What are the Best Methods for Controlling Watery Diarrhea?

What is watery diarrhea?

Watery diarrhea is a condition where you experience watery stools, diarrhea is experienced by all of us at some point in our lives. Watery diarrhea is a complication of certain infections caused to the gastrointestinal tract. 

What are the symptoms of watery diarrhea?

Watery diarrhea can show visible symptoms that include:

• A strong urge to pass stools
• Abdominal cramps 
• Cramps while passing stools
• Nausea 

Usually watery diarrhea resolves on its own and does not require medical attention. Consult the stomach specialist in Coimbatore if you are experiencing diarrhea symptoms. 

What are the types of diarrhea?

The type of diarrhea is generally dependant on how long it lasts:

Acute diarrhea:

Acute diarrhea is loose, watery stool that lasts for one to two days. It’s the most common type and typically clears up on its own without treatment.

Persistent diarrhea:

This type of diarrhea can last for about 2 to 4 weeks

Chronic diarrhea:

Chronic diarrhea lasts for more than four weeks or occurs repeatedly over a long time. If diarrhea persists this long, it may signal a more serious condition, and you should see your healthcare provider.

What does the color of watery diarrhea tell us?

Stool is typically brown due to the presence of compounds like bile and bilirubin. However, when you have diarrhea, the liquid may appear in a different color.

Yellow color:

Yellow diarrhea might suggest an issue with the liver or gallbladder. Bright yellow liquid stool can also indicate giardiasis, an infection caused by a parasite you can contract from drinking contaminated water.

Pooping clear liquid:

Inflammation in the intestines can lead to mucus production, resulting in clear liquid bowel movements.

Green liquid:

Diarrhea may look green because of the green foods you ate or because the stool passed too quickly through your colon.

Blood liquid:

Black diarrhea can be worrisome because it might indicate bleeding from the upper part of the digestive tract.

Is watery diarrhea common?

Watery diarrhea is a highly common condition that almost everyone experiences a minimum of once or twice a year. 

What are the causes of watery diarrhea?

Watery diarrhea is mainly caused due to a virus that infects the gastrointestinal tract causing gastroenteritis. Although the most common causes include:

Infections:

Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause infections that result in diarrhea. In adults, the most frequent cause of diarrhea is the norovirus, which leads to gastroenteritis. For children, rotavirus is the leading cause of acute diarrhea. 

Food poisoning:

Consuming contaminated food or drinks can introduce harmful toxins and germs into the system, which can lead to diarrhea. “Traveler’s diarrhea” occurs when you develop diarrhea while visiting a place with poor hygiene or sanitation. This condition is often caused by exposure to bacteria. 

Certain medications:

One common side effect of some medications is diarrhea. For instance, antibiotics eliminate the harmful bacteria causing your illness, but they can also wipe out the beneficial bacteria in your system. This imbalance can result in diarrhea.

Foods that affect your digestive system:

If you are lactose intolerant, your body can’t properly digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products, which can cause diarrhea. Some people also struggle to digest fructose, a sugar found in honey and fruits, and used as a sweetener in some foods. In celiac disease, diarrhea occurs because your body can’t effectively break down gluten, a protein found in wheat. 

Bowels affected by certain diseases:

Diarrhea is a common sign of conditions that irritate and inflame your intestines. Conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can all lead to diarrhea. If you have IBS, stress and anxiety can make the symptoms worse. 

What are the signs that indicate you may be suffering from chronic diarrhea?

Severe or chronic diarrhea can always indicate an underlying serious infection and does not go away from medical care. 

Consult a doctor if you have signs like:

• Vomiting
• Severe stomach ache
• Fever 
• Mucus or blood in your stool
• Weight loss

You may also experience dehydration as severe watery diarrhea can lead to water loss in the body. 

What are the best methods for controlling watery diarrhea?

Medications:

Usually if the diarrhea is constant you may visit a doctor who can prescribe medications to control diarrhea. Although in most cases medications are not required as they generally resolve on their own. 

Changes to the diet:

If you have diarrhea, adjusting your diet may be necessary. For example, it can be beneficial to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Your healthcare provider might recommend specific foods to stop diarrhea, while advising you to avoid high-fat and high-sugar items.

