DIARRHEA

 Diarrhea is an increase in volume, wateriness or frequency of bowel movements/stool.

A person with diarrhea caused by significant medical problems usually has excessive volumes of stool. Normally stool contains 60 to 90 % water and Diarrhea results if the percentage of water in stool exceeds 90%. There are severely Forms/types of diarrhea grouped according to the cause and how it occurs including;

Osmotic diarrhea which occurs when certain substances like some fruits, beans, chewing gum can’t be absorbed into the blood stream and remain in the intestines. These substances cause excessive amounts of water to remain in stool leading to diarrhea.

Lactase, deficiency can also cause osmotic diarrhea. Lactase is an enzyme found in small intestines that converts milk sugar (Lactose) to glucose and galactose so that it can be absorbed into the blood stream. People with lactase deficiency drink milk and it is not converted accumulating it into the intestines causing osmotic diarrhea.

Osmotic diarrhea stops immediately the person stops eating or drinking the substance.

Secretary diarrhea which occurs when small and large intestines secrets /produce salts and water into the stool.

Certain toxins like those produced in Cholera infections cause secretions from intestines.

Other substances like Castor Oil , bile acids, tumors also cause secretory diarrhea.

Certain foods and drugs like apple, fear grapes, honey contain fructose which cause diarrhea, Table sugar contains sucrose which cause diarrhea , milk ,ice cream, yoghurt, chocolate contains lactose which also cause diarrhea.

Inadequate supply of blood to large intestines , lack of certain enzymes in small intestines and liver disease can also cause secretory diarrhoaea.

Oxidative diarrhea occurs when the lining of large intestines becomes ulcerated and released proteins blood, mucus and other fluids increasing the bulk and fluid content of stool. Diseases that cause ulceration of large intestines like tuberculosis, lymphoma, and cancerous oxidative diarrhea.

Diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial over growth where bacteria abnormally grow in large intestines leading to diarrhea.

Diarrhea can cause several complications like discomfort, embarrassment disruptions of daily work, water loss ( de hydration) and electrolyte loss like sodium ,Chloride and Potassium.

Diarrhea also lowers blood pressure due to fluid and electrolyte loss causing fainting.

Diarrhea also alters heart rhythms and severely it leads to death.

Diarrhea as a symptom can be treated depending on the cause.

People with diarrhea only need to remove the cause such as chewing gum, drugs to suppress the diarrhea until the body heals itself.

Chronic diarrhea can be cured when a person stops drinking coffee/cola drinks containing caffeine, certain drugs like codeine, lope amide can help to alleviate diarrhea.

When severe diarrhea causes dehydration, hospitalization and fluid replacement with intravenous water and salts is necessary thus eliminating diarrhea in our community.