home Adviсe Constantly loose stools in an adult: what could be the cause? Loose stools in an adult for a long time: causes and treatment

Constantly loose stools in an adult: what could be the cause? Loose stools in an adult for a long time: causes and treatment

The situation when the stomach hurts and diarrhea is not so rare. There are many reasons why this condition develops. Diarrhea is accompanied by stools supersaturated with water, sometimes with an admixture of blood. In the first case, everything is not so scary, because healing process short, and is aimed at replenishing the lost trace elements and fluids. If a bowel movement is accompanied by bloody inclusions in the feces, this signals the development of a serious illness in the patient's body.

This article will talk about the reasons that provoke liquid stool in an adult (occurring constantly), types of diarrhea in a chronic form, symptoms of a pathological condition, features of treatment and prevention of persistent diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea - dangerous pathology which causes dehydration in the body. Intestinal dysfunction develops different reasons, causing its division into several types. According to the timing of the flow, they distinguish:

acute diarrhea lasting up to 14 days;
frequent diarrhea that has become chronic, lasting 4 weeks or more.

Loose stools are accompanied by discomfort, pain, discomfort around the rectum, fecal incontinence.

Permanent diarrhea in an adult also has its own classification, and it happens:

secretory;
fatty;
osmotic;
inflammatory.

Frequent loose stools in an adult develop under the influence of psycho-emotional factors (for example, chronic stress, depression, neuroses), gastrointestinal diseases, and intoxications. Frequent diarrhea that occur in adults also appear as a result of prolonged use of potent antibiotics.

Development secretory diarrhea in adults it is caused by the influence of potent drugs, fatty and bile acids, toxic substances. Chronic loose stools are caused by laxative stimulant medications (such as Aloe or Bisacodyl). Daily diarrhea and abdominal pain due to regular use alcohol. The reason that an adult develops chronic diarrhea may be poor absorption of bile acids.

The condition when a person seethes in the stomach and liquid stools appear, occurs due to the accumulation of bacteria in the intestines, inflammation in the ileum, its complete or partial removal. It rarely happens that frequent diarrhea occurs due to the course of cancer:

gastrinoma;
carcinoid tumors;
oncological diseases of the thyroid gland.

If diarrhea appears on the background cancer pathologies, then it is usually accompanied additional symptoms. However, a patient with persistent diarrhea should not immediately suspect the presence of cancer. It is better to visit a specialist and pass necessary tests, which will allow to confirm or refute fears.

Frequent diarrhea of the osmotic type occurs due to an increased number of osmolar components located in the lumen of the rectum. A feature of this type of diarrhea is that liquid stools appear even with complete starvation.

Causes of frequent osmotic diarrhea:

products containing mannitol or sorbitol components;
taking medications with Lactulose, Magnesium sulfate, Oristat or the constant use of Neomycin or Colestyramine;
shortening syndrome small intestine;
fistulas in the intestines;
lack of lactase in the body (this condition can be both congenital and acquired due to inflammation in the intestines).

Inflammatory type diarrhea develops against the background of intestinal inflammation resulting from:

Constantly loose stools in an adult may be the result of increased activity of the pancreas, irritable bowel syndrome, taking prokinetic drugs (Cytapride, Metoclopramide). All these problems accelerate the contraction of the intestinal walls, and as a result, a disorder of its functions occurs.

Fatty diarrhea

Fatty diarrhea is one of the most common disorders that develop as a result of a malfunction in the digestive system and malabsorption of food. Such conditions are often provoked by diseases of the pancreas. The diseased organ is unable to fully fulfill its excretory functions or, conversely, produces pancreatic juice in large quantities. Because of this, individual components (for example, fats) are not absorbed in the intestine. A similar problem arises due to certain liver diseases, prolonged starvation, bacterial infections.

Almost every person has experienced discomfort associated with bowel dysfunction. And one of the most common pathological conditions is. It manifests itself in an increase in the number of bowel movements and changes in the quality and color of the stool.

It often serves as a sign of intestinal infections caused by harmful microorganisms (viruses, bacteria). Therefore, it is very important in case of loose stools to contact specialists in time, who will identify the cause of this condition.

Diarrhea is also dangerous because this process contributes to dehydration of the body, which is fraught with disturbances in water and electrolyte balance. Timely therapy will help not only get rid of unpleasant symptoms, but also prevent unwanted and even dangerous consequences.

Loose stools appear due to damage to the digestive organs.

Common causes are microorganisms that affect the digestive organs.

These are: salmonella, dysentery bacilli, entero- and rotaviruses and other pathogens. Babies are prone to infection with Giardia provoking.

Food poisoning is very common, resulting from the ingestion of poor-quality food with expired suitability or violation of storage conditions. Worm infestations characterized by pain in umbilical region loss of interest in food or vomiting.

However, if blood, foam, mucus is visible in the baby's stool, or the discharge becomes watery, then this can be an alarm signal. In these cases, you need to contact a specialist.

Normally, the stool of children under one year old should be yellowish in color and have sour smell, whitish lumps in feces are allowed. Emptying, as a rule, occurs 6-7 times a day. And upon reaching the age of one year, emptying from 1 to 3 times a day becomes the norm. In this case, the usual soft stool should not be a cause for alarm.

