in body temperature ( 37 – 38 degrees). The patient's stool is foamy, watery, without inclusions of blood or mucus. The intensity of diarrhea depends on the degree of the disease, varying from 5 ( for mild forms) up to 20 ( at severe forms ) trips to the toilet per day. Often patients mention headache, weakness in the body, discomfort in the upper abdomen.

First aid measures are:

  • refusal to eat for 1 – 2 days;
  • drinking 2.5 to 3 liters of fluid per day;
  • following a diet after acute period illness;
  • refusal of alcohol and tobacco products;
  • compliance with bed rest.
If all symptoms persist for more than a day, it is necessary to use professional medical assistance.
Lack of adequate treatment for some bacterial and viral infections can lead to serious complications, sometimes death. Therefore, if you suspect a bacterial infection, you should consult a doctor.

What medications are there for diarrhea?

There is a varied range of medications that are used to treat diarrhea. The choice of a particular medication depends on the cause that caused the disorder.

The following types of medicines for diarrhea are available:

  • adsorbents– activated carbon;
  • astringents– bismuth nitrate,
  • enveloping agents- starch;
  • drugs that normalize intestinal microflora– enterol;
  • synthetic antidiarrheal drugs – loperamide;
  • intestinal antiseptics– enterofuril;
  • drugs that slow down intestinal motility– atropine.
As a rule, there are specific medications for each type of diarrhea. For example, intestinal antiseptics are used for bacterial diarrhea; for irritable bowel syndrome - drugs that slow down intestinal motility. But several medications can also be used at the same time. For example, adsorbents, astringents, and probiotics.

Medicines used for various types diarrhea

Tricyclic antidepressants, which slow down intestinal motility, and herbal antidiarrheals are also used.

Synthetic antidiarrheals:
  • loperamide;
  • imodium plus ( includes loperamide and simethicone).
Tricyclic antidepressants:
  • amitriptyline.
Herbal antidiarrheals:
  • bird cherry fruits;
  • blueberry fruit
  • thick blueberry fruit extract.

Diarrhea after using antibiotics

Drugs that normalize intestinal microflora, as well as probiotics, are prescribed.
Drugs from the first group have both an antidiarrheal effect and a moderate antimicrobial effect. Therefore, they are prescribed for other types of diarrhea. For example, with recurrent colitis, with long-term feeding through a tube.

Probiotics contain beneficial microflora that are destroyed by antibiotics. As a rule, they are prescribed simultaneously with antibiotic therapy. In this case it does not develop severe dysbacteriosis. If this measure was not taken, then probiotics are prescribed later and in larger dosages.

Agents that normalize intestinal microflora:
  • enterol;
  • Linux;
  • bifidumbacterin;
  • goodluck;
  • lactulose;
  • acylact;
  • bifinorm;
  • colibacterin.

Diarrhea can be a symptom of a variety of diseases, such as lactase deficiency or hormonally active tumors. However, it does not always require the use of medications. Sometimes you just need to eliminate a certain product. For lactase deficiency, such products are dairy products, for celiac disease - products containing gluten, for phenylketonuria - products containing phenylalanine.

What foods can you eat if you have diarrhea?

For diarrhea, you can eat foods that do not provoke fermentation and rotting in the intestines. Food should not irritate the digestive organs and require large resources for its digestion. Properly selected products will help avoid dehydration and deficiency of substances necessary for the patient’s rapid recovery.

Foods that can be eaten are:

  • unsweetened fruits and berries;
  • vegetables with a small amount of fiber;
  • cereals from cereal crops;
  • eggs;
  • lean fish and meat;
  • flour products.
So that food for diarrhea brings healing effect, when preparing dishes, you must adhere to a number of rules. The amount and other features of eating recommended foods depend on the intensity and other characteristics of diarrhea.

