Table of contents:
- What causes diarrhea that doesn't go away?
- What is the appropriate treatment for chronic diarrhea?
- What are the dangers of prolonged diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a disease that attacks the digestive system and can be experienced by people of all ages. Usually, diarrhea that is not too severe will resolve within a few days of treatment. However, what causes diarrhea if it lasts for a long time and doesn't heal? Find out the complete information below.
What causes diarrhea that doesn't go away?
The type of diarrhea can be distinguished based on the time it lasts. Diarrhea can be considered acute if it lasts a few days, and will be classified as chronic if it lasts more than two weeks. Diarrhea that does not go away is categorized as chronic diarrhea, because it occurs for a long time.
Generally, the cause of diarrhea is related to the consumption of food that has been contaminated with viruses, bacteria and parasites, as well as due to allergies to certain types of food. However, chronic diarrhea can be caused by inflammation of your digestive tract.
There are two types of gastrointestinal inflammation that can eventually cause chronic diarrhea, namely Crohn's disease and colitis (inflammation of the intestines).
Not only that, the causes of prolonged diarrhea can also be rooted in your diet. The reason is, there are several types of food such as milk and artificial sweeteners that can speed up the digestion rate so that food passes quickly through the large intestine.
Reporting from the Medical News Today page, there are various other causes that underlie your diarrhea that won't heal, namely:
- Chronic infection
- Consumption of drugs, such as prolonged use of antibiotics
- Have diabetes
- Alcohol abuse
In some cases, the cause of chronic diarrhea is difficult to detect. One way to find out is to do a diagnostic test. However, if the test results reveal no abnormality, the biggest cause could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
What is the appropriate treatment for chronic diarrhea?
Basically, diarrhea can be relieved by returning lost fluids, accompanied by the use of drugs according to the cause of diarrhea. If bacteria or parasites are the cause of diarrhea, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. There are also several drugs that are intended to stop the symptoms of diarrhea, such as the drugs loperamide and pepto bismol. However, these medicines are only recommended for consumption in the short term.
So, other options that you can do by adopting a healthy lifestyle and lifestyle include avoiding caffeine and alcoholic drinks; eating a low-fiber diet; drink lots of water to prevent dehydration; controlling the portion of the meal to taste.
What are the dangers of prolonged diarrhea?
Dehydration
The colon is a part of the large intestine that is responsible for absorbing liquid from food as it passes through the digestive tract. If diarrhea is caused by irritation of the intestine or caused by Crohn's disease, it will cause absorption disorders in the intestine. Therefore, the process of absorption of body fluids can be disrupted and eventually lead to dehydration.
Electrolyte imbalance
When your intestines fail to do their job of absorbing fluids, electrolytes, and minerals, what happens is diarrhea or loose stools. In fact, the body needs electrolyte balance to maintain blood components and support the function of organs and muscles in the body.
To ensure electrolytes remain balanced, adequate electrolyte intake is required. Good sources of electrolytes include bananas, which are rich in potassium.
Malnutrition
According to research conducted by Kenneth Brown in The Journal of Nutrition , the condition of diarrhea can prevent the body's organs from absorbing nutrients. Ultimately, this can lead to malnutrition or malnutrition if diarrhea is not treated properly.
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