What are the symptoms of pathological stools in children?

With dysbacteriosis, a specialist will best help.

First of all, it is water content. Such a sign may signal the presence or cold. Sometimes a similar reaction is manifested by the introduction of complementary foods or by taking certain medications.

In babies under 1 year old, frequent bowel movements may indicate gastroenteritis, which is accompanied by fever, urge to vomit, and nausea, especially in the morning. At the same time, the stool is liquid, with bad smell and sometimes streaked with blood.

For viral and bacterial infections in the intestine, diarrhea is accompanied by hyperthermia ( fever), there may be flatulence and pain in the abdomen. Diarrhea in children appears as a concomitant symptom with SARS, influenza, otitis media and pneumonia.

This group of drugs that restore the usual intestinal microflora.

Causes of diarrhea in adults

Regidron - is also indicated for women in position.

They are not particularly different from those that provoke loose stools in babies. These include: intestinal infections and chronic diseases, malnutrition and certain medications.

Often, women during the gestation period are prone to intestinal disorders including diarrhea. What is the cause of this condition in pregnant women? This:

excessive food intake or intolerance to some;
hormonal changes that promote relaxation of the muscular organs (including the intestines). This can include hormonal disruptions;
due to the growth of the uterus, its pressure on the surrounding organs is carried out, which can also provoke loose stools;
chronic, dysbacteriosis, poisoning.

If loose stools do not stop for more than a day, you should consult a doctor, since dehydration due to diarrhea in a pregnant woman can harm the unborn baby. Diarrhea is especially dangerous during the first trimester of gestation, as frequent intestinal tension can provoke tone in the uterus and lead to miscarriage.

In the event of the appearance of liquid stools, a woman "in position" must take "", which helps to normalize the water-salt balance in the body. To neutralize the "toxic attack" in the intestines, you can drink activated charcoal. The drug "" will help strengthen the intestinal mucosa.

Also, a pregnant woman with signs of diarrhea should follow a diet that excludes sharp, flour and fatty foods. For replenishment water resources organism recommended plentiful drink.

If a woman notices mucus or streaks of blood in her feces, then this may signal serious illness or disorder. In this case, urgently need to apply for medical care.

To normalize the microflora in the intestines, pregnant women are allowed to take probiotics and bifidobacteria ("Bifidumbactrin", "Mezim-forte", "").

What rules do doctors advise to follow to avoid the onset of symptoms of diarrhea in children and adults?

Vegetables and fruits must be washed before use, but it is better to pour over them with hot boiled water;
Pay attention to the terms of storage and sale of products. If they have already expired, then you should not buy such products;
If there are doubts about the freshness of the products (even if the seller claims otherwise), then there is no need to take risks and purchase such food products;
, fish and meat products be sure to heat treat before eating;
Don't drink tap water. For this, boiled or purified water, which is commercially available, is suitable;
Do not resort to self-medication, as it can only aggravate the situation;
If the disorder is observed for a long time, then you should seek help from specialists.

There are also alternative methods of getting rid of diarrhea, but it is better to consult a doctor before using them.

Well helps from liquid stool infusion of chamomile flowers. To prepare it, you need to take 1 tbsp. l. chamomile and add to a glass of boiling water. After strain, let it brew and take 1/2 cup three times a day.
Dried blackberries mixed with honey also help with loose stools. This mixture must be taken 3 times a day for 1 tsp.
If streaks of blood are seen in the feces, it is useful to take 1 tsp. branches and pour a glass of boiling water, simmer in a water bath for half an hour. Drink 3 times a day for 1/3 cup.
Oak bark is also effective in eliminating loose stool symptoms. You need to take 1 tsp. bark and pour two glasses of water. Let it brew for several hours, and then drink 100-120 ml 2-4 times a day.
St. John's wort in the amount of 2 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water and let it brew. Drink three times a day for 1 tbsp. l.
A decoction of dried fruits (apples and pears), as well as blueberries brewed in the form of tea, will also help.
well helps with loose stools of non-infectious origin. It is useful to drink it daily in the morning until the signs of diarrhea disappear.

Loose stools or diarrhea in adults and children is not an independent disease, but one of the symptoms of various pathological processes in the body. Translated from the Greek " Diarrhea" means "I expire." This condition is manifested by too frequent (more than 2 times a day) intestinal emptying, characterized by thin secretions. In colloquial speech, you can often hear another name - " Diarrhea". greatest danger represents diarrhea in children, as they quickly become dehydrated, which carries very serious complications.

The main symptom of diarrhea is loose stools at least 3 times a day. This condition can be acute or chronic. In the first case, a person has loose stools for at least a week, and in the second - more than 3 weeks. The cause of loose stools in adults and children is not only bacterial and viral infections, but also a number of diseases. At the same time, the primary pathological process can be localized in the intestines or in other organs, and changes in the nature of the stool have their own characteristics.