Fruits and berries

  • Banana– a product that can be eaten for any form of diarrhea. The potassium contained in the fruit promotes rapid recovery, and a sufficient amount of moisture prevents dehydration. In the absence of individual intolerance, it is recommended to consume bananas 1 - 2 pieces every 3 - 4 hours.
  • Apples– contain pectin and a large amount of organic acids. These substances promote the removal of toxins and have an astringent and antimicrobial effect. Raw apples contain coarse fiber, which can irritate the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, these fruits should be consumed baked. You can also make compote from apples.
  • Quince– has astringent and fixing properties, therefore it is recommended for disorders of the digestive tract. Quince decoction has the greatest effect. To prepare it, 200 grams ( medium sized fruit) ripe quince should be cut into small slices and pour 4 glasses ( liter) boiling water. Leave for a couple of 15 - 20 minutes, then cool and drink the infusion every hour, 100 - 200 milliliters.
Drinks made from berries, which are rich in tannins (tannins). Tannins stop the inflammatory process in the intestines and normalize the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • persimmon;
  • dogwood;
  • black currant;
  • bird cherry;
  • blueberry;
  • thorn
In addition to compotes and decoctions of blueberries, black currants, and bird cherry, you can prepare jelly, which has not only a nutritional, but also a medicinal effect. The starch contained in jelly acts as a sorbent, absorbing harmful substances in the intestines. To cook jelly, add 200 grams of berries to 2 liters of water and bring to a boil. After this, you need to add 4 tablespoons of starch to the composition ( diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream). After 3 - 5 minutes, remove the jelly from the heat, cool and drink throughout the day.

Vegetables
In case of acute diarrhea, vegetables should be excluded from the diet. After 2–3 days, you should begin to gradually introduce vegetable dishes into the menu to prevent vitamin deficiency. The main rule is to choose crops with minimal fiber content. You should not eat raw or half-raw vegetables. The best option Heat treatment is boiling or steaming.

Vegetables that are easy to tolerate for diarrhea are:

  • carrot;
  • potato;
  • pumpkin;
  • zucchini;
  • cauliflower;
  • asparagus;
  • green beans.
Vegetables can be cooked vegetable soups, meatballs, casseroles. Due to its mushy consistency, purees and soufflés made from vegetables are well digested for diarrhea.

Cereals
The most recommended cereals for diarrhea are buckwheat, oatmeal and rice. Dishes prepared from them are a source of carbohydrates, which the body needs to fight diarrhea. In the first days of the disorder, you should prepare porridge from cereals with plenty of water. Subsequently, rice and buckwheat can be used as an additional ingredient for first courses. An effective remedy for diarrhea is a decoction made from rice, which has a complex effect on the body.

The effects of rice water are:

  • enveloping and protecting the intestinal walls from irritation;
  • normalization of peristalsis;
  • thickening of stool due to fluid absorption;
  • reduction of flatulence and reduction of bloating;
  • replenishment of nutritional deficiencies.
To prepare the decoction, bring half a liter of water to a boil, add 2 teaspoons of washed rice and simmer for 45 minutes. Next, strain the broth and take 50 milliliters every 2 to 3 hours.

Eggs
Eggs ( chicken and quail) help normalize the consistency of stool. For diarrhea, it is recommended to eat no more than 2 eggs per day that have undergone special heat treatment. Raw, fried or hard-boiled eggs can worsen the patient's condition. Therefore, steam omelettes or soft-boiled eggs should be included in the menu of a patient with diarrhea. You can also use egg white when preparing first courses.

Meat and fish
Meat and fish contain large amounts of protein, which the body needs for diarrhea. These products should be introduced into the diet 3–4 days after the first symptoms of the disorder appear. To reduce the load on the organs of the digestive system, meat should be cleaned of fat, films, and tendons before consumption. The fish must be cleaned of skin and bones.

  • chicken breast;
  • turkey fillet;
  • veal tenderloin;
  • pollock fillet;
  • cod fillet;
  • pike perch fillet.

Steam cutlets, meatballs, and souffles are prepared from meat or fish. Pre-grinding makes the product easier to digest, and steaming allows you to preserve all the valuable properties of the dish.

Flour products
At the initial stage of the disorder ( first 2 – 3 days) you should eat bread made from wheat flour, dried in the oven. When relief occurs, the diet can be diversified with pasta made from durum wheat.

What diseases cause bloody diarrhea?

Bloody diarrhea is a symptom of inflammatory processes and other pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The color, consistency, smell and other characteristics of blood impurities in liquid stool are determined by the reasons for its occurrence. The closer the source of bleeding is to the anus, the lighter the color of the blood.

