The Symptoms,Causes and Treatment for Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the increased frequency in bowel movements or inability to form solid stool.  It is a common symptom of a gastrointestinal disturbance; a symptom of a digestive system problem.  It is often defined as rapid movement of faecal matter through the intestines resulting in loose, watery, unformed stools occurring more than three times in one day.  
Acute diarrhea is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide (source Wikipedia).  Fluid loss through diarrhea can cause severe hydration, one of the major reasons for death in sufferers.

Diarrhea Symptoms

Symptoms range from person to person and are influenced by both the amount consumed as well as physiological differences.  Typical symptoms that may be present with diarrhea include cramp and abdominal pain (or stomach pain), bloating, nausea, an urgent need to use the bathroom, an inability to control the bowels (faecal incontinence), feeling sick to the stomach, fever, chills, muscle aches or pain, headache, low heart rate, Joint pain, alternating constipation, blood in stool and mucus in stool.  
Of course the main way to identify diarrhea is the constant need to defecate and the inability to control passing bowels.  This can be very embarrassing if it happens in public which is why diarrhea is a major cause of absenteeism in the workplace.

The Main Causes

Causes and Risk Factors of Diarrhea include a hundred or more different diseases.  The most common causes include gastroenteritis caused by viral infections, parasites or bacterial toxins.
Specifically, this include such diseases as celiac disease (intolerance to wheat, rye, and barley gluten, the protein of the grain), lactose intolerance (intolerance to milk sugar, common in non-Europeans), fructose mal-absorption, pernicious anaemia (impaired bowel function due to the inability to absorb vitamin B12), loss of pancreatic secretions (may be due to cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis), short bowel syndrome (surgically removed bowel), radiation fibrosis (usually following cancer treatment), and other drugs, including agents used in chemotherapy.  The most common causes of diarrhea are viral, bacterial and parasitic infections.  
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as dysentery, cholera, or botulism, and can also be an indication ofmore serious syndromes like Crohn's disease or severe mushroom poisoning.

Common Treatments for Diarrhea

Treatment naturally depends on the cause.   Generally, treatment typically involves replacing lost fluid and electrolytes.  This is usually done orally but in severe cases can be done intravenously. Excluding certain foods from the diet can help.  Anti parasitic medications, including furazolidone and metronidazole (Flagyl) are often prescribed too.   Treatment for microscopic colitis consists of removing the offending agent when it is identified and use of anti diarrheal drugs.  Many prescription and non prescription drugs are available for the treatment of diarrhea.

In Conclusion

Diarrhea is a digestive disorder that is common world-wide and the second most common cause for death in infants. There can be many causes and treatment is simple, intake of fluids and electrolytes by mouth or, if necessary, intravenously.