Causes of loose stools

The human body is an integral system, the failure of one of the organs signals health problems. The appearance of loose stools in adults should alert, since it is impossible to immediately distinguish a small eating disorder from a serious illness. Watery stools in adults are not a sign of a serious illness in the following cases:

When an adult eats a lot of plant foods (especially food, rich in fiber) and consumes a lot of water (it is important, but its excess dilutes the feces). As soon as a person normalizes his diet, the feces will take on the form they are supposed to.
With severe dysbacteriosis. For example, after a person has been treated for a long time with antibiotics that kill the beneficial intestinal microflora. For treatment, it is necessary to take drugs containing the right amount of beneficial bacteria. Such preparations can be distinguished by special marks indicating which active culture they contain.
With a sharp change in food preferences. This often happens to tourists visiting a new country and trying unfamiliar food. The stomach and intestines are not accustomed to new food and at first react to it by releasing more enzymes, which speeds up peristalsis. Gradually, the body gets used to it, and the work of the organs returns to normal.
Food allergic intolerance. Most commonly seen in adults food intolerance lactose, so they should not consume dairy products. As a rule, when consuming these products, nothing bad happens, just active seething, heartburn, flatulence, and diarrhea in the form of loose stools begin.
Anxiety. Many people notice the difference between a state of rest and moments of great excitement, for example, a person may develop diarrhea in the form of loose stools (usually to distinguish nervous type diarrhea can be due to the fact that the increase in bowel movements is quite moderate, does not cause severe discomfort).
Change of daily routine. One more is enough harmless reason appearance of loose stools. If a person drastically changes the daily routine (for example, starts waking up much earlier than his usual time), then in the morning he may experience liquid feces. This type of diarrhea can be distinguished by the fact that liquid defecation is one-time and during the day the bowel function returns to normal.

With normal indigestion, a person may feel pain in the abdomen, bloating with strong gas formation and seething. If there is a slight food poisoning, then weakness and fever may occur. A similar picture is observed in diseases associated with infection by viruses. Diarrhea in adults associated with these causes is not dangerous and resolves in a few days. But there are more serious reasons for loose stools that make a person think about their health:

infection pathogens(salmonellosis, dysentery, gastrointestinal flu);
inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract (ulcer, hepatitis, gastritis);
insufficiency of various enzymes;
poisoning associated with toxic damage (lead, mercury).

An alarming symptom is dehydration. This is manifested in the dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, the lips crack, there is a strong thirst, urination occurs very rarely, the urine becomes dark. Pulse and pressure may increase, sometimes muscle cramps begin. This condition requires clarification of the diagnosis and qualified treatment, possibly in a hospital. Simply stopping diarrhea will not be enough. Therefore, do not put off going to the doctor.

Loose stool with blood

If loose stools are accompanied by blood, this means that there is a source of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Basically, these are the walls in the large or small intestine, in which case you may notice scarlet or burgundy blood in clots or streaks in the feces. In this case, there is a suspicion of dysbacteriosis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

If the blood in the stool, which is very dark, almost black, this indicates that the bleeding occurred in upper parts digestive tract. It could be the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. In this case, the risk of stomach ulcers and duodenal tumors should not be ruled out.

In adults, diarrhea with blood is observed in almost all infectious diseases of the body, such as dysentery and salmonellosis. In this case, along with blood in the feces, there may be mucus, and diarrhea can be very frequent. Also, diarrhea with blood can be an indicator of hemorrhoids and tumors of the rectum.

In this case, it is worth paying attention to additional symptoms, such as a feeling in anus pain and burning, which becomes stronger with the immediate process of emptying. Rotavirus infection in adults internal hemorrhoids, a protective reaction of the body to toxic substances is accompanied by feces with blood, so you should immediately consult a doctor.

Loose stools in the morning

Diarrhea in the morning is perceived by many as normal phenomenon. But it's not always so harmless. Diarrhea is acute and chronic. One-time diarrhea in the morning is not considered dangerous, and you can determine its cause yourself. The reasons may be quite obvious. You just ate or drank something wrong. But not everything is always limited to loose stools: serious poisoning or infection in the intestines is possible.

Don't be surprised by loose stools in the morning if you've been taking laxatives. In this case additional treatment not required. Also, a one-time loose stool is possible if you experienced a strong nervous shock the day before. Since the factor is psychological in nature, the disorder goes away by itself.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

Loose stools for a long time makes you think about eliminating unpleasant symptoms. How do you determine if medical intervention is needed? There are a number of signs that need attention:

frequent urges to a bowel movement;
heaviness, pain in the abdomen;
increased formation of gases in the intestines;
liquid yellow stool;
the appearance of blood or black stools;
frothy green stool.

White coating on the tongue, severe diarrhea for a long time informs about problems that should be quickly resolved.

summon ambulance, or urgently go to the hospital is necessary in the following cases:

Long-term persistent diarrhea in a person with a chronic illness, a child, an elderly person, or a pregnant woman.
When attached to diarrhea, visual impairment, difficulty swallowing and speech. These could be symptoms of botulism, a rare form. food poisoning, which is usually associated with the use of improperly canned foods.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to know when and how the disease arose, which preceded the frequent stool. Also important is information about the duration of the disease, the features of its course, daily fluctuations (which complaints prevail in the morning, after eating, etc.). On palpation, it is possible to establish not only the localization of maximum pain, but also the presence of neoplasms.

