Causes of diarrhea
The name diarrhea comes from the ancient Greek word “διάρροια” (diarroia), which means “flow through”.
The term was used by ancient Greek physicians to describe a condition in which liquid or semi-solid substances passed through the body faster than usual, causing frequent bowel movements. The term “diarrhea” comes from the ancient Greek word “πόνος” (ponos), which means “torment” or “suffering”, and has also been used to describe a condition in which the body encounters unusual and unpleasant manifestations, such as frequent and liquid bowel movements, which causes discomfort and suffering.
Toxins
Viruses
Bacteria
Disbalance of microflora
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Toxins (from Greek toxikon – “poison for use on arrows”) are poisonous substances produced by living cells or organisms. Pathogenic microorganisms, found in food products, produce toxins, and these substances may accumulate in food and cause symptoms of poisoning, even when the food has been sufficiently thermally processed and there are no live microbes remaining in it.
A virus (from Latin virus) is a non-cellular infectious agent which can reproduce only inside living cells. If it enters the gastrointestinal tract, it may cause poisoning, gastroenteritis, enteritis and, as a result, diarrhea.
Bacteria (Bacteria, from ancient Greek βακτήριον – stick) are microorganisms which surround us in the external environment, and are also found in the human intestine. Bacteria are divided into beneficial and harmful (pathogenic). Acute intestinal infections (AII) are a group of acute infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and can lead to diarrhea. The greatest risks are for children and the elderly, due to rapid dehydration of the body.
Microbiome (from ancient Greek μικρος (mikrós) “small” and βίος (bíos) “life”) is a community of beneficial microorganisms which usually live together in some habitat. Intestinal disorders most often occur as a result of an imbalance in the microflora, which, in turn, may have been caused by excessive use of drugs (in particular, antibiotics), various diseases, recent surgery, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and/or improper nutrition.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat malignant tumors, such as cancer. Diarrhea during chemotherapy is caused by damage of the intestinal epithelium. The stool becomes frequent, watery or foamy. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which negatively affects the condition of the entire body as a whole, and hinders the patient’s recovery.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is the use of ionizing radiation for therapeutic purposes. Radiation therapy is one of the main methods of cancer treatment. Radiation exposure can damage the intestinal epithelium and disrupt its function, leading to diarrhea.
What happens to the body
during diarrhea?
We remind you that during diarrhea, the body becomes dehydrated – loss of fluid and essential Na+, K+, Mg++ ions. According to most European and world recommendations and treatment protocols, the first step in the treatment of diarrhea is to restore the water-electrolyte balance. Oral rehydration solutions, namely electrolytes, are prescribed for this purpose. It is especially important to maintain the proportions of electrolytes in the composition of the product.
The electrolyte composition of the D-ORS product was developed in accordance with the global recommendations of the ESPGHAN organization – the European Association of Pediatricians, Gastroenterologists, Hepatologists and Nutritionists.
Errors in the treatment of diarrhea:
Fast-acting drugs for symptomatic treatment may be used in an emergency, but not as the main treatment for diarrhea. Moreover, It is not recommended to use such drugs in the case of ulcerative colitis, bloody and tarry stools, diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, or diarrhea accompanied by fever.
You should not take self-prescribed antibiotics for diarrhea. Firstly, their use is not always justified, and incorrect use of an antibiotic can do more harm than good. Also, an antibiotic can distort the clinical picture of the disease and make it difficult to establish the true diagnosis, which is why a decision to prescribe antibiotics is made by a doctor.