Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a nuisance that almost everyone has encountered. The stool becomes loose and quickened. At the same time, the patient feels a breakdown, symptoms of dehydration appear. How to quickly stop diarrhea in an adult? There are several ways. However, first of all, it is necessary to find out the cause of the pathological process.
Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea
The named disease can develop during or after antibiotic therapy. Most often, the pathological process develops after the use of antibiotics of the penicillin series. It does not matter how the drugs enter the body. Diarrhea can develop with intravenous administration or oral medication. The risk of developing a pathological process increases significantly if antibiotic therapy is carried out for more than 10 days.
How to stop diarrhea in an adult if it is caused by prolonged use of medications? First of all, it is necessary to talk about side effects to the attending physician. The specialist will adjust the dosage of the antibacterial agent or replace the drug. To restore the water-salt balance of the body, the drug "Rehydron" can be prescribed. The solution is taken after each loose stool. In combination with antibiotics, probiotics are mandatory (Biflar, Maxilak).
Functional diarrhea
The pathological process is associated with a periodic or permanent disorder of intestinal function with the discharge of loose or porridge-like stools. Pain, as a rule, is absent. In this case, the patient may complain of bloating, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement. The causes of the development of the disease to date have not been studied. In the process of numerous studies, it was possible to find out that in patients with a similar pathology there is an increase in intestinal motility. The food that a person eats moves very quickly through the digestive tract. As a result, water in the lower colon is poorly absorbed.
Before stopping diarrhea in an adult, it is necessary to find out what the pathological process is associated with. Symptoms may be similar to acute colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract.
Therapy of functional diarrhea is carried out on an outpatient basis, there is no need for hospitalization. A diet is definitely prescribed, drug treatment is carried out. Completely excluded foods that can cause food allergies. Cope with bacteriosis at home will help Linex, Bifilar, Lactovit, Bifidobacterin. Reviews show that with a properly selected diet and drug therapy, unpleasant symptoms can be eliminated within 10-15 days.
Chronic diarrhea
This condition is said if, for a long time, frequent loose stools are observed. The bowel movement may occur three or more times per day. In most cases, the patient feels normal. Some patients complain of bloating, bloody impurities in the feces.
Chronic diarrhea in adults, as a rule, develops against the background of other pathological processes. So, due to heart failure, increased secretion of water in the intestinal lumen may develop. The same pathological process can be observed with diseases of the lymphatic system.
How to stop severe diarrhea in an adult? It is imperative to treat the underlying disease, and then eliminate the unpleasant symptoms. To restore the water balance of the body, the drug "Regidron" is often used. If chronic diarrhea develops against a background of dysbiosis, probiotics (Linex, Bifilar, etc.) are used.
Therapy may be prolonged. The disease is characterized by periods of remissions and exacerbations.
Acute diarrhea
The disease manifests itself with frequent stools (more than three times a day). In this case, the pathological process can be eliminated in 7-10 days. If diarrhea is observed for more than three weeks, they are already talking about chronic diarrhea. An acute disease can develop under the influence of many adverse factors. Most often, the pathological process in adults and children is manifested due to the ingestion of a viral infection (rotavirus or adenovirus). Also, acute diarrhea can be one of the signs of the presence of helminths in the body. In rare cases, diarrhea may result from taking certain medications.
How to stop diarrhea in an adult? First of all, a thorough diagnosis is necessary. It is important to find out what the pathological process is associated with. After this, medications are prescribed to eliminate the infection (viral or bacterial). In addition, symptomatic therapy is performed.
The drug Smecta will quickly stop acute diarrhea. In the role of its active component is dioctahedral smectite. The medicine has an adsorbing effect, normalizes bowel function. To quickly stop diarrhea, you must take up to 6 packets of "Smecta" per day.
Food poisoning
Diarrhea often develops on the background of the use of low-quality food. The pathological process, as a rule, is accompanied by an indigestion. Most often, the disease is associated with the ingestion of pathogenic bacteria into the body along with food. At the same time, the patient during meals may not notice that the product is spoiled, taste is not always violated.
The first signs of poisoning may appear as early as an hour after eating a spoiled dish. The patient feels a breakdown, nausea and vomiting appear. Poisoning is almost always accompanied by diarrhea. Increased body temperature may be observed.
How to stop vomiting and diarrhea in an adult? In no case should one engage in self-medication. With such symptoms, you must call an ambulance. It is important to prevent dehydration. Be sure to take the drug "Regidron". Before the doctors arrive, you need to take 50-100 ml of solution every 10 minutes.
A strict diet is prescribed to patients. On the first day in many cases it is recommended to drink only mineral water. It is important to restore intestinal motility, to reduce the secretion of fluid into the lumen of the organ.
Treatment of food poisoning is often carried out using antibacterial drugs, such as Nifuroxazide, Levomycetin. The treatment regimen is selected in accordance with the severity of the pathological process.