Blood is subjected to laboratory research methods ( general analysis, liver enzymes, antibodies, etc.), urine (OAM) and feces (coprogram, analysis for helminth eggs, for occult blood). The results provide a wealth of information for differential diagnosis. This method makes it possible to identify functional state organs and systems, degree of development pathological changes, their cause and course in dynamics. It is especially important because the arsenal of instrumental diagnostic methods for diarrhea is scarce (endoscopic methods, intestinal X-ray). Ultrasound in this case will give little information due to swelling of the intestinal loops.

How to restore bowel function

Of course, this will depend primarily on the root cause of loose stools. How to get rid of it unpleasant symptom- only the doctor will tell after the examination. Treatment will depend entirely on the diagnosis, for example:

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is complex and includes both drugs that regulate intestinal motility (for example, Loperamide) and drugs that normalize the psycho-emotional state of a person. Only in this case it is possible to achieve a result.
In the presence of intolerance to any product, you can get rid of the unpleasant symptom of diarrhea by excluding one or another food product from your diet (for example, cereals for celiac disease and cow's milk with hypolactasia).
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease require special attention, and treatment should be carried out only by a competent specialist in this field. The drugs of choice in this case are anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as hormonal drugs, the action of which will also be aimed at reducing the inflammatory response.
To reduce the symptoms of dysbacteriosis, probiotics will be especially effective - preparations containing live beneficial bacteria, which, settling in the large intestine, will contribute to a better digestion process and minimize diarrhea. These include tools such as Bifiform, Linex, Primadophilus and much more.
If persistent diarrhea was caused by an infectious agent that persists for a long time in the body, then antibiotics will come to the rescue, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.

Regardless of the cause of diarrhea, drugs that compensate for the loss of fluid in the body should be an obligatory component in the treatment.

Plentiful drink

Any disease has complications, while loose stools in adults become the cause of dehydration for a long time. Therefore, you need to quickly restore water balance organism. The patient is prescribed a plentiful drink of clean, boiled liquid or special solutions with the addition of salt. These are saline solutions Ringer, Regidron, Acesol. The patient's condition should be carefully monitored. If vomiting begins, they drink water often, in small portions.

Medical treatment

Treatment of loose stools in an adult depends on what caused it. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe the right drugs, which will help get rid of the disease that caused diarrhea. To restore the density of feces, doctors prescribe medicines:

Enterosorbents are drugs that give feces density (bind the structure). This group of drugs includes Smecta, Polysorb, Ultra-Adsorb, Activated carbon, Polyphepan, Filtrum.
Prebiotics - means for the treatment and prevention of loose stools, but that arose exclusively against the background of dysbacteriosis. Example: Lactobacterin, Bifidobacterin, Bifikol, Hilak forte, Rioflora Balance.
Means that slow down intestinal motility, that is, reduce its motility. These drugs include Ftalazol, Enterofuril, Enterol, Intetrix, Sulgin, Furazolidone.
Herbal preparations that help thicken the stool. Appointed with a slight liquefaction stool. For example: burnet root, dried blueberries, pomegranate peel.

Treatment acute diarrhea, which is accompanied by pain, spasms, vomiting, is carried out with medications to reduce intestinal motility. If malabsorption is the cause of loose stools, bile acid preparations are prescribed during therapy. Each drug is prescribed by a doctor individually, according to the diagnosis. Self use remedies for loose stools can provoke complications.

One of the consequences of diarrhea is dysbacteriosis. The task of the therapist is to restore the microflora of the digestive organs. To do this, after the treatment of loose stools, he uses drugs with beneficial bacteria. Additionally, a course of vitamins (in tablets, injections) is prescribed to avoid vitamin deficiency. The loss of fluid in loose stools is then compensated by droppers with glucose, sodium chloride. Preparations quickly restore water balance, have a detoxifying effect.

sparing diet

To eliminate symptoms and restore the proper functioning of organs gastro- intestinal tract You should rethink your diet. A sparing diet is based on basic principles:

a balanced menu throughout the day to ensure the normal process of life;
reducing the load on the digestive system;
gradual expansion of the diet.

The diet for chronic diarrhea places special demands on the technology of preparation. Therapists recommend boiling or steaming food. Smoked or fried foods should be forgotten in order to get rid of loose stools. Framework medical nutrition provide for the use of dishes only in the form of heat (exclude hot and cold). The volume of servings is reduced so that the stomach gradually gets used to the correct work.

Chronic diarrhea in adults is caused by malnutrition. When planning a diet, you should pay attention to the expiration dates of food. There are a number of products that are used for chronic diarrhea:

stale bread, crackers;
broth (meat, vegetable);
lean meats, fish;
boiled eggs;
cottage cheese with a low fat content (milk, kefir is impossible);
baked apples;
natural jelly (without chemicals and dyes);
weak tea, coffee.

After the restoration of the gastrointestinal tract, you should gradually expand your diet. Including a new type of product in your menu, carefully monitor the reaction of the body. If not negative results in the form of a resumption of loose stools, then after a certain period of time introduce a new dish. Do not forget about processing technology, giving preference to steam or boiled types of food.

