Diarrhea is a nuisance that everyone has experienced. Most often, an unpleasant symptom is associated with the use of poor-quality foods. But sometimes it happens that the causes of frequent diarrhea cannot be identified. Violation of the stool can be accompanied by many diseases. Seeking qualified help early will prevent serious complications.
Irritable bowel syndrome
This is one of the most common diseases associated with the work of the gastrointestinal tract. If there is frequent diarrhea in an adult, the reasons may lie just in the wrong functioning of the intestines. A functional disorder is based on impaired bowel movement. The pathological process is characterized by prolonged abdominal pain, frequent stool disorders. The disease leads to a violation of the normal digestion of food and intestinal motility.
According to statistics, about 10% of the world's adult population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome. Most often these are women aged 20-45 years. Why can very frequent diarrhea occur? The causes and mechanism of the syndrome are not well understood to date. Psychological factors often provoke the pathological process. The disease can develop after a divorce, the death of a loved one. Irritable bowel syndrome is often detected in patients with depression and other mental disorders.
A change in the nature of the stool can also be observed in the direction of constipation. The normal act of defecation in patients is extremely rare. Patients suffer from cramping pains in the lower abdomen, which can last from several hours to several days.
The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is made on the basis of the clinical picture, as well as laboratory tests. It is important to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms. Treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating the psychological factors that provoke the appearance of diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms. Additionally, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy exercises and diet food.
Galactosemia
An inherited disease based on metabolic disorders. The pathological process begins to appear almost from the first days of life. In the body of the child there are not enough enzymes necessary for the metabolism of galactose. After feeding the milk mixture or milk, a sick child begins vomiting. Thus, severe galactosemia is manifested. If the pathological process manifests itself to a mild degree, the baby will be lethargic. These children are not gaining weight. The causes of frequent diarrhea in a child will also be the development of a hereditary disease.
Against the background of metabolic disorders in babies, blood clotting disorders are observed. As a result, minor hemorrhages may be noticeable on the skin.
Early detection of pathology is of great importance. The disease can be detected even at the stage of intrauterine development, subject to timely screening.
Haloactosemia is a dangerous disease that can lead to the development of serious complications, such as sepsis, cirrhosis of the liver, oligophrenia, diabetes mellitus, etc. Unpleasant consequences can be avoided if the child is registered on time. If you follow a diet, the patient has every chance of leading a full-fledged lifestyle. Much attention is paid to diet therapy. Products containing lactose and galactose (milk, pastries, sausages, sweets, etc.) will have to be forever excluded from the diet. Children suffering from the disease are provided with special mixtures.
Crohn's disease
The pathological process is characterized by inflammation of various parts of the digestive tract. The disease, as a rule, is chronic. Inflammation develops in the internal mucosa of the digestive tract - from the esophagus to the rectum. The disease occurs with periods of remission and exacerbations, is one of the causes of frequent diarrhea in women and men. In the vast majority of cases, the inflammatory process initially develops on the mucosa of the small intestine, then goes on to other sections of the gastrointestinal tract.
The first attack of the disease can develop at a young age. Often, when a doctor tries to find out the causes of frequent diarrhea in adolescents, it turns out that Crohn's disease develops. The pathological process can equally often occur in representatives of both sexes.
Today, experts cannot name the exact causes of the development of Crohn's disease. A predisposing factor is the abnormal immune response of the body to the normal intestinal flora. The walls of the intestine begin to become saturated with leukocytes, which leads to the development of diarrhea and pain in the lower abdomen.
The specialist makes the diagnosis based on the clinical picture, computed tomography and colonoscopy. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure the disease. It is possible to reduce the manifestation of the pathological process with the help of a diet (table No. 4), anti-inflammatory suppositories. Immunostimulating therapy is mandatory.
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis
The disease is associated with diffuse inflammation of the colon. If you refuse treatment, severe local and systemic complications may develop. If the pathological process was not detected in a timely manner, it becomes chronic with periods of remission and exacerbations. The disease proceeds cyclically. Periods of remission are replaced by periods of exacerbations. One of the manifestations of the disease is frequent diarrhea in an adult. The patient cannot find out the reasons for this condition. And only when violations of the stool do not allow to lead a full-fledged lifestyle, the patient seeks medical help.
Statistics show that women are more susceptible to the development of ulcerative colitis. Unlike Crohn’s disease, with this pathology only the mucous membrane of the colon suffers. A characteristic sign of the disease may be the presence of streaks of blood in the feces.
The cause of the disease are autoimmune disorders in the body. Immunity begins to react incorrectly to its own cells, which provokes an inflammatory reaction. The pathological process may also have a hereditary nature.
Colonoscopy is the main diagnostic method for ulcerative colitis. The technique helps to study in detail the lumen of the small intestine, to differentiate this disease with other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
Dietary nutrition underlies the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Anti-inflammatory suppositories can also be prescribed by a specialist. With the advanced stage of the disease, surgical methods of treatment are used.
Lactase deficiency
Congenital pathology is characterized by the inability to break down milk sugar due to a partial or complete absence of lactase in the body. In various regions, from 10 to 80% of the population suffers from such a disease. Particularly negatively affects the disease in infants of the first months of life, who need to eat mother’s milk or special mixtures. Young mothers may not understand what the causes of frequent diarrhea are in infants. The treatment of the disease should be started immediately. Otherwise, the baby may become dehydrated.
