While in most people diarrhoea is moderate, it can cause serious dehydration in infants and the frail and elderly.

An important goal of treatment for diarrhoea is to re-hydrate the body by drinking lots of clear liquids. These can include Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), a drink which consists of a combination of dry salts.  These are available from your pharmacy.

Diarrhoea is an important part of the body’s self defence system in that is allows your digestive system to rid itself of whatever it is that is making you sick.  Diarrhoea can range from a semi-loose stool to a completely liquid stool.

Diarrhoea is commonly associated with urgent and frequent visits to the toilet. Thankfully the body usually cures itself of diarrhoea in a few days, although in some cases it can take a week for normal bowel motions to resume.

Diarrhoea can result from many different causes, although bacterial and viral infections and food poisoning are the chief causes. Some medications, especially antibiotics can also cause diarrhoea. Where hygiene is reduced it is easy to infect diarrhoea from person to person.

Dehydration is loss of a large amount of water and salt from the body.  Symptoms of dehydration include sunken eyes, dry mouth, hot and dry skin over the abdomen, extreme thirst and reduced flow of urine.  If the skin is pinched and returns very slowly, this is a strong indication of severe dehydration.

Dehydration can be treated safely and effectively at home. Children should be encouraged to drink as much water as they can. If the loss of liquid is really high or if the diarrhoea continues oral rehydration salt solutions come into play.

Oral rehydration salts are effective as they replace the blood’s electrolytes nearly as quickly as they are lost through diarrhoea. If oral rehydration salt packets are not available, an alternative solution is easy to make up at home.

If diarrhoea continues for more than three days, or if the patient also suffers from any of the following: serious dehydration, high fever, abdominal pain, severe anal pain, bloody or tarry stools, medical attention should be sought.

Diarrhoea Treatment

]]> http://diarrhoea.co.nz/diarrhoea-treatment/feed http://diarrhoea.co.nz/diarrhoea-what-it-is-how-to-treat-it http://diarrhoea.co.nz/diarrhoea-what-it-is-how-to-treat-it#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:13:28 +0000 Admin http://diarrhoea.co.nz/?p=8 Diarrhoea is the passing of watery stools more than three times a day.  Although not a disease itself, diarrhoea is a sign of many different ailments including stomach upset or obstruction.  It can with no trouble lead to dehydration, as the body does not have adequate fluid to function properly.

Diarrhoea can be especially dangerous for babies, young children and the elderly.  The condition can be passed from person to person as a result of poor personal hygiene.  Thankfully in most instances diarrhoea be treated safely at home and normally disappears on its own accord within a week.

Diarrhoea is a vital part of the body’s defence mechanism. The condition allows your digestive system to eliminate whatever it is that is making you ill.  Anything from a semi-loose to a completely liquid stool constitutes diarrhoea. More frequent and urgent trips to the toilet are the likely outcomes of diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea is often accompanied by feeling sick, vomiting, a lack of appetite, stomach pains, and a bloated stomach.  Wind and headache may also be present. Diarrhoea can also be associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Diarrhoea can have many different causes.  Bacterial and viral infections and food poisoning are the main causes of diarrhoea. Some medications, antibiotics in particular, can also cause watery stools.

In the case of antibiotics, diarrhoea can develop up to a month after taking the medication. It is easy to spread diarrhoea from person to person, especially if hygiene is lacking. For example, it is important for someone who has diarrhoea to wash their hands when preparing food.

Diarrhoea will usually to go away without any special treatment, It is important however to replace lost fluids, usually by drinking water in small amounts.  Home treatment programs are available. Oral re-hydration salts and electrolyte drinks can also be used to re-hydrate.  Avoid your regular foods until your diarrhoea has settled down.

There are occasions when diarrhoea will not go away by itself. If diarrhoea continues for days or is accompanied by severe dehydration, bleeding, severe pain, fainting, and high fevers you should consult with a doctor immediately.

Children and the elderly in particular are at risk if too much fluid is lost and not replaced quickly. A brief course of antibiotics may be prescribed for the treatment of severe diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea in babies should not be treated lightly as it is easy for them to become dehydrated.  When a baby has diarrhoea it will often cause concern, but the condition usually passes by itself and without the need for a doctor’s visit.

Diarrhoea in infants is associated with more frequent, watery bowel movements than is normal for the child.  The stools are usually green and watery or very messy motions which are often in large amounts.

The biggest concern with diarrhoea in babies is the sudden loss loss of fluids leading to rapid dehydration. Moreover, the younger your baby, the faster dehydration occurs.

Apart from frequent, watery stools, diarrhoea in babies can cause the child to experience many other unpleasant conditions. These include irritability, abdominal pain (which can be disruptive to sleep) and loss of appetite. The child may also lack energy, vomit and in more serious cases pus or blood may be present in the stools.

It is important that parents can gain an understanding of the causes of diarrhoea in babies.  One of the most common causes of diarrhoea in infants is stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis.

Baby diarrhoea can also result from incorrect preparation of formula feeds, antibiotics, colds, and food poisoning.

Some babies develop diarrhoea as a result of intolerance to milk or soy-based infant formula.

Food allergies may be suspected as a cause of diarrhoea where the infant is not gaining weight correctly appears to have abdominal pains and passes watery stools that smell bad.

The move to solid food can also trigger diarrhoea in some infants.

Diarrhoea in young children will usually clear up within a week.  Despite being self-healing, the main threat to the baby is dehydration.   Dehydration itself has a number of symptoms to be wary of, including lethargy, irritability, sunken eyes and the fontanel (baby’s soft spot on the skull). Often the baby has far fewer wet nappies than normal.

To ensure the baby is kept hydrated, your baby’s doctor may recommend using oral rehydration drinks specially designed to replace the water and electrolytes lost during diarrhoea.

Avoid using glucose drinks, undiluted fruit juices and fizzy drinks as there is a chance that the unabsorbed sugar can actually increase diarrhoea. Unless your baby is vomiting frequently, you can still give him or her solids.

Diarrhoea germs are easily spread from person to person and especially from child to child.  The best way to prevent diarrhoea in babies is for the caregiver to wash his or her hands well before preparing feedings and especially after using the toilet. Always wash your hands well after changing baby and all feeding bottles should be cleaned with boiling water.

Diarrhoea in Babies
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea Treatment