Preventive measures

Wash your hands after going to the toilet, changing your baby, and before eating. Hands need to be washed warm water with soap. After cooking, especially if you have handled raw meat, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. Be careful with food. Unpasteurized dairy products, eggs, poultry, and meats can contain bacteria that cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. The meat must undergo a complete heat treatment. Wash cutting boards and knives thoroughly. Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products, especially those of unknown origin. Do not leave cooked food in the heat for a long time, because. this can lead to the growth of dangerous bacteria.

If you travel, don't drink raw water or any untreated water, especially of unknown origin. Drink better water well-known manufacturers, packaged in bottles or jars. To purify local water, it must be boiled for 15 minutes, you can also add tablets or drops of iodine and chlorine, or use a special filter. When using chlorine and iodine tablets, read the instructions carefully and follow them. Also, in no case should you eat unwashed fruits and vegetables (it is advisable to wash them only in clean water and very carefully, or even better, peel them). Avoid fruits such as melons, which are often pumped with water from the inside to increase their weight.

It happens that you don’t know what to do at all: constant diarrhea torments you endlessly, and there is no escape from it, and medications, if they help, are not for long. Consider the features, we will analyze what are its dangers, what can provoke such an undesirable condition and whether it can be cured.

general information

Persistent diarrhea in a child, an adult is a condition that in official medicine is called diarrheal. It can proceed in a chronic form, development in an acute variant is possible. Diarrhea in any form indicates the presence of gastrointestinal problems. Difficulties lead to frequent and voluminous bowel movements, while the excreted substance is rather liquid, watery.

Basic prerequisites

The easiest way is usually to understand why diarrhea is constantly bothering, in the case of a young child, as a rule, in this way the body reacts to the inclusion of complementary foods in the diet. Often, diarrhea occurs when an infectious agent enters the intestinal tract. The phenomenon is possible if a person drinks water that has not undergone special treatment, eats low-quality food.

Understanding the causes of diarrhea in adults, which is constantly disturbing and reduces the quality of everyday life, it is worth paying attention to toxic food infection - it is this phenomenon that in reality becomes a prerequisite more often than others. It is not uncommon to have problems with diarrhea if a person has been poisoned or has begun to eat foods that are atypical for their previous diet. For example, a similar problem awaits many of our compatriots who have chosen to go on vacation to warm southern countries, where classic food is very different from that available to residents of the temperate zone.

Terms and phenomena

It makes sense to begin to understand why diarrhea is constantly bothering if the stool disorder is observed for several days in a row. The acute form of diarrheal disorder usually reduces the quality of life for about a couple of weeks. In addition to defecation with watery substances, a person is concerned about soreness in the lower abdomen, and from time to time there are spasms in this area. Some vomit, others have a fever.

If watery discharge during bowel movements are observed for more than two weeks in a row, it makes sense to talk about chronic diarrhea that has appeared in the form of a chronic, reducing the quality of life. For a long time in a man, a woman, such a phenomenon may indicate malfunctions in the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. There are many reasons for the pathological condition, in each individual case it is reasonable to consult a doctor for a detailed diagnosis. Having identified the prerequisites, the doctor will determine the appropriate treatment program.

Figures and facts

As specialized statistical studies have shown, about 14% of the population of our planet constantly worry about temperature and diarrhea. Diarrhea in a chronic form is more often observed in men, although representatives of both sexes are susceptible to the problem. A long-term developing unpleasant phenomenon may indicate serious malfunctions in the functioning of the body. In some cases, diarrhea is a manifestation of a pathology, due to which a person needs urgent hospitalization. For example, a diarrheal disorder can signal Crohn's disease.

If persistent diarrhea in an adult man, woman does not weaken in a week, it is necessary to make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. Even in the case when additional symptoms no, you can’t be shy and delay going to the clinic, it can turn out to be a matter of life and death.

Theory and practice

If a person is interested in why loose stools, but not diarrhea, are constantly worried about whether this may indicate health problems, one should consult a specialist. As professionals say, with two weeks of inconvenience, there is already every reason to take advantage of qualified help. Arriving at the reception, first of all, the person in need will receive a referral for specialized tests to detect infection with roundworms, helminths, worms of a different form. The doctor will give a referral to a coprogram, advise you to take tests in order to exclude enterobiasis.

Currently, medical practice is such that the doctor will not even make assumptions about what are the causes of persistent diarrhea in an adult, a child, before receiving the results of a coprogram. This analysis is considered basic, universal, since it gives an idea of chemical composition discharge during defecation. You can find markers in them. infectious process, the focus of inflammation. The study of feces gives an idea of the effectiveness of the processes of absorption of beneficial compounds - those are localized in the intestinal tract. Already after primary diagnosis the professional will choose which additional research activities are relevant for a particular case, and based on their results, will give a conclusion, recommendations for treatment.

Acute helminthiasis indicates itself by vomiting, nausea. It causes constant diarrhea. If the colonies are actively growing, the inclusion of worms can be seen in the feces. Sometimes they are observed in vomit. Some for a long time severe headache. Helminthiasis can cause skin rashes and a tendency to catch a cold.

What to do?

