Diarrhoea is an intestinal disorder characterised by an abnormal fluidity and increased frequency of faecal evacuations, generally a result of increased motility in the colon. The loss of fluids through diarrhoea can cause severe dehydration which is one cause of death in people suffering from diarrhoea.
It is an extremely common presenting complaint. It is usually is due to faeco-oral transmission of micro-organisms.
1.Infection-
|
a.Infective food poisoning |
- Rotavirus
gastroenteritis. - Shigella - Cholera - Salmonella |
| b.Protozoal | - Giardiasis - Amoebic dysentery |
| c.Toxin mediated | - Bacillius - Staphyloccocus |
| d.Systemic | - Sepsis - Malaria |
2.Non-infection-
|
a.Gastro-intestinal Disorder |
- Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. - Acute Diverticulitis |
| b.Metabolic upset | - Pelvic Inflammatory disease. - Ketosis - Uraemia |
It
can be present with increased frequency of defaecation and loose,
watery or pellety stools. Diarrhoea rarely occurs in the night and is
usually aggravated before and after breakfast. The stool often contains
mucus but never blood and 24-hours stool volume is less than 200gms. COLONIC MALABSORPTION SMALL BOWEL CLINICAL FEATURES 1. Blood and mucus in stool. 2. Cramping lower abdominal pain. 1. Steatorrhoea. 2. Undigested food in stool. 3. Weight loss and nutritional disturbances. 1. Large amount of watery stool. 2.Abdominal bloating. 3. Cramping mid-abdominal pain. SOME CAUSES 1. Inflammatory Bowel diseases. 2. Neoplasia. 3. Ischaemia 4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome 1.Pancreatic- Chronic pancreatitis Cancer of pancreas Cystic fibrosis 2. Enteropathy- Coeliac diseases Tropical sprue Lymphoma Lymphangiectasia 1. Lipoma 2. Drug- induced 1.Blood Count- Hb, TLC, DLC, ESR. The
most common complication of diarrhoea is dehydration. The level of
dehydration needs to be judged to find out the severity of the
condition. Levels of dehydration can be judged considering the status
of certain features, which are described in the below table. FEATURES MILD MODERATE SEVERE Condition Well alert Restless, Irritable Lethargic Eyes Normal Sunken Very sunken & dry Mouth & tongue Moist Dry Very dry Skin pinch Goes back quickly Goes back slowly Goes back very slowly Thirst Not thirsty Thirsty Drinks poorly/ unable to drink Lips Dry Parched Urine Reduction in urine Marked reduction in urine 1.Patient should take good amount of fluid in order to prevent dehydration. Please
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c.Drugs and Toxins
Chronic or Relapsing Diarrhoea:-
Investigations
2.Stool examination- to detect presence of any infective agent.
3.Ultrasound to detect any pathology.
4.Barium meal
5.Colonoscopy
6.CT-scan and MRCPComplication
Management:-
2.Dairy products should be avoided.
3.Diet should be simple, heavy food must be avoided.
4.Diet should contains those product that easy to digest.
5.Proper rest must be advised.
6.Homoeopathy-
Homoeopathy is highly scientific, logical, quick and an extremely
effective method of healing. Homoeopathy proved curative in diarrhoea
and gives splendid results. Diarrhoea could be very effectively and
quickly treated with homoeopathy without producing any side effects
whatsoever. Unlike antibiotics and other such medicines, homeopathic
pills neither hamper digestion, nor lower the body's resistance. They
neither cause any allergies nor cause any damage even if taken over a
long period. One point that must be remembered here is that one
diarrhoea remedy will not cure another case of diarrhoea, until and
unless the remedy matches the peculiarities of that particular case.