Causes of loose stools with blood can be:

  • haemorrhoids ( dilatation and inflammation of the veins of the lower segment of the rectum);
  • anal fissures;
  • intestinal polyps ( benign formations);
  • inflammation of diverticula ( pouch-like protrusions of the walls of the rectum or colon);
  • chronic inflammatory diseases;
  • infectious intestinal diseases;
  • bleeding upper sections digestive system;
  • dysbacteriosis;
  • malignant tumors of the colon.
Haemorrhoids
The cause of bloody diarrhea may be damage to hemorrhoidal cones during multiple bowel movements. In this case, bleeding is manifested by drops of bright red blood, which can be in the stool, on linen, or on toilet paper. The scarlet tint is explained by the fact that the damage is close and the blood does not have time to clot or react with digestive enzymes. When a node ruptures, copious amounts of blood are released, which can flood the toilet. In most cases, patients are not bothered by any pain.

Anal fissures
Loose stools with blood from cracks in the lower part of the rectum are accompanied by severe pain in the anus. A small amount of red blood is released at the time of bowel movement or immediately after it. In this case, the blood does not form streaks or clots and does not mix with feces. Also, with this pathology, a small amount of mucus or its complete absence is found in the stool.

Intestinal polyps
The presence of blood in liquid feces can cause polyps in the intestines. Bleeding occurs when tumors are damaged or an inflammatory process occurs. In this disease, the blood is mixed with feces, which also contain mucus impurities.

Inflammation of diverticula
Diverticulitis ( inflammation of diverticula) and the accompanying diarrhea with blood most often develops in patients whose age ranges from 50 to 60 years. If diverticula are located in sigmoid colon, splashes of blood have a bright red tint. With lesions of diverticula located in the right segments of the large intestine, the blood may be dark, sometimes black.

Chronic inflammatory diseases
A symptom of such a chronic disease as Crohn's disease ( inflammatory processes in various parts of the digestive tract) bloody diarrhea often occurs. Often this symptom indicates another chronic disease - ulcerative colitis ( purulent inflammation of the colon). A distinctive feature of these diseases is chronic diarrhea, which is accompanied by severe abdominal pain and an increase in body temperature. The act of defecation is accompanied by profuse bleeding of scarlet color.

Bleeding in the upper digestive system
Diarrhea and blood in its composition may indicate damage to the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. The blood is black in color and smells bad. Stool mixed with black, foul-smelling blood is called melena. Blood acquires its color and smell due to its long stay in the digestive system, during which it is exposed to bacteria.

Diseases that cause diarrhea with black blood are:

  • cancerous tumors in stomach or duodenum;
  • mucosal defects ( ulcers) stomach or duodenum;
  • varicose veins of the esophagus;
  • pathological changes in the structure of liver tissue ( cirrhosis).
Infectious intestinal diseases
Often, disorders in the form of bloody diarrhea are a manifestation of diseases caused by infection. In this case, patients are worried about attacks of acute abdominal pain and high body temperature. One of the common infectious diseases is dysentery. The causative agents of the disease are bacteria of the genus Shigella, which infect the lower segment of the colon. With dysentery, the patient suffers from intense diarrhea with blood, in which the frequency of the urge to defecate can reach 30 times a day. Often the desire to evacuate is false and is accompanied by severe discomfort. Often with dysentery, diarrhea turns green. In addition to blood, clots of pus and mucus may be found in the stool.

Other causes of bloody diarrhea may include:

  • proctitis ( inflammatory lesion of the rectal mucosa) – blood is detected in the form of clots throughout the stool;
  • cryptite ( inflammation of the recesses in the anal canal) – characterized by brightly colored blood inclusions;
  • ischemic colitis (disruption of the blood supply to the intestinal wall) - blood is released in small quantities and can be either dark or light in color.

How to treat diarrhea after antibiotics?

Treatment of diarrhea after antibiotics is carried out comprehensively and is aimed at restoring intestinal functions. Also the purpose therapeutic measures is to eliminate the symptoms and consequences of this disorder.

Treatments for diarrhea after antibiotics include:

  • compliance with dietary nutrition;
  • taking medications that correct the composition of the intestinal microflora;
  • prevention of dehydration and intoxication of the body.
Taking medications to correct intestinal microflora
To normalize the composition and properties of the intestinal microflora, patients are prescribed special medications. Depending on the composition and effect, such drugs are divided into several categories.