Treatment of persistent diarrhea caused by helminthic invasion involves taking drugs that depress the vital activity of the pathological agent. The doctor will select the appropriate systemic substance. Among the abundance of pharmaceutical products on the market, Pirantel and Vermox are considered especially popular. Tablet formulations are used, clearly following the instructions. For example, "Pirantel" must first be chewed, then swallowed with plenty of water. A single dose is three tablets. With a weight above 75 kg, the volumes are increased per tablet. Alternative option - suspension for preparation medicinal drink.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Another possible cause of persistent diarrhea is IBS. It's like this pathological condition associated with human psychosomatics. By at least, this is exactly what the vast majority of modern doctors think, although some fundamentally disagree with them. And to this day, research has yet to be done in order to understand why IBS develops, how it is explained, how it is effectively eliminated. It was clarified that the likelihood of the syndrome is affected by the life of a person and the conditions of his social arrangement, activity in society, nervous excitement and regular stress. In many ways, IBS depends on the state of the ANS, CNS. In some, the syndrome indicates itself with regular constipation, in others - prolonged diarrhea th.

IBS - symptomatic complex, including stool disorders, soreness and spasms localized in the lower third of the abdomen. The condition is usually accompanied increased gas formation; many note that during the day the stomach constantly rumbles. Patients are characterized by frequent urge to empty the intestinal tract. After the process, the expected relief does not happen.

Nuances of pathology

IBS as the cause of persistent diarrhea is attracting the attention of physicians around the planet, despite the refusal of many doctors to regard the symptomatic complex as an independent disease. Developed certain rules and techniques, approaches to help alleviate the condition. Diet comes first. You will have to abandon products rich in purines and acids based on them. Consequently, nuts, unheated vegetables, and seeds are practically excluded from the diet. Persons who are characterized by IBS are contraindicated in legumes and a number of cereals. Strict ban superimposed on alcohol, carbonated.

To alleviate the condition and get rid of unwanted manifestations of IBS, you should use pro-, prebiotics. So, the drug "Enterol", a kind of complex nutritional supplement, quickly and effectively normalizes the composition of the microflora of the intestinal tract, proved to be reliable. Under the influence of the components of the capsules beneficial microorganisms develop more actively, while control over colonies of pathogens and catch pathogens becomes more stringent. "Enterol" helps to normalize the chair. An adult should eat a couple of capsules daily. The course lasts 10-30 days.

pancreatitis

It also happens that it worries with a certain regularity, constantly, diarrhea after eating. This phenomenon can be observed in patients with pancreatitis. This is especially likely if a person suffers from a disease in a chronic form, but has been exposed to aggressive factors that can provoke an exacerbation. The term is used to denote the presence of an inflammatory focus in the parenchymal glandular tissue of the pancreas. The process affects not only the mucous membranes, but also the layer under them. On average, the disease is observed in every fifth adult inhabitant of our planet. The risk group is people who prefer an unhealthy diet, who consume an excess of spicy, fatty, and alcohol. More often pancreatitis is detected in smokers. Provoke disease or exacerbation chronic form may be taking medication.

The transition of the chronicle into a sharp phrase is accompanied by severe symptoms. On the right, under the ribs, it starts to hurt a lot, the discharge during defecation becomes frothy, pronounced watery, the patient often vomits, and the substances may include pieces of unprocessed food, bile acids. Pancreatitis causes fever. Pathology can cause pancreatic fibrosis, that is, a process in which tissues degenerate into connective tissues, scars form. It leads to prolonged diarrhea(20 days or more).

As observations have shown, chronic pancreatitis diarrhea can bother outside acute stage. It is not uncommon for a violation of the stool to be the only manifestation of ill health.

Infection

Invasion of a pathological agent affecting the intestinal tract is a fairly common situation, and modern doctors regularly have to treat people for infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Parts of the large and small intestines are most often affected. Cause inflammatory process- reproduction, development of colonies pathogenic microorganisms. To provoke intestinal infection in an acute form can be the use of low-quality products or spoiled food, insufficient heat treatment food. Sometimes the cause of stool disorders is viral disease, provoked by entero-, rotavirus.

With intestinal infection, the patient is disturbed brightly severe symptoms. Checking the temperature shows fever, abdominal pain, and spasms in the intestinal tract. Diarrhea is acute, accompanied by vomiting and headache. Diarrhea is considered to be a key symptom of the invasion of an infectious agent. The discharge becomes watery, you can see foamy, mucous inclusions in them. A strong musty odor is characteristic. Up to 12 bowel movements are possible per day, accompanied by unpleasant, painful sensations and there is no relief.

Dangers and nuances

As a rule, a violation of the stool due to the introduction of an infectious agent disappears within a week after the onset of primary symptoms. Less often, diarrhea bothers a couple of weeks or even longer. This is characteristic, in particular, of some forms of an enteroviral infectious agent. Clinically, the patient's condition is assessed as severe. The patient is referred to a hospital for treatment specialized care.

Long and painful

An extremely unpleasant and serious condition - loose stools, disturbing for a month or more. Several factors and phenomena leading to such consequences are known. In some cases, the root cause is an improper and unhealthy diet, in others serious illnesses Gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, hematopoietic organs. Enteritis is one of the most common. This term is used to denote a pathological condition in which the mucous membranes small intestine become inflamed, which leads to dystrophy, tissue atrophy, and consequently, a violation of absorption processes useful components. Nutrient compounds during the passage of the small intestine are absorbed with a reduced degree of efficiency.

