Loose stools are a common occurrence in people of all age groups. It can happen due to several reasons, like eating spicy foods or taking certain medications. Having a loose stool can be quite distressing and unpleasant. Getting loose stools once in a while is mostly bearable. However, having frequent loose stools or diarrhoea can be an uncomfortable experience.
In this blog post, we will discuss what diarrhoea actually means, along with some home remedies and diarrhoea treatment options that can be used for relief.
What Does Having Diarrhoea Mean?
A person is said to have diarrhoea when they have loose, watery, and shapeless stools at least three times a day. They may also experience other symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Bloating
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blood or mucus in stool
Usually, diarrhoea presents mild symptoms that resolve within a few days. Diarrhoea that lasts for less than 2 weeks is called acute diarrhoea. The one that lasts for 2-4 weeks is called persistent diarrhoea. Whereas diarrhoea episodes that keep recurring or continue for more than 4 weeks are termed as chronic diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea Treatment: Effective Home Remedies
The good news about diarrhoea is that its symptoms are usually mild and can be treated at home with some simple home remedies. Let us have a look at the different home remedies for diarrhoea.
Keep yourself hydrated
Taking frequent trips to the bathroom because of diarrhoea can make you dehydrated. Therefore, it is important to compensate for the loss of water from your body. Rehydrate yourself by drinking plenty of fluids like plain water, soups, and broths. You can also consume an oral rehydration solution that contains water and essential electrolytes to ease dehydration and maintain an electrolyte balance in your body.
Eat a BRAT diet
The BRAT diet includes bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. The reason why the BRAT diet is recommended for diarrhoea is because these foods are bland, easy to digest, and gentle on the stomach. These foods can firm up stools and bring your bowel movements back to normal.
Avoid certain foods
If you have diarrhoea, it is better to avoid foods that can irritate your stomach and aggravate your problems. For this reason, say no to fried foods until your diarrhoea clears up. Also avoid fibre-rich foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, chickpeas, leafy vegetables, and beans, as they may be difficult to digest and cause bloating.
Take probiotics
Yoghurt, an easily available and effective probiotic, can help in easing diarrhoea symptoms. So, make sure you eat a bowl of yoghurt to replenish the good bacteria essential for the proper functioning of your gastrointestinal system.
Drink teas
Make yourself some chamomile tea or boil a small amount of coriander seeds or cumin seeds in some water to make a refreshing cup of tea and sip on the beverage. This will soothe your digestive system when you have diarrhoea.
Other Ways to Treat Diarrhoea
OTC Medications
Often, home remedies are enough to treat diarrhoea in adults. However, if you still feel the need to get relief sooner, you may try taking over-the-counter (OTC) diarrhoea medications like loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate. However,it is better to take these medications under your doctor’s supervision.
Please note that OTC anti-diarrhoeal medications are not recommended for children. If your child has diarrhoea, consult their paediatrician for treatment.
Prescription Medications
If home remedies and OTC medicines don’t help, your doctor may prescribe you prescription medications to treat your problem. He may prescribe you a medication that treats the underlying cause of your symptoms, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
When to Visit Your Doctor
While it is possible to ease diarrhoea symptoms at home, there are certain situations when you must see your doctor as soon as possible. These are:
- It’s been 2 days, but your diarrhoea symptoms haven’t improved.
- You have had loose stools more than 6 times a day.
- You have a fever.
- You are vomiting frequently.
- You look dehydrated.
- There is blood or pus in the stool.
- You have severe pain in your abdomen.
Summing Up
Diarrhoea is a common health concern affecting adults and children alike. Most cases of diarrhoea can be dealt with at home with simple home remedies and usually get better in 2-3 days. However, it is important to remain watchful and look for signs of dehydration and other symptoms like very frequent loose stools, bloody stools, or fever with diarrhoea. These situations call for medical attention and must not be ignored.
If your child is suffering from diarrhoea, check with your doctor before trying home remedies or OTC diarrhoea treatment.
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Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhoea#management-and-treatment
https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/most-effective-diarrhoea-remedies#probiotics
