Every person suffers from diarrhea at some point. Loose and regular bowel movements are the main signs that a person is suffering from diarrhea. In normal cases, diarrhea lasts for few days. However, in case this lasts for more time it indicates the presence of a more serious disorder like inflammatory bowel diseases and irritable bowel syndrome.

Signs and symptoms of Diarrhea

Some of the key signs and symptoms of diarrhea include loose and watery stools, cramps in the abdomen, blood in the stool and urgent need of having a bowel movement.

In case these symptoms persist treatment from a doctor should be sought. In addition to these, the assistance of doctor should be sought when diarrhea persists beyond two days; a person becomes dehydrated; a person has severe abdominal pain, the stools are bloody and black, and the fever is above 102 F.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is caused by numerous disease conditions including:

• Virus infection

Virus infection also causes diarrhea. Some of the virus which causes diarrhea includes viral hepatitis, Norwalk virus, and cytomegalovirus. In addition to this rotavirus also cause acute diarrhea in children.

• Bacteria and Parasites

Contaminated food or water can also result in diarrhea symptoms in human beings. In addition, the presence of parasites as Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia also cause diarrhea. Bactria as campylobacter, salmonella and Escherichia coli also result in diarrhea.

• Lactose intolerance

Lactose is a natural sugar which is found in dairy products and milk. People who are not able to digest lactose suffer from diarrhea when they eat any of the dairy products.

Treatment of Diarrhea

In most cases, diarrhea gets better in few days on its own, but severe diarrhea treatment might need medical intervention.

Natural Cure for Diarrhea

Natural remedies that provide severe diarrhea treatment can be tried for curing diarrhea as these also help in the effective treatment of basic causes of diarrhea.

• Yogurt

Yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures as bifidobacterium and lactobacillus acidophilus is a good remedy for diarrhea. These live cultures destroy the bacteria which are responsible for diarrhea. People who suffer from diarrhea should eat two bowls of yogurt in a day as this gives good results. A banana added to a bowl of yogurt also provides immediate relief in case of diarrhea.

• Fenugreek Seeds

These are also recommended for treating diarrhea as fenugreek seeds have high mucilage content. For better results in case of severe diarrhea, a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds can be chewed along with a tablespoon of yogurt.

• Use of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an effective home remedy for diarrhea. This acts against bacteria which cause diarrhea and hence reduce the incidence of diarrhea. You can add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and take this solution one to two times in a day until diarrhea gets cured.

• Bananas

Ripe bananas also help in case severe diarrhea treatment is required. These should be taken due to high pectin content this offer. Pectin is a water-soluble fiber which helps in reducing diarrhea. Ideally, a few bananas should be taken on a daily basis until diarrhea reduces considerably.

Medical treatment of Diarrhea

Diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites can also be cured with antibiotics. However, if the virus is causing diarrhea, antibiotics will not prove to be of much help.

In the most likelihood, the doctor will advise a person to replace fluids and salt. The patient will be advised to drink water or juice in more quantity. However in cases, if drinking liquid upsets the stomach, the doctor will recommend getting these fluids through a vein in the arm.

In general cases, water is considered to be an effective fluid, but as it does not contain salts and electrolytes, doctors usually recommend taking fruit juices or soup as these can supply the required quantity of sodium. Fruit juices as apple juice should however not be taken as this might worsen the incidence of diarrhea.

In case of children, the doctors can recommend using oral rehydration solution as Pedialyte as it prevents dehydration and replaces the lost fluid.

Changing the medications

In case it is determined that antibiotics are responsible for worsening the condition of diarrhea, the doctor might recommend lowering the dose of antibiotic or changing it entirely to some other medication.

Treatment of underlying conditions

Severe diarrhea treatment options require studying the underlying cause responsible for the problem. This might happen due to inflammatory bowel disease, and the doctors will have to work overtime to control this condition. In such cases, specialists like gastroenterologist can also be consulted so that diarrhea gets cured of the root itself.

Diarrhea can be a serious health complication if taken lightly in the initial stages. Proper medication and a balanced diet are a viable cure for diarrhea which always helps in curing the condition.