Diarrhea causes: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
==Causes== | |||
The principal cause of diarrhea stems from ingestion of unsafe [[drinking water]] (typically from admixture of raw sewage to water supplies); the occurrence is predominantly in lesser developed countries. | |||
Causes of diarrhea can be [[infection]], [[allergy]], [[food intolerance]], [[foodborne illness]] and/or extreme excesses of [[Vitamin C]] and/or magnesium and may be accompanied by [[abdominal pain]], [[nausea]] and [[vomiting]]. Temporary diarrhea can also result from the ingestion of [[laxative]] medications or large quantities of certain foods like prunes with laxative properties. There are other conditions which involve some but not all of the symptoms of diarrhea, and so the formal medical definition of diarrhea involves [[defecation]] of more than 200 grams per day (although formal weighing of stools to determine a diagnosis is rarely actually carried out). | |||
Diarrhea occurs when insufficient fluid is absorbed by the [[Colon (anatomy)|colon]]. As part of normal [[digestion]], food is mixed with large amounts of water. The water is supplied, as needed, by the [[stomach]] and [[small intestine]]. The colon recovers this water, leaving the remaining material as a semisolid stool. If the colon is damaged or inflamed, however, absorption is inhibited, and watery stools result. | |||
Diarrhea is most commonly caused by [[virus (biology)|viral]] infections or [[bacterium|bacteria]]l toxins. In sanitary living conditions and with ample food and water available, an otherwise healthy patient typically recovers from the common viral infections in a few days and at most a week. However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhea can lead to severe [[dehydration]] and can become life-threatening without treatment. | |||
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as [[dysentery]], [[Montezuma's Revenge (illness)|Montezuma's Revenge]], [[cholera]], or [[botulism]], and can also be indicative of a chronic syndrome such as [[Crohn's disease]]. Though [[appendicitis]] patients do not generally have diarrhea, it is a common symptom of a ruptured [[vermiform appendix|appendix]]. It is also an effect of severe [[Radiation poisoning|radiation sickness]]. | |||
Diarrhea can also be caused by dairy intake in those who are [[Lactose intolerance|lactose intolerant]]. | |||
The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required: | |||
* Diarrhea in infants; | |||
* Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children; | |||
* Diarrhea associated with blood; | |||
* Diarrhea that continues for more than two weeks; | |||
* Diarrhea that is associated with more general illness such as non-cramping [[abdominal pain]], [[fever]], [[weight loss]], etc; | |||
* [[Traveler's diarrhea|Diarrhea in travelers]], since they are more likely to have exotic infections such as parasites; | |||
* Diarrhea in food handlers, because of the potential to infect others; | |||
* Diarrhea in institutions such as hospitals, child care centers, or geriatric and convalescent homes. | |||
A severity score is used to aid diagnosis.<ref name="pmid2371542">{{cite journal |author=Ruuska T, Vesikari T |title=Rotavirus disease in Finnish children: use of numerical scores for clinical severity of diarrhoeal episodes |journal=Scand. J. Infect. Dis. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=259–67 |year=1990 |pmid=2371542 |doi=}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
Revision as of 23:06, 29 August 2012
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Diarrhea Microchapters |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; M.Umer Tariq [3]
Overview
Causes
The principal cause of diarrhea stems from ingestion of unsafe drinking water (typically from admixture of raw sewage to water supplies); the occurrence is predominantly in lesser developed countries.
Causes of diarrhea can be infection, allergy, food intolerance, foodborne illness and/or extreme excesses of Vitamin C and/or magnesium and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Temporary diarrhea can also result from the ingestion of laxative medications or large quantities of certain foods like prunes with laxative properties. There are other conditions which involve some but not all of the symptoms of diarrhea, and so the formal medical definition of diarrhea involves defecation of more than 200 grams per day (although formal weighing of stools to determine a diagnosis is rarely actually carried out).
Diarrhea occurs when insufficient fluid is absorbed by the colon. As part of normal digestion, food is mixed with large amounts of water. The water is supplied, as needed, by the stomach and small intestine. The colon recovers this water, leaving the remaining material as a semisolid stool. If the colon is damaged or inflamed, however, absorption is inhibited, and watery stools result.
Diarrhea is most commonly caused by viral infections or bacterial toxins. In sanitary living conditions and with ample food and water available, an otherwise healthy patient typically recovers from the common viral infections in a few days and at most a week. However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and can become life-threatening without treatment.
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as dysentery, Montezuma's Revenge, cholera, or botulism, and can also be indicative of a chronic syndrome such as Crohn's disease. Though appendicitis patients do not generally have diarrhea, it is a common symptom of a ruptured appendix. It is also an effect of severe radiation sickness.
Diarrhea can also be caused by dairy intake in those who are lactose intolerant. The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required:
- Diarrhea in infants;
- Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children;
- Diarrhea associated with blood;
- Diarrhea that continues for more than two weeks;
- Diarrhea that is associated with more general illness such as non-cramping abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, etc;
- Diarrhea in travelers, since they are more likely to have exotic infections such as parasites;
- Diarrhea in food handlers, because of the potential to infect others;
- Diarrhea in institutions such as hospitals, child care centers, or geriatric and convalescent homes.
A severity score is used to aid diagnosis.[1]