Digestive enzyme deficiency
Digestion of food is a complex chemical process during which useful substances are released from the incoming products necessary for the normal functioning of the whole organism. Many substances necessary for the digestion of food are produced by the following organs: liver, stomach, pancreas. However, in some cases, digestive enzymes may not be produced in sufficient quantities. In this case, stool disorders will be observed.
Before stopping diarrhea in an adult at home, you will have to have replacement therapy. Symptomatic treatment can be carried out using the drugs "Regidron", "Smecta", "Linex".
Diarrhea of travelers
The disease is manifested by a violation of the digestive tract. Unpleasant symptoms develop when traveling to another climatic zone. The consistency of the chair, the frequency of bowel movements are changing, which prevents the tourist from fully enjoying his trip. Such a pathology is encountered by 50% of adults visiting a foreign country. As a rule, E. coli acts as a pathogen. Infection occurs during sea cruises. Due to climate change, susceptibility to pathogenic microflora increases.
People with the first blood group, as well as patients with hepatitis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract suffer more often from travelers' diarrhea. The incubation period of the disease can be from several hours to two to three weeks. Often, unpleasant symptoms develop when a tourist is already returning home.
How to urgently stop diarrhea in an adult on a trip? Good results are shown by the Imodium drug. It must be taken with you on the road. The role of its active component is the substance loperamide. The medicine quickly restores bowel function, reduces fecal incontinence. After each act of defecation, one capsule should be taken.
Irritable bowel syndrome
This functional disorder is associated with impaired bowel movement. The pathological process is accompanied by constant aching pain in the abdomen, in some cases there is diarrhea. The disease occurs in 10% of adult patients. Most often, unpleasant symptoms are observed in people 20-45 years old.
To date, the mechanism for the development of the pathological process has not been studied enough. The relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and psychological factors is traced. In 30% of cases, the disease develops after a strong emotional shock.
With irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea is observed, as a rule, in the morning. The frequency of bowel movements is low (no more than 5 times a day). Periods of constipation and diarrhea can alternate. Almost all the time there is pain. Patients may also experience symptoms of digestive disorders: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
How to quickly stop diarrhea in an adult with irritable bowel syndrome? You can also use drugs "Smecta", "Imodium." However, it is important not only to remove the symptom, but to eliminate the cause of the disease. Qualified medical care is indispensable.
What tools must be in the home medicine cabinet?
One of the best remedies for any digestive upset is Activated Carbon. Enterosorbent helps to quickly remove toxins from the body, normalize bowel function. In addition to activated carbon, the composition of the tablets includes potato starch. There are no other elements that could harm the body. Therefore, the drug can be prescribed even to children. Adults are prescribed 4-8 tablets three times a day.
How else to stop diarrhea in an adult? Medicines in pharmacies are presented in a wide assortment. Good results show the tool "Polysorb". It is produced in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. The drug is indicated for poisoning, acute and chronic diarrhea. A lot of good reviews can also be heard about the means of Atoxil, Enterosgel.
Treatment of diarrhea with folk remedies
What to do if there are no medicines at home? How to stop diarrhea folk remedies in an adult? Strong black tea will help restore intestinal motility. You can also chew a teaspoon of black tea and drink a glass of clean water. Good results are shown and rice broth. To do this, pour a glass of rice with 7 glasses of water and cook for about half an hour, then filter through cheesecloth and take 150 ml in 3-4 hours.
To stop diarrhea in an adult, according to reviews, black pepper will help. You need to eat 10-15 peas and drink plenty of clean water. But this method is not used to eliminate diarrhea in children under 7 years of age.
In the autumn, the pomegranate peel will help get rid of diarrhea. Two tablespoons of crushed raw material is poured into a glass of water and boiled for half an hour. The broth is taken in small sips on an empty stomach.
Diarrhea Complications
The main danger of diarrhea is dehydration. Against the background of the loss of a significant amount of fluid, a person becomes lethargic, headaches appear, weight loss is observed. In the most dangerous cases, death occurs. Therefore, if you cannot stop diarrhea at home in an adult, you need to go to the hospital.
The following symptoms will indicate that the body begins to lose a large amount of fluid: thirst, increased viscosity of saliva, a sharp decrease in the amount of urine, and a decrease in appetite.
When is it necessary to call an ambulance?
You should not wait until the situation worsens if diarrhea is accompanied by severe vomiting or spotting from the rectum is observed. Ambulance is also recommended when symptoms of dehydration, a significant increase in body temperature. Doctors will tell you how to quickly stop diarrhea in an adult. You need to be prepared for the fact that you have to spend several days in the infectious diseases department until the doctor makes a final diagnosis.
Summarize
Diarrhea is a nuisance that can be easily dealt with at home. But if other unpleasant symptoms appear and the patient's condition worsens, self-medication should not be done. How to quickly stop diarrhea in an adult? The correct answer will be given only by a qualified doctor.