The types of drugs are:

  • probiotics– include cultures of living microorganisms;
  • prebiotics– contain substances that stimulate activity beneficial microflora;
  • synbioticscombination drugs, consisting of probiotics and prebiotics.
Therapeutic effect These drugs are to create favorable conditions for the growth of beneficial intestinal microflora and inhibit the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Active components These drugs take part in the production of vitamins and create an environment for their effective absorption. Also, taking such medications helps to better break down food and remove toxic substances from the body.

Probiotics
Once in the intestines, the microorganisms that make up this group of drugs multiply, which helps restore all functions of the microflora. Based on their composition and mechanism of action, there are 4 categories of probiotics.

The groups of probiotics are:

  • First generation drugs ( monobiotics) – contain one type of beneficial bacteria that are part of the normal microflora. The most common living components for the production of these drugs are colibacteria, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli.
  • Second generation drugs ( antagonists) – are made on the basis of bacilli and yeast fungi, which inhibit the activity of harmful microorganisms. Not being part of the microflora, the components of such drugs do not take root in the intestines and are eliminated naturally.
  • Third generation probiotics ( multicomponent) – include several types of beneficial bacteria that begin to grow and multiply in the intestines.
  • Fourth generation drugs ( sorbed) – consist of representatives of normal microflora, which are fixed on a special carrier ( sorbent). The use of a sorbent significantly increases the effectiveness of the drug.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are made from substances that serve as food for beneficial microorganisms. The components used are fiber, pectin, sorbitol, xylitol and other carbohydrates. Prebiotics are prescribed in combination with probiotics.

Synbiotics
This category of drugs contains both live microorganisms ( probiotics), as well as ingredients for their favorable reproduction ( prebiotics). Today, synbiotics are considered the most effective for treating diarrhea after antibiotics.

Dietary adherence
The purpose of the diet for diarrhea is to reduce the load on the digestive system and provide the body with the necessary substances for speedy recovery. At severe diarrhea It is necessary to consume foods that do not irritate the intestinal mucosa and have a strengthening effect.

  • hard-boiled eggs;
  • steam omelettes;
  • slimy porridges from semolina, buckwheat, rice;
  • rice water;
  • berry and fruit jelly;
  • baked apples;
  • white bread crackers.
When preparing porridges, cereals must be boiled thoroughly and enough water used to ensure that their consistency is viscous. For jelly, you should use non-acidic berries and fruits, diluting the juice with water if necessary.
After 2–3 days, the menu can include dishes prepared from lean meats and fish. These can be steamed cutlets, boiled meatballs, souffles, casseroles. After a few days, it is recommended to diversify your diet vegetable dishes. You can use carrots, potatoes, and cauliflower to make soups, purees and stews. It is not advisable to eat white cabbage, sweet peppers, legumes, and mushrooms when you have diarrhea. Brown bread, carbonated drinks, coffee, and spices also stimulate intestinal motility. Therefore, such products can be introduced into the diet 10 days after complete recovery. In addition, for this period it is necessary to avoid fatty, salty, pickled foods. Gradually and carefully you should include dairy products in your diet.

Fermented milk products enriched with live bacteria will help restore the composition of the intestinal microflora after diarrhea. Microorganisms are contained in special kefir, yoghurts, and starter cultures. The manufacturer indicates the presence of bacteria on the product packaging. Preference should be given to brands that have a short shelf life. You can eat such products after complete normalization of stool.

Prevention of dehydration and intoxication of the body
In order to prevent poisoning and dehydration, a patient with diarrhea must drink enough fluids. You can drink weakly brewed green and black tea, herbal infusions, and juices diluted with water. Adding a small amount of lemon juice to the drink will improve the patient's condition due to its antiseptic effect. Compotes made from quince, pear, blueberry, and bird cherry are useful for diarrhea.

What folk remedies exist for diarrhea?

There are many folk remedies for diarrhea. They not only calm the “raging” digestive system, but also restore it normal work. Also, a positive side of folk remedies is their harmlessness in relation to the normal intestinal microflora. Thus, they rarely cause dysbiosis ( imbalance of intestinal microflora).
All folk remedies for diarrhea can be divided into several groups.

