04/01/2024

What are the possible causes of diarrhoea and how is diarrhoea treated?

Diarrhoea is a very common problem. In addition to loose stools, symptoms may include abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, or nausea. What causes this unpleasant problem, which most of us experience several times a year? How is diarrhoea treated? And what are the possible risks of diarrhoea?

What is diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea is defined as frequent defecation of thin and unformed stools. Diarrhoea can be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhoea is characterised by a rapid onset and resolves within one to two days. Chronic diarrhoea persists for more than three or four weeks, and it can cause significant weight loss and dehydration.

What are the possible causes of diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea can have many causes . Possible triggers include:

viral infections (norovirus, rotavirus, viral gastroenteritis, etc.),
bacterial infections (salmonella, E. coli, etc.),
parasitic infections,
intestinal diseases,
food intolerance (gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc.),
travel,
warm weather,
or side effects of certain medications.

The most common cause of diarrhea worldwide is the aforementioned rotavirus.

Can anxiety and stress cause diarrhoea?

Many people ask if diarrhea can be caused by psychological problems. If you are stressed or struggling with anxiety, you may indeed be dealing with diarrhea.

The treatment of diarrhoea that is triggered by stress or anxiety should always be comprehensive and should primarily consist of learning to work with stress and anxiety. Patients with anxiety or depression who struggle with diarrhoea can be helped by psychotherapy and possibly antidepressants.

Can coffee cause diarrhoea?

After your morning cup of coffee, do you immediately run to the bathroom? Diarrhoea caused by drinking coffee is quite common. The caffeine in coffee can irritate the intestines and lead to excessive production of intestinal acids, which can cause diarrhoea.

Other foods and drinks that can cause stomach problems, including diarrhoea, include artificial sweeteners, dairy products, wheat, rye, barley, garlic and onions, spicy foods, high-fiber foods, or fatty foods. Last but not least, alcohol also causes diarrhea. To stop diarrhea after drinking alcohol, you should above all drink enough water.

Diarrhoea and dehydration

Diarrhoea is not dangerous in most cases. However, as you lose a lot of fluid with diarrhoea, you run the risk of dehydration, which can be life-threatening.

What are the most common symptoms of dehydration? Feeling thirsty, dry mouth, dry skin, malaise, fatigue, and headache. First aid for dehydration is to drink enough fluids.

Treatment of diarrhoea

If you're struggling with diarrhoea, or struggle with it regularly, you're probably most interested in how to get rid of diarrhoea fast. In most cases, diarrhoea does not require medical attention. According to research, the mainstay of diarrhoea treatment is replacing lost fluids, whether in the form of plain water or drinks containing electrolytes. Special herbal teas for diarrhoea and over-the-counter anti-diarrhoea tablets designed to reduce the number of stools and adjust their consistency can also help. If the cause of diarrhoea is a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

TIP: The medicinal product RACIBUM^®

RACIBUM^®

The diarrhoea medicine RACIBUM^®, which contains the medicinal substance racecadotrilum, is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of acute diarrhoea in adults.

What to eat with diarrhoea?

If you want to cure diarrhoea as soon as possible, it is recommended to eat foods that can prevent stomach upset and irritation and speed up recovery. According to experts, foods that stop diarrhoea in both children and adults include bananas, white rice, applesauce, and white toast. These are low-fibre foods that do not burden the digestive system.

Other foods that help relieve diarrhoea include oatmeal, apple juice with low added sugar, and baked or boiled potatoes. You should eat diet food even after your diarrhoea stops, ideally at least several days.

When to seek medical attention in case of diarrhoea?

In most cases, diarrhoea will resolve on its own or will be alleviated by following dietary measures. When is it appropriate to see a doctor? If the severe diarrhoea persists for more than two days and does not improve, if you notice signs of dehydration, if you have severe abdominal pain, if you notice blood in your stool or if you have a fever above 39 degrees Celsius.