Diarrhoea: Major Causes And Natural Treatment

Enjoying roadside pani puri in the evening sometimes leads to an upset stomach the next day due to a stomach infection. It might also increase discomfort and uneasiness.

Diarrhoea is caused by gastroenteritis, a gut bug that cleanses on its own in a few days. However, it is often caused by contaminated food as well. In addition, diarrhoea can be a sign of another disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel syndrome.

Mostly the diarrhoea is mild to moderate, but in severe cases, it can lead to hospitalisation.

Table Of Content

1. Diarrhoea Meaning In Gujarati

2. Causes Of Diarrhoea

3. Symptoms Of Diarrhoea

4. How To Diagnose Diarrhoea?

5. Foods To Treat Diarrhoea

6. Foods To Avoid In Diarrhoea

7. Medicinal Treatment For Diarrhoea

8. The Final Say

9. Dietitian’s Recommendation

10 FAQ

Diarrhoea Meaning In Gujarati

Diarrhoea is called Jhada (ઝાડા) in Gujarati. It is the medical condition in which you have over three liquid stools daily, more frequently than regularly.

Major Causes Of Diarrhoea 

Diarrhoea is the intestinal flu, which can happen for the following reasons: 

• Foods that can hinder the digestive system
• Some intolerances and allergies to certain food items can lead to diarrhoea, e.g. lactose intolerance gluten intolerance, etc.
• Bacterial infection
• Poor absorption of food or overeating fried and processed food
• Some medications can cause diarrhoea
• Radiation therapy

Other Causes 

Diarrhoea is not just restricted to the intestinal flu; the underwritten causes can also be the reason to increases infections: 

Short-term causes

• Waterborne parasites like giardia and cryptosporidium
• Viral gastroenteritis, like norovirus infection
• Foods that cause food poisonings like E-coli and salmonella
• Consumption of artificial sweeteners like mannitol and sorbitol and natural sugar
• Diet modification
• Excess alcohol consumption
• Anxiety and stress

Long-term causes

• Ulcerative colitis 
• Chronic constipation
• Diverticulitis
• IBS/IBD

What Do The Statistics Say?

Total diarrheal deaths in India among children aged 0-6 years were estimated to be 158,209 annually. The proportionate mortality due to diarrhoea in this age group was 9.1%. The average estimated incidence of diarrhoea in children aged 0-6 years was 1.71 and 1.09.

According to the National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) report, 9% of all under-five children suffered from diarrhoea in the last 2 weeks.

About 15 per cent of older adults in India suffer from diarrhoea (rural 17 per cent and urban-9 per cent). The prevalence of diarrhoea among older adults was highest in Mizoram (33.5 per cent), followed by Chhattisgarh (30.7 per cent), Bihar (30.2 per cent), and Rajasthan (30.2 per cent).

Symptoms Of Diarrhoea

Other than loose motions, there are many digestive symptoms associated with diarrhoea:

• Stomach pain
• Acidity
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Fever
• Headache
• Bloating
• Weakness
• Vomiting

Severe Symptoms Of Diarrhoea

• Painful passing of bowels
• No urination due to dehydration
• Continuous vomiting
• Pus in the bowels
• Blood in the bowels
• Inability to intake fluids

How To Diagnose Diarrhoea?

Based on your medical history and symptoms, the diagnosis of diarrhoea is prepared.

The diagnosis is usually asked for when the condition is severe and requires serious medical assessment; otherwise, mild diarrhoea goes away in a week or less. 

Some tests which are conducted to diagnose diarrhoea are:

• Colonoscopy
• Stool test
• Blood test
• Biopsy

Foods To Treat Diarrhoea

To recover from diarrhoea, the patient should consume bland liquid foods and non-spicy and non-flavoured foods, which will help absorb the stool water and are easy to digest.

• Toasted bread
• Bananas
• Plain white rice
• Boiled potatoes
• Rice porridge
• Khichdi
• Oats
• Cereals
• Fish
• Chicken

Probiotic-rich foods like curd, buttermilk, and lassi are appropriate diets during diarrhoea, which help to aid digestion and lower the occurrence of diarrhoea.

