💡 What is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea means having loose, watery stools three or more times in a day. It can be short-term (acute) or last more than 4 weeks (chronic). Diarrhea is usually your body’s way of flushing out something harmful, but persistent cases may indicate an underlying issue.

🚨 When Should You Be Concerned?

• • Diarrhea lasting more than 23 days
• • Blood or mucus in the stool
• • Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• • Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, low urine)
• • Fever or vomiting
• • Unintended weight loss
• • Frequent episodes over weeks or months

What Causes Diarrhea?

Acute Diarrhea (Sudden onset):

• • Infections – Viral (like rotavirus), Bacterial (like E. coli, Salmonella), or Parasites (like Giardia)
• • Food poisoning
• • Medications – Antibiotics, laxatives
• • Contaminated water or unhygienic food

Chronic Diarrhea (Lasting more than 4 weeks):

• • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D)
• • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis)
• • Celiac disease (gluten sensitivity)
• • Pancreatic or liver disorders
• • Post-infectious changes
• • Hormonal issues (thyroid, diabetes)

How is it Diagnosed?

• • Stool tests (to check for infection, blood, or fat)
• • Blood tests (inflammatory markers, thyroid, vitamin levels)
• • Colonoscopy or endoscopy (if chronic)
• • Imaging if structural problems are suspected
• • Lactose intolerance or breath tests for SIBO

🛠️ How Can You Manage It?

💧 Immediate Tips:

• • Drink plenty of fluids – water, coconut water, ORS (oral rehydration salts)
• • Avoid milk and high-sugar drinks during acute episodes
• • Rest and eat bland foods (rice, toast, bananas)

🥗 Dietary Advice:

• • Avoid during diarrhea: Fried foods, spicy items, caffeine, alcohol
• • Probiotics (yogurt, curd) can help restore gut balance

💊 Medications (Only if prescribed):

• • ORS – to prevent dehydration
• • Antibiotics – only if bacterial infection
• • Antimotility drugs (e.g., loperamide) – for urgent cases, not for infections
• • Anti secretory agents – For watery diarrheas
• • Probiotics – to restore healthy gut flora

🧘♂️ Managing Chronic Diarrhea:

• • Identify and eliminate trigger foods
• • Keep a food diary
• • Treat underlying causes (like IBD, celiac, IBS)
• • Specialized diets (low FODMAP diet under guidance)

✅ Good to Know

• • Acute diarrhea often improves in 1–3 days
• • Stay hydrated – dehydration is the biggest risk
• • Chronic diarrhea needs evaluation to prevent long-term nutritional issues