Sufficient hydration:

People with diarrhea are at risk of dehydration. Sipping water regularly throughout the day can help prevent this. It’s also helpful to drink fluids that contain salt, sugar, and water. However, avoid giving fruit juice or soft drinks to children with diarrhea, as these can make symptoms worse. Instead, offer them small sips of an oral rehydration solution.

Probiotics:

A healthcare provider might recommend taking probiotics to help with diarrhea. Probiotics contain live microorganisms similar to the ones naturally found in your digestive system.

Rehydration solution:

Over-the-counter oral rehydration solutions can help prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea. Dehydration can be serious. For older adults with diarrhea, a healthcare provider may recommend balanced electrolyte rehydration. In generally healthy people, older adults are at the highest risk of fatal complications from diarrhea.

What are the diagnostic options for watery diarrhea?

Most people don’t need a healthcare provider to diagnose watery diarrhea, as the symptom is usually obvious. However, a physical exam can help check vital signs, other symptoms like fever, and any recent changes in medication, routine, diet restrictions, or other possible causes.

If the condition doesn’t improve after a couple of days, or if you or your child show signs of dehydration, your healthcare provider may suggest running tests. These could include stool samples, fasting tests, blood tests, or other examinations.

Hydrogen breath test:

This test is used to diagnose lactose intolerance. It involves drinking a lactose-containing solution and then breathing into a device that measures hydrogen levels. High hydrogen levels suggest lactose intolerance.

Endoscopy:

During an upper endoscopy, a flexible scope is inserted through the mouth to examine the stomach and small intestine. In a colonoscopy, a similar scope is inserted through the anus to examine the rectum and large intestine.

What are the treatment options for watery diarrhea?

The treatment for watery diarrhea focuses on addressing the underlying cause, often using medications to reduce the severity of the diarrhea. If the illness is caused by bacteria, antibiotics can treat the infection. If it’s due to a parasite, an antiparasitic medication may be used. Viral causes usually clear up on their own.

Replacing lost fluids:

Replacing lost fluids is crucial to prevent dehydration, especially since gastroenteritis often leads to nausea and vomiting. You can attempt the following to manage this:Drinking plenty of water is the best remedy for diarrhea, taking small sips if necessary. Also, be sure to replace electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are essential for regulating body functions. 

What are complications of watery diarrhea?

Watery diarrhea is usually mild and temporary, but it can sometimes cause serious problems like dehydration or poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients. Keep an eye out for:

• Changes in urine color or amount, dry skin, increased thirst, or fatigue may indicate dehydration. Dehydration is particularly risky for young children, as severe fluid loss can result in seizures, kidney failure, and shock.
• Muscle aches, vision changes, headaches, and numbness or tingling can occur due to malabsorption. These symptoms result from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals caused by the underlying issue leading to diarrhea.

What are the tips to prevent watery diarrhea?

You might not be able to prevent diarrhea entirely, but you can lower your risk by avoiding infections and food contamination.

Practice good hygiene:

Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom or handling food. You can also use hand sanitizer as an alternative.

Store food properly:

Keep food stored at the right temperatures and cook it thoroughly to the recommended levels. Avoid eating or drinking items past their expiration dates.

Watch what you drink while drink:

Avoid drinking untreated water while traveling. Skip tap water, ice cubes made from tap water, and brushing your teeth with tap water. Also, stay away from unpasteurized milk or juice. Pasteurization kills germs in drinks, so when you’re unsure, stick to bottled water or beverages that have been boiled, like coffee or tea.

When should you contact your doctor?

Liquid bowel movements usually go away on their own as the body clears out the bacteria or other harmful factors causing the problem. However, if you experience bloody or persistent diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours, see a doctor to prevent worsening symptoms.

The doctor might collect a stool sample to test for bacteria, parasites, or viruses. They may also suggest further tests, like a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, to examine. 

Important Takeaway:

Whether you call it going to the bathroom, having a bowel movement, or pooping, it’s a normal part of life. That’s why diarrhea is so disruptive, it throws off our routine. Most of the time, diarrhea clears up in a few days. But if it doesn’t, or if you have severe symptoms, reach out to your  best stomach hospital in Coimbatore. There’s no need to feel embarrassed.