Diarrhea – What is It?

by sean dreilinger

All of us have experienced diarrhea, but did you know that there are actually different types of diarrhea? Aside from that, almost ten percent of the cases of diarrhea in children are caused by a bacterium called E. coli.

Diarrhea is actually the passage of loose or watery stools. Acute diarrhea is the common cause of death in developing countries, which can last from five to ten days. On the other hand, chronic diarrhea, which lasts for more than ten days, is the second leading cause of death in developing countries. There are some cases wherein diarrhea is accompanied with fever and abdominal cramps. Diarrhea of this kind, may be caused by infection, allergy, or a sign of a serious disorder such as Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease.

The World Health Organization or WHO said that 3.5 million deaths each year are attributable to diarrhea and 80% of these deaths occur in children who are under the age of 5 years old. Generally, children are more susceptible to developing complications of diarrhea because small amounts of fluids lost can already lead to dehydration, unlike in adults.

Diarrhea has multiple symptoms that should not be taken for granted. These symptoms include abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, sudden urge to go to the toilet, nausea, vomiting, fever or elevated temperature, headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, bloating, loose and watery stools, and blood in stools.

People who had diarrhea for more than one week should immediately consult their doctor in order to avoid developing complications. Parents are advised to immediately seek medical attention if their child is below 3 years of age and has a diarrhea for two days.

Symptoms of dehydration should also be observed among patients with diarrhea. Such symptoms include very dry mouth, excessive thirst, has little or no urination, has sunken eyes, and skin does not flatten after being pinched.

 Diarrhea can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition; therefore, it is necessary to treat diarrhea immediately before it can cause complications and also to immediately diagnose any underlying medical conditions that caused diarrhea.

It is necessary to have an active lifestyle in order to keep your body healthy. You need to do regular exercise to keep your blood circulation at its optimum function.