Provoke diarrhea of a long duration can be atresia of the bile ducts from the body. The obstruction of this zone is observed on average in 3% of the adult population of our planet. The risk group is men under 30 years of age. Consider celiac disease, a genetic disorder in which the human body cannot tolerate gluten, to be an equally unpleasant condition. This complex protein is part of the majority of cereals.

Diseases and their features

Chronic diarrhea can be caused by ulcerative colitis. The term conceals chronic illness, localized in the large intestine, in which there is active focus inflammation. The cause of colitis in some is genetic prerequisites, in others it is external factors. So, colitis is possible if a person is forced to take potent medications.

Prolonged diarrhea is usually observed with atrophic type gastritis. This stomach disease differs in gradually progressive atrophic processes in the gastric mucosa and tissue layers under them. First of all, the walls of the organ suffer. Risk group - people over 45 years old. Atrophic gastritis is considered one of the precancerous pathologies.

How to warn?

If you are prone to diarrhea, you should review the nutrition program and exclude harmful foods, alcohol. It is reasonable to give up smoking and other habits that negatively affect health, as well as undergo a full examination in order to determine latent diseases. If the doctor recommends taking a course food additives advice should be taken responsibly. Pre-, probiotics do not harm health, stabilize the digestive tract, help cleanse the body of toxins, supply useful compounds and components.

How to fight?

With prolonged diarrhea, an integrated approach is recommended. Treatment is chosen under the supervision of a doctor. Quite often, drugs that depress the work of opioid receptors are prescribed to combat symptoms. Popular means "Imodium", presented in pharmacies at a price of 250 rubles. Loperamide tablets have proven themselves well, one package of which costs only 10 rubles. A reliable result is given by the medicine "Diara" (the price varies about a hundred rubles).

These funds provide good result with violations of the stool of an allergic, alimentary nature. They help with failures of absorption processes, reproduction of an infectious agent. Acceptance of suitable means allows to normalize metabolic processes. Short-term drug courses are effective in violation of the diet, functional disorders digestive tract in case a person is forced to abandon the usual menu.

Now quite often there are cases that after eating any not very high-quality products, loose stools may appear in an adult, just like water. If such a situation has occurred, you need to clearly know what to do in order to get rid of its symptoms.

Table of contents:

What is diarrhea?

Most diarrhea occurs as symptomatic manifestation in violation of the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, the patient's body temperature rises sharply, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting begin.

Diarrhea is an act of defecation characterized by liquid consistency and can be repeated more than twice a day. Diarrhea can be considered the first clear sign of indigestion. However, before taking any measures to treat such unpleasant state organism, it is necessary to find out the exact cause of the appearance of loose stools. The bowel movements can be so plentiful and frequent that almost immediately general weakness and dehydration. In such cases, it is imperative to seek qualified medical care, where it will be prescribed adequate treatment depending on general condition sick.

Features of the digestion of the food bolus

In order for the food lump to be completely digested, it takes 48 hours after eating. It is during this period that almost all water is absorbed into the walls of the colon. If the integrity of the mucous membrane is even slightly disturbed, then the process of water absorption slows down. Thus, her large quantity begins to be excreted along with feces. The process of defecation occurs several times more often than usual, and the stool is liquid. Diarrhea can occur as a result of an inflammatory process, an allergic reaction, or as a result of severe food poisoning.

There are many reasons that contribute to the formation of watery stools. If the disease is infectious, then the patient's temperature rises sharply. All this is accompanied by spasmolytic pains in the abdomen and severe vomiting. In case of malfunction of the pancreas or not digesting some too high-calorie foods, the patient may complain of severe pain under the ribs on the left.

The main causes of loose stools in adults

Typically, human feces are almost 75% simple water. Everything else can be defined as a kind of mixture of mucus, enzymes, fiber, some bacteria, epithelial cells of the intestine itself and all the remnants of food eaten.

Water diarrhea most often occurs against the background of damage to the mucous membrane of the large intestine or due to its contamination. pathogenic bacteria. This can happen if the quality of the food consumed is not ideal for the digestion processes in the gastrointestinal tract. The cause can also be a specific allergic reaction to a product or to some potent medications and certain substances of a chemical nature. People who suffer from mental disorders or are in a state of constant stress also often face such a problem as diarrhea.

The most common causes of diarrhea

There are several main reasons for the appearance of loose stools in an adult. Among them:

violation of the processes of fluid absorption;
intolerance to certain allergenic foods;
cancerous growths;
diseases of the pancreas;
ulcerative colitis;
eating fried or too fatty foods;
intolerance to dairy products.

Diarrhea and severe flatulence

Flatulence is called a strong formation of gases in the intestines. However, this condition is not always a symptom of the disease. Gases are formed in the process of complete processing of food by special bacteria located in the large intestine. Gas can also be viewed as by-product digestion. In any case, it must leave the body. This condition does not require any specific treatment.

