Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is defined as the increase in the number of bowel movements, accompanied by a decrease in stool consistency. From the clinical point of view it can be divided into acute and chronic diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is characterized by sudden onset, and the most frequent form of presentation in the summer. The most frequent cause of acute diarrhea is by eating contaminated food, defined as food poisoning.

What are the symptoms?

Along with the diarrhea, the clinical symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain that varies in intensity. Symptoms appear in a period ranging from 6 to 24 hours after ingestion of contaminated food. In a large number of cases the symptoms are nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain without diarrhea.

In case of acute diarrhea in the summer, how to act?

If you suspect acute diarrhea associated with food poisoning and episodes of nausea is accompanied by increased number of bowel movements, especially in the elderly and children under 5 years, it is advisable to seek medical service emergency services to assess the need for intravenous hydration.

What to do in case there is no health posts and hospitals nearby?

If possible, get treatment at home soon after the onset. Give the patient and isotonic rehydration solution in small volumes at a time every hour. Prefer coldest liquids because they are better tolerated by patients with nausea and vomiting. If after 6 hours of onset of symptoms worsen, and the patient can not ingest any  liquid, then will be a demand for care at the hospital or health facilities . Never offers solid food within 6 hours following the onset of symptoms, they may worsen the clinical picture of vomiting and diarrhea.

Other key features include a health check of body temperature with a thermometer and watch the appearance of faeces. In case of fever and presence of blood or mucus in feces the demand for care in health facilities should be immediate.

Remedies for the stomach are they indicated?

In most cases you should not medicate the patient outside of health facilities, with the exception of liquids, as mentioned above. Vomiting and diarrhea are the defense mechanisms of the body to expel the contaminated food, and medicines should only be prescribed and administered in these health units.

What is the cycle of food poisoning?

In most cases the episodes are self-limiting. The person eats contaminated food, start clinical in 6-24 hours after ingestion, and around 48 hours after the episodes of nausea and diarrhea subside.

How to avoid food poisoning and diarrhea when travelling?

In addition to the usual care already mentioned, research is needed on the system of water treatment and sanitation of the city or country in question. In areas of poor sanitation, drink only bottled water. Avoid drinking, as well as food sold outdoors, juices and ice cream prepared and handled in the region visited.