The main three groups of folk remedies that help with diarrhea are:

  • specially prepared food products;
  • medicinal drinks;
  • infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants.
Specially prepared foods that help with diarrhea
When a patient suffers from diarrhea, he must follow a special diet. All food should be gentle, that is, it should not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Some “gentle” products also have medicinal properties and are used as folk remedies for diarrhea.

The main products that are used as folk remedies for diarrhea are:

  • goat fat;
  • fresh apples;
  • bananas;
  • millet cereal;
  • chicken stomachs.

Methods for preparing and using products as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Product Cooking method How to use
Dose Frequency
Rice
  • cook only in water, without salt;
  • in a ratio of one to two - a glass of rice and two glasses of water.
approximately 100 grams) rice. Up to three times a day.
Goat fat
  • mix with starch or rice flour in a one to one ratio;
  • can also be used in its pure form.
Before meals, eat two teaspoons of the mixture or one teaspoon of the pure product. Three to four times a day.
Fresh apples 12 fresh medium-sized apples, peeled and chopped using a grater. Eat approximately 100–130 grams at a time ( visually the size of a peeled apple). Every one and a half to two hours ( 8 – 12 times a day).
Bananas Fresh. You need to eat one or two medium bananas at a time. Up to five times a day.
Millet cereal
  • cook in water without salt;
  • For one glass of millet cereal you need 2 – 3 glasses of water.
Eat half a glass at a time ( approximately 130-150 grams) millet porridge. Twice a day.
Chicken stomachs Rinse the chicken stomachs with hot water and remove the yellow film from them. Rinse the film well under water and squeeze lightly. Then place the films on a plate and leave them in the sun to dry. Dried films must be crushed into powder using a rolling pin. You need to swallow one teaspoon of powder and wash it down with liquid. Once a day.

Medicinal drinks for diarrhea
Various are used as folk remedies for diarrhea. healing drinks, which you can drink all day without restrictions. They not only eliminate bouts of diarrhea, but also replenish lost fluid from the body.

Products that can be used to prepare anti-diarrhea drinks are:

  • oatmeal and rye bread;
  • blueberries;
  • black tea and onion;
  • burnet grass;
  • blackberry branches.

Methods for preparing and using drinks as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Product Cooking method How to use
Dose Frequency
Oatmeal and rye bread Pour oatmeal with cold water in a ratio of one to one ( one glass oatmeal per glass of water). Add a slice of crumbled rye bread. Then wrap the vessel in a towel and leave in a warm place. After 12 hours, strain the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Unlimited.
Rice
One glass of rice is poured with 6 - 7 glasses of settled water and brought to readiness. Separately drain the rice water and cool slightly. Drink half a glass of warm broth. 5 times a day with an interval of 2.5 - 3 hours.
Blueberry fruit Blueberry jelly is being prepared.

To do this you need:

  • 2.5 liters of water;
  • 200 grams of blueberries;
  • 100 – 150 grams of sugar;
  • 4 tablespoons starch.
Add blueberries and sugar to boiling water. Cook over medium heat for a quarter of an hour. Dilute the starch in cold water to the consistency of liquid yogurt. Then slowly pour in the dissolved starch, stirring constantly, and cook for another 3 minutes.
Drink one glass of jelly slowly. Unlimited.
Black tea and onion One onion is peeled and cut halfway crosswise. Then weak black tea is brewed and the onion is dipped into it. The tea should steep for 10 minutes. Drink one glass at a time. Optional.
Burnet herb Dried grass The burnet from root to flower must be broken and placed in a jar. Pour one liter of boiling water and close the lid. After 40 minutes, strain the infusion. Pour the remaining herb again with a liter of boiling water and leave for two hours. Take a new burnet branch every day. On the first day, drink slowly, one liter of decoction at a time. On the second day, drink 250 milliliters. On the first day 2 times, then 4 times a day.
Blackberry branches Pour boiling water over a tablespoon of chopped blackberry branches and brew for 3 – 5 minutes. Drink like tea. No restrictions.

Infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants
Various infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants and fruits are used as a folk remedy for diarrhea.

