Diarrhoea or Dysentery

Diarrhoea ia also called loose motions. Diarrhoea is not itself a disease, but can be a symptom of several disease. Diarrhoea means there are frequent, loose or liquid stools. There may abdominal pain, which may reduce after a stool is passed. Acute diarrhoea may come on suddenly for a short time. Chronic diarrhoea may affect someone for a long period of time. If you have diarrhoea for long periods of time, it may very troubling and you may feel very weak and tired.
Diarrhoea causes dehydration. Children are more likely than adults to die from diarrhoea because they become dehydrated more quickly. Diarrhoea is also a major cause of child malnutrition.

symptoms of diarrhoea


• Frequent, loose, watery stools.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea
• vomiting.
• Stomach pains.
• Fever.
• Abdominal pain.
• Abdominal cramps
• Dehydration.
• Pricking sensation.
• Sometimes bacterial or parasitic infections sometimes cause bloody stools.


You may recover complete from diarrhea within three to seven days. One out of every ten people with cancer may suffer from diarrhoea at some time during their illness. If the diarrhoea lasts more than three weeks, it is considered chronic.

causes of diarrhoea


There are many causes of diarrhoea, including food poisoning, infection, malnutrition. Diarrhoea may also be caused due to a chronic problem like viral stomach flu. Diarrhoea occurs when the lining of the small or large intestine is irritated. It leads to increased water being passed in the stools.
The causes of diarrhoea are many. Out of which the main causes are listed below:
• Bacterial Infections: Several types of bacteria which get into our body through contaminated food or water, are the main causes of diarrhea.
• Viral infections . Many viruses are also responsible for the cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.
• Parasitic infections are also a cause for diarrhoea.
• Food Intolerance - Some people are not able to digest some component of food properly, such as lactose, the sugar found in milk - which ultimately leads to diarrhea.
• Some medicines also react wrong way and cause diarrhoea.
• Intestinal diseases.
• Functional bowel disorders.
• Sometimes too much swimming also causes diarrhoea.


Treatment for diarrhea


Diarrhoea often goes away without treatment after a few days, because your immune system will automatically fight the infection.
In the meantime, you can ease your symptoms by following the steps below.
Drink fluids
You can avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking lots of fluids. You are more likely to be dehydrated if you are also vomiting.
Take small, frequent sips of water or diluted fruit juice. It is especially important that babies and small children do not become dehydrated. Even if your child vomits, still give them frequent sips of water. A small amount of fluid is better than none.
If your child shows signs of dehydration (drowsiness, passing little urine, few or no wet nappies, a dry mouth and tongue, unresponsiveness or glazed eyes) you should contact your GP immediately.
Rehydration drinks
If you are worried that you are becoming dehydrated, your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to take rehydration drinks. You can buy sachets of rehydration salts from your pharmacy and add them to water. They provide the correct balance of water, salt and sugar.
Rehydration drinks do not help to cure diarrhoea, but can prevent or treat dehydration.
Your doctor or pharmacist may also recommend rehydration drinks for your child, if you are worried they may become dehydrated. Do not use homemade salt or sugar drinks. Always consult your pharmacist.
Eat as soon as you can
The old advice was to not eat anything for a day or two, but now it is recommended that you eat foods high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice or potatoes) and other foods as soon as you feel like it. Salty foods such as soup can help replace salt lost from your system.
If you feel you cannot eat, it shouldn't do you any harm, but make sure you continue drinking fluids and eat as soon as you are able.
If your child wants to eat, offer soups and foods high in carbohydrates at first. Your child can eat normally as soon as possible. If your child refuses to eat, continue to offer drinks and wait until their appetite returns.
Anti-diarrhoea medicines
Anti-diarrhoea drugs such as loperamide can relieve symptoms by slowing down the movement of bowel contents, and sometimes by increasing water absorption from the gut.
Loperamide can be taken once or twice a day, over a long period. However:
• Do not take anti-diarrhoea drugs if there is blood in your stools or if you have a high temperature (check with your pharmacist).
• Do not give anti-diarrhoea drugs to your child.
Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
If you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your child and they have diarrhoea, continue if they will still feed (use their normal-strength feed if they are bottle-fed). Rehydration drinks should also be given if necessary.
Painkillers
You can take recommended doses of paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have a fever or headache. Do not take ibuprofen if you are asthmatic, or if you have stomach, liver or kidney problems.
Liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen can also be given to your child if necessary. Children aged under 16 should not take aspirin.



Medicine for diarrhea


Jawarish Tabasheer, Safuf Muqliasa, Habbe Pechish (Hamdard - A unani Product).