Another thing is when the absorption processes through the intestinal walls themselves are disrupted. At the same time, food residues are processed by saprophytic bacteria. That is why loose stools appear in an adult. Sometimes watery feces may well be combined with fairly strong flatulence. But it is not the excessive formation of gases that needs to be treated, but the original reason why the process of normal absorption of products through the walls of the large intestine was disturbed.

Water diarrhea can be eliminated immediately after the underlying cause of the disease is eliminated. If diarrhea is combined with strong and constant pain in the abdomen, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. You also need to drink plenty of water to avoid severe dehydration.

The main types of diarrhea in adults

Diarrhea, which occurs with various intestinal diseases, can be divided into the following types:

diarrhea with colitis;
with tumors of the colon;
infectious diarrhea, which can be caused by bacteria, helminths, fungi, or protozoa;
neurogenic character;
characterized by a congenital disorder in the normal composition of digestive enzymes;
medicinal, allergic and toxic.

There are also diarrhea, which appears in diseases of any other systems and organs:

endocrine - with violations in the work of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
pancreatogenic - in diseases of the pancreas;
metabolic;
gastrogenic;
hepatogenic - in liver diseases;
diarrhea that develops as a result of some systemic diseases. An example is scleroderma.

Features of diarrhea in various diseases

Diarrhea in an adult can have a completely different character. Liquid watery stools, first of all, appear in acute or exacerbated chronic intestinal infections. At the same time, body temperature rises rapidly, signs of dehydration appear.

With such non-specific diseases of the intestinal tract as colitis and enteritis, as well as after the operation for resection of the stomach, patients constantly have watery stools. In this state, dehydration can be prevented simply plain water. It is water that can fill everything protective functions intestinal and stomach mucosa. The temperature in this state rises only by insignificant values, and may even remain within normal limits.

If an adult has black loose stools, then this may indicate the presence of internal bleeding. Treatment of this condition is mandatory. After all, bleeding from any internal organ can lead not only to the disorder of his activity, but even to the death of a person.

Liquid light chair can signal damage only to the initial part of the intestine. At the same time, the stool is quite plentiful, similar in viscosity to clay. If the feces are light, then we can talk about the defeat back section intestines. The diarrhea is frequent, watery and frothy. This condition is quite severe for the body. Body temperature rises significantly. There are other symptoms of intoxication. Treatment of the disease should be immediate.

Treatment of diarrhea with medication

Any treatment for diarrhea medicines First of all, you need to discuss with your doctor. Self-medication is categorically not recommended, since you can only veil the obvious symptoms, but not cure the cause of loose stools.

For treatment, drugs of two types are used:

Antispasmodics to help relieve pain syndrome and weaken intestinal smooth muscle.
Stool thickening absorbents. They also collect all intoxicants and contribute to their removal from the body.

Adult diarrhea can also be treated with various probiotics. They are natural bacteria found in the intestines.

Principles of drug therapy

Any drug for diarrhea is used only if this condition does not go away within a few hours. Such funds should be used once or until the symptoms of intoxication disappear.

With diarrhea, strict bed rest and antispasmodics are most often recommended. Symptomatically, Imodium is usually prescribed, constant heavy drinking. In more severe cases, hospitalization is necessary and drip introduction large amounts of fluid in the body.

Folk remedies

Before taking any measures to treat diarrhea, it is necessary to establish for sure that it is diarrhea, and not just indigestion. With diarrhea, loose stools appear in an adult, possibly with blood impurities. Bowel movements occur more often than three times a day.

To avoid dehydration, you should drink plenty of water. Water is the sorbent that allows you to flush out all intoxicants from the intestines. In this state, it is worth limiting the consumption of fatty and spicy foods, alcohol, and fresh fruits. It is also recommended to exclude all dairy products from the diet.

You can stop diarrhea with simple medicinal herbs. This is the cure for the disease. folk remedies. Everything you need can be easily found in any garden. Preparation of decoctions and tinctures is also not at all difficult. Most often in such cases, a decoction of oak bark is used. It serves well enough antimicrobial agent. Alternatively, you can mix red wine with cherries, which are infused in a warm place and filtered well through a regular sieve. For an adult, it is usually recommended to drink one glass of this tincture 3 times a day until the symptoms of intoxication disappear completely. For medicinal purposes, you can also use a decoction of leaves and cranberries.

Special diet in the treatment of diarrhea in adults

Each person decides for himself which method to treat diarrhea. Many prefer drug therapy, some are treated medicinal herbs. However, it is possible to significantly improve the condition of the body if you simply revise your usual diet. For this, special preventive and therapeutic diets have been developed.

Diet can be considered the most correct method for the prevention and treatment of severe diarrhea. Following a diet, fried, salty, spicy, as well as nuts, any legumes and various dairy products should be excluded from the diet. The basis of the daily diet for diarrhea should be soft and cooked foods that do not have a severe effect on the body. During this period, it must be remembered that the best remedy for dehydration is water. It should be drunk at least 2 liters per day. In order to stop diarrhea, you need to eat rice porridge, bananas, oatmeal, boiled vegetables. It is advisable to drink a compote of sour fruits or non-carbonated mineral water.

In any case, when frequent loose stools appear, you should not self-medicate. This can only exacerbate the situation. It is best to consult a doctor and take only the treatment prescribed for you.