In healthy children, milk sugar, which comes with breast milk or a mixture, breaks down in the colon. In the absence of lactase, sugar enters the colon in an unchanged form, where it begins to ferment. This becomes the cause of unpleasant symptoms. Diarrhea is not the only sign of the disease. Lactase deficiency in a baby can be suspected with frequent spitting up, restless behavior of the child.
Clinical data must be confirmed by laboratory tests. Be sure to conduct a biochemical study of the stool of the child. Often the causes of frequent diarrhea after eating in babies are the failure of other enzymes.
Clinical nutrition is the basis for the treatment of lactase deficiency. Breast babies are prescribed replacement therapy to maintain natural feeding. From the diet of older patients, whole milk and products based on it are completely excluded.
Helminthiasis
The causes of very frequent diarrhea in an adult or child may be due to the presence of parasites in the intestines. These are helminthic diseases caused by various types of worms. The pathological process may not manifest itself for a long time. The patient will only complain of digestive problems and stool disorders. The lack of therapy leads to the spread of infection throughout the body, chronic diseases can develop.
To date, more than 200 species of various pathogens of helminthiasis in humans are known. Most often they are represented by round and flat worms. The most common are pinworms and roundworms. It often happens that the patient cannot understand what are the causes of frequent diarrhea. Analysis of feces does not always make it possible to detect the presence of parasites in the body. This is due to their life cycle. A more detailed picture is given by serological analyzes - ELISA, RIF. In addition, a patient with frequent diarrhea may be prescribed histological coprology (a detailed study of feces).
A patient who has helminthic infestations is required to be prescribed anthelmintic therapy. With a complex course of the disease, intravenous infusions are carried out. Symptomatic therapy includes the use of sorbents, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is possible to eliminate diarrhea with the help of a special diet. Of great importance is the prevention of helminthiasis, which consists in observing hygiene rules, refusing to eat fish and meat raw.
Foodborne Toxic Infections
The cause of frequent diarrhea is often the use of poor-quality food. Simply put, this is a banal poisoning, which everyone once encountered. Pathogenic microflora, which may be found in foods, produce toxins. When ingested in the gastrointestinal tract, these substances provoke an immune response of the body. With a mild course of the disease, the patient will suffer only from diarrhea. However, in most cases, nausea and vomiting are present . Such infections are especially dangerous for young children. Rapid dehydration of the baby's body can be fatal.
The incubation period of foodborne infections rarely exceeds several hours. As a rule, the disease begins acutely with bouts of nausea and repeated vomiting. Infection causes frequent diarrhea in an adult. Violation of the stool is accompanied by cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
Foodborne infections are detected on the basis of bacterial culture of vomit or feces. Thanks to the timely identification of the pathogen, it is possible to correctly select an antibacterial agent for therapeutic measures. With timely treatment, it is possible to get rid of unpleasant symptoms in 2-3 days.
Dysbacteriosis
The pathological condition is associated with a violation of the intestinal microflora. The composition of the normal flora may change due to malnutrition, stress, prolonged antibiotic therapy. Other digestive diseases can also be accompanied by diarrhea. Often, the causes of frequent diarrhea in a man or woman are associated with pancreatitis, gastritis, hepatitis, etc.
Diarrhea is a clear sign of dysbiosis. Diarrhea can alternate with constipation. Normal stool in the patient is extremely rare. Many patients also develop allergic reactions to food. Dysbacteriosis in this case may be accompanied by skin itching, urticaria.
Malabsorption syndrome is characteristic. The absorption in the intestines of the nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the body is disturbed. As a result, the patient begins to suffer from anemia, calcium deficiency, etc. The protective functions of the body are significantly reduced. The pathological process is accompanied by fatigue, frequent headaches, lack of appetite. Against the background of dysbiosis, the patient develops immunodeficiency, he begins to suffer from frequent colds.
Treatment of dysbiosis is not an easy process. Prescribed drugs aimed at restoring the motor function of the intestine, the removal of existing inflammation. Normalize intestinal activity helps diet number 4. Be sure to exclude too sharp and salty dishes. Particular attention is paid to the heat treatment of products. Dishes are boiled or steamed. Prebiotics (Linex, Lactofiltrum) help speed up the process of restoring normal intestinal flora. The correct approach allows you to completely eliminate dysbiosis in 10-20 days.
Other causes of frequent diarrhea in adults
Treatment of the disease should begin after studying the possible adverse factors that could provoke it. When diarrhea occurs, you should definitely make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. However, it often happens that the causes of frequent diarrhea are not associated with any ailment. This may be just a reaction of the body to new foods. “Traveler’s diarrhea” is a pathology that is often found among tourists against the backdrop of a changing climate and diet. Unpleasant symptoms usually appear on the third day after the start of the trip. Diarrhea is a reaction to a change in the intestinal microflora in another region.
In addition to diarrhea, the traveler may experience a slight increase in body temperature, there may be symptoms of general intoxication of the body. Special therapy is usually not required. Within a few days, normal stool is restored.
Diarrhea can also develop after excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol has an irritating effect. As a result, the intestines begin to work faster. The sorbent (Atoxil, Activated Carbon) will help speed up the process of stool recovery.
Summarize
There are many causes of frequent diarrhea in adults. In any case, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Do not wait for serious dehydration. Timely therapy will avoid serious complications, such as dehydration and a significant decrease in immunity.