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Diarrhoea refers to the frequent passage of
loose or watery unformed stools. It may be acute or
chronic. Commonly known as " loose motions", it
is perhaps the most common disease in India.
The intestines normally get more than 10 litres of liquid
per day which comes from the diet and from the secretions
of the stomach, liver, pancreas and intestines. In the
cause of diarrhoea, water is either not absorbed or is
secreted in excess by the organs of the body. It is then
sent to the colon where the water holding capacity is
limited. Thus, the urge to defecate comes quite often. Causes
There are
many and varied causes of diarrhoea. The chief causes are
overeating or eating of wrong foods, putrefaction in the
intestine tract, fermentation caused by incomplete
carbohydrate digestion, nervous irritability and
excessive intake of laxatives. Other causes include
infection by parasites, germs, virus, bacteria or a
poison which has entered into the body through food,
water or air, allergies to certain substances or even
common foods such as milk, wheat, eggs, and sea foods and
emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in
children.
It may also result from the use of antibiotic drugs. This
is due to the destruction of the beneficial bacteria in
intestines along with pathogenic bacteria at which the
antibiotic treatment was aimed.
Diarrhoea may be a prominent feature of organic diseases
affecting the small or large intestine such as the sprue
syndrome, malignant disease and ulcerative colitis. It
may also result from operations on the gastro-intestinal
tract. Diarrhoea may alternate with constipation. This
may be a result of the irritation of the mucous membrane
by impacted hard faeces.
Diarrhoea for prolonged periods can lead to certain
complications. These may include general weakening of
health due to loss of vitamins A, D, E and K and other
nutrients as foods is rushed through the body without
giving the nutrients a chance of being absorbed,
dehydration due to loss of body fluids and washing out of
minerals from the body and nervous conditions.
Among the various complications, dehydration poses a
serious problem, especially when diarrhoea is accompanied
by vomiting. It can even be fatal if unchecked.
Dehydration is characterised by hot, dry skin over the
abdomen, sunken eyes, dry mouth, intense thirst and
reduced flow of urine. This can usually be prevented, if
the patient suffering from diarrhoea, with or without
vomiting,. is given plenty of liquids. The patient should
be given about 150 to 200 ml. of fluid every hour from 6
a.m. to 10 p.m.
Dietary
Cure
In severe
cases of diarrhoea, it is advisable to observe a complete
fast for two days to give rest to the gastro-intestinal
tract. Warm water only may be taken during the period to
compensate for the loss of fluids. An enema with water
temperature of 95 o F, may be taken daily during this
period. Juices of fruits like orange or pomegranate,
butter-milk, or coconut water may be taken after the
acute symptoms are over. Barley water mixed with an equal
quantity of milk, with added sugar, can also be given. In
mild cases, well-boiled rice or khichdi (rice and mung
dal cooked with a pinch of salt), with curd and ripe
bananas are permitted.
Foods which should be avoided in diarrhoea are milk and
milk-drinks, whole grain breads and cereals, cheese,
fruits except banana, nuts, meats, fatty soups, sweets
and all vegetables except tomato juice. After the
condition improves, meals can be enlarged gradually to
include raw juices like papaya juice, lemon juice and
fresh pineapple juice, cooked vegetables, whole rice,
soured milks such as yogurt and butter-milk. Raw foods
should be taken only after the patient completely
recovers.
Certain natural remedies have been found effective in
curing diarrhoea and these are carrot soup, banana,
turmeric powder, the cultured or sour milk and garlic.
Carrot soup supplies water to combat dehydration,
replenishes sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium,
sulphur and magnesium, supplies pectin and coats the
intestine to allay inflammation. It checks the growth of
harmful intestinal bacteria and prevents vomiting. One
pound of carrot may be cooked in five ounces of water
until it is soft. The pulp should be strained and boiled
water added to make a quart. Three-quarter table-spoon of
salt may be mixed. The soup should be given in small
amounts to the patient every half an hour.
Bananas contain pectin and encourage the growth of
beneficial bacteria. Turmeric, a yellow vegetable powder
used as a condiment has proved beneficial. Acidified milk
such as yogurt or butter-milk help overcome the harmful
intestinal flora and re-establish the benign or friendly
flora. The acid in the soured milk also fights germs and
bacteria. Garlic is yet another natural remedy which
fights diarrhoea and routs parasites. It is a powerful ,
effective and harmless antibiotic and aids digestion.
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