The most commonly used herbs for diarrhea are:

  • oak bark;
  • bird cherry fruits;
  • pomegranate peels;
  • walnut leaf;
  • walnut partitions.

Infusions and decoctions as a folk remedy for diarrhea

Product Cooking method How to use
Dose Frequency
Oak bark Infusion of oak bark
Oak bark is crushed and poured with boiling water. The ratio of ingredients is one tablespoon of bark per quarter liter of water. Leave for 60 minutes. Then strain.
Drink two teaspoons.
6 times a day.
Decoction of oak bark
Oak bark is crushed and filled with water. The ratio of ingredients is one tablespoon of bark per 300 - 400 milliliters of water. Place over high heat until it boils. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Swallow one tablespoon. 3 times a day.
Bird cherry fruits A decoction is prepared from bird cherry fruits. Bird cherry is added to boiling water - one tablespoon per quarter liter of water. Leave on low heat for half an hour, then cool. Drink half a glass of broth. 2 – 3 times a day.
Pomegranate peel The pomegranate must be washed and cleaned well. Then cut off the white pulp from the peel and dry the peels.
A decoction is prepared from crushed dry peels. One tablespoon of crusts should be poured with one liter of boiling water and left in a water bath for half an hour.
  • for children– one teaspoon of decoction;
  • for adults– 2 teaspoons of decoction.
  • children– three times a day;
  • adults - up to 5 times a day.
Walnut leaf An infusion is being prepared. The green leaf is crushed and poured with one glass of boiling water. The infusion is kept for 3 – 5 minutes. Up to one glass of infusion. Up to three times a day.
Walnut partitions An infusion of dried partitions is prepared. 30 grams of partitions are crushed and poured into a glass of 70 percent alcohol. The infusion is kept for 3 days with periodic shaking. Take 8-10 drops with water before meals. Maximum 4 times a day.

Intestinal upset is not the most pleasant thing that can happen. But sometimes it is necessary to cleanse the intestines, that is, induce diarrhea, for medical purposes to improve health. Many traditional healers recommend doing such cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract regularly, which, according to them, improves human health. Usually this procedure is offered to be done in a hospital setting. But you can cause diarrhea various methods and at home, which is much more comfortable. In the article we will look at whether it is possible to quickly cause diarrhea, what to take at home for this, so as not to harm yourself, but to effectively and efficiently cope with the task at home.

Why do this?

Diarrhea can be caused by many reasons: provoking factors are poor diet and diseases of the internal organs, which can easily and quickly cause diarrhea. Many people recommend inducing diarrhea on their own to say goodbye to uncomfortable deposits in the gastrointestinal tract. This is especially true for people suffering from constipation, which can cause the development of malignant tumors not only in the gastrointestinal tract. When you eat, undigested food remains “stuck” or “sticks” to the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

People who abuse smoked meats, fast foods, and pickled foods are especially susceptible to this. As a result, the villi, which are located on the surface of the intestinal mucosa, cannot fully perform their functions, and as a result, the absorption of nutrients is impaired. This can cause exacerbation of gastrointestinal pathologies. Undigested food stagnates in the gastrointestinal tract longer than usual, undergoing strong decay processes, and the resulting toxins are actively absorbed into the blood and quickly cause symptoms of chronic intoxication of the body.

Sometimes people need to induce diarrhea to lose weight, so they may add or add it to their food. various means. Under no circumstances should this be done. If you have had diarrhea more than 5 times due to such actions, there is already a high risk that intestinal problems will arise. It is better to change your diet and increase the amount of physical activity.

Pregnant women face this need immediately before giving birth, when they need to cleanse their intestines. However, many pregnant women may experience diarrhea before childbirth involuntarily, which is associated with the lowering of the baby's head into the pelvis. Diarrhea before childbirth is a natural process, the rectum is emptied and contractions are less painful. It does not affect the course of the birth process.

Let's help the intestines

To maintain health, many nutritionists advise quickly cleansing the gastrointestinal tract by “loosening” the stool with special foods or medications, which can easily be done at home. To do this, you need to know which foods can quickly cause diarrhea and for whom such a procedure will not cause undesirable consequences.