Read more about the health benefits and recipes of buttermilk to prepare a homemade treatment. 

What Type Of Liquid To Drink For Diarrhoea?

Inflammation rises in the stomach due to the constant urge to pass the stool and to ease that. In addition, water retention should be increased in the body, which will also calm and soothe the uneasiness of the stomach.

• Coconut water
• Clear Soups
• Electrolyte water
• Lemon Water
• Fresh Fruit Juice (without sugar) 
• Salty Broth

Foods To Avoid In Diarrhoea

When your stomach is sensitive during diarrhoea, it is a must to look after what diet you are taking to prevent that.

ToneOp is here to tell you which type of food can cause discomfort during this time.

1. Fried Foods

As digestion is weak during diarrhoea, consuming fried and oily foods is not advisable. Fried oily foods can aggravate the condition, as they go to the colon and break down into fatty acids, causing colon fluid secretion and triggering diarrhoea.

2. Spicy Foods

Spicy foods irritate digestion and can weaken the digestive system severely. Less spicy and bland food is advisable, as it is easy to digest and does not cause discomfort while passing. 

3. High-Fibre Foods

High-fibre foods keep the digestive system working to flush the bowels. However, fibre-rich foods are good for health but should be appropriately consumed in moderate quantities. 

4. Artificial Sweeteners And Sugary Food Items

During diarrhoea, the bacteria in the gut are already sensitive. Eating sugary foods and artificial sweeteners may aggravate the situation, so it is advisable to avoid high-sugar foods.

Some Other Foods Which Should Be Avoided

• Legumes like peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans
• Packaged foods
• Nuts
• Vegetables (raw)
• Meats which contain fat
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Dairy products except for curd, buttermilk and lassi
• Coffee
• Tea
• Alcohol, smoking

Medicinal Treatment For Diarrhoea

If you have severe symptoms, visit your doctor rather than doing any home-based treatment to prevent the severity.

• Try to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids like electrolyte test render, coconut water, regular water etc. 
• Electrolyte drinks are available in medical shops; you can consume them by consulting your doctor.
• The doctor advises anti-nausea and antibiotics, looking at the severity of diarrhoea.
• In severe cases, intravenous fluids are given to the patient.
• If infections cause diarrhoea, then anti-diarrhoeal medicines should be avoided as they will keep the condition in the body longer. So, consult your doctor for the same.  

Dietitian’s Recommendation

If you have a baby suffering from diarrhoea, kindly do not try any home-based remedies on them. Instead, strictly consult your doctor to treat the diarrhoea because the baby's digestive system is very gentle. Treating it with homemade remedies may aggravate the situation.

You can give them electrolyte fluid exclusively for babies to keep them hydrated. Other than that, try to connect with your doctor for rapid treatment.

Dt. Akshata Gandevikar

The Final Say

Diarrhoea is a prevalent condition; many people suffer from it, resulting in our body cleaning itself in intervals. However, there are stages of diarrhoea which can hamper the patient's condition, so it should be treated with care. Remember, some foods should not be consumed and avoided in diarrhoea, and taking proper care during diarrhoea will prevent its comeback. 

FAQ

1. Which foods can treat diarrhoea?

Apples, bananas, bread, and potatoes can treat diarrhoea. However, it should be consumed in a controlled quantity.

2. Is it common to have diarrhoea during menstruation?

Yes, it is common to have diarrhoea during menstruation because of the secretion of prostaglandins hormones which release prior periods.

3. What is diarrhoea called in Gujrati?

Diarrhoea is called Jhada in Gujarati.

4. What are the symptoms of diarrhoea?

Frequent bowels, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and fever are the common symptoms of diarrhoea.

5. People with diarrhoea can have milk?

Dairy products take a long time to digest. In diarrhoea, the digestive health is already weak, which can exacerbate the situation, so it is advised to avoid dairy products like milk, paneer and cheese.

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