Understanding Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Diarrhea is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as passing three or more loose stools per day. It can affect people of all ages but is particularly dangerous for young children, with diarrheal diseases being one of the top two killers of children under five years old globally, causing around 450,000 deaths each year. In India alone, it's estimated that approximately 89,000 children die from diarrhea annually. For adults, diarrhea may last only a few days, while childhood cases usually resolve within ten days.

The pathophysiology of diarrhea involves a dysfunction in the small intestine, where there would typically be absorption occurring, instead leading to secretion into the lumen. Causes range from bacterial infections like Escherichia coli and Salmonella, viruses such as rotavirus, chemical irritants, allergic reactions, medications, parasites like Giardia lamblia, malabsorption syndromes, and lactose intolerance. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause:

• Antibiotics if caused by bacteria;
• Rehydration therapy using oral rehydrating solutions (ORS);
• Diet changes based on the different types of diarrhea;
• Medications targeting specific conditions, like IBS medication Amitiza for slow transit constipation-predominant IBS.

Prevention tips focus on maintaining proper hygiene practices to avoid contracting infectious causes, including thorough hand washing before meals and after using the restroom, using clean drinking water and food preparation surfaces, avoiding unsanitary food sources, and timely vaccination against certain gastrointestinal illnesses.