But before you start taking the drug, causing diarrhea, you should definitely get a recommendation from a gastroenterologist in order not to end up in a hospital ward after the so-called “quick self-cleansing”. There are a large number of contraindications to the use of drugs that cause diarrhea, so the doctor recommends following certain rules when taking them. Causing diarrhea incorrectly can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Natural ways

So, what should you do to provoke diarrhea at home? You can induce loose stools with natural and medications. Trying to quickly cause diarrhea at home, many people start taking various medications. At the same time, they forget that there are many natural products that can easily cause diarrhea.

To stimulate the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, accelerate the excretion of feces, raw foods - fruits and vegetables - are suitable. These include potatoes, bananas, apples, melons, carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Vinegar (apple) is also a food that causes loose stools. It contains calcium and acids that promote healing gastrointestinal disorders and cause an improvement in stool permeability. It must be used correctly so as not to cause diarrhea chemical burn mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Usually a teaspoon is dissolved in a glass of water and drunk after a meal.

Sauerkraut is a treasure trove useful substances and fiber. This product is effective in causing diarrhea. Firstly, due to its acidity, and also due to the content in sour cabbage juice biologically active substances that cause increased peristalsis gastrointestinal tract.

Many citrus fruits cause diarrhea, while simultaneously stimulating the exchange of enzymes in gastric and intestinal juices due to the presence of fiber. By consuming them, you can cause stool liquefaction. Prunes contain many beneficial substances that create favorable conditions for increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. And their waste products improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving constipation. Prunes and dried apricots weaken well, especially if consumed together.

In order to cause diarrhea, you need to include foods in your diet such as walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, as well as foods that contain omega-3 acids. Avocado, flax seeds, olive oil, eaten on an empty stomach, normalize intestinal function, causing varying degrees of diarrhea.

A salad called “Broom” was invented specifically to quickly cleanse the intestines of everything unnecessary. You need to take the following products: celery, beets, carrots and cabbage. You need to grate them together on a grater (preferably a coarse one) and eat them without adding butter or mayonnaise.

Strong alcohol will also help: add ingredients such as mint, salt, thyme to vodka and leave for a while. This will cause a person not only to have an aversion to alcohol, but also to vomit and diarrhea. Sometimes drinking the tincture once is enough to get rid of the craving for alcohol forever.

Medications

For those who trust only classical medicine, the pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of drugs that quickly cause diarrhea. They are simple and practically do not cause side effects, so it’s easy to use them at home. Let us highlight the main groups of drugs that can cause diarrhea:

· Means that cause softening of the intestinal contents (suppositories containing glycerin, petroleum jelly). Laxatives must be taken according to strict indications. They act quickly, causing stool within 10 minutes, but you won’t be able to get profuse diarrhea with their help - they are local.

· Probiotics (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli), with which you can restore beneficial microflora.

· Bowel stimulants (Indomethacin, Neomycin).

· Agents of osmotic action (Forlax and Prelax), which have recently become the most popular, especially in order to quickly prepare the intestines for diagnostic studies. They are easy to use, clean the intestines efficiently within 10, maximum 12 hours at home. Drugs of this group have a strong laxative effect. They can be drunk if necessary to urgently cause diarrhea. But it should not be used often, as it may disrupt intestinal function.

Of course, you can still use the old and proven method - a cleansing enema, and in 20-30 minutes you will cleanse your intestines. True, performing a cleansing enema on your own at home is problematic. And you shouldn’t get carried away with it, because the body gets so used to the additional irritation that independent emptying eventually becomes impossible. This can create a vicious circle.

What should you not try?

For anyone who has decided to cleanse the intestines on their own at home, it is important to know which foods, on the contrary, will only strengthen the stool, causing constipation. In order to cause diarrhea, it is better to eliminate from the diet:

  • Chicken and meat broths.
  • Manku.
  • Chocolate.
  • Bakery products.

These products “paralyze” the intestines, preventing them from emptying on time. Basil, bananas, lingonberries and blueberries should also not be consumed during this period. These fresh goodies help to consolidate stool, which is what causes constipation.

There are many more ways you can cause diarrhea. For some it’s just a liter of milk, while others indulge in herring, washing it down fermented milk products. You should be wary of any of the methods; it is better to consult your doctor once again so as not to harm your health.