Diarrhea: The Basics

What is diarrhea?

Stools that are loose and watery, usually occuring more frequently than the usual bowel movements.

What causes diarrhea?
Most cases of diarrhea are caused by an infection of the gastrointestinal pathway, either viral, bacterial or parasitic. Other less common causes are as follows:

• Eating foods that upset the digestive system
• Allergies to certain foods
• Medications
• Radiation therapy
• Diseases of the intestines (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Malabsorption (where the body is unable to adequately absorb certain nutrients from the diet)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Some cancers
• Laxative abuse
• Alcohol abuse
• Digestive tract surgery
• Diabetes

What needs to be done?
The mainstay of treatment is the prevention of dehydration and electrolyte losses. Make sure the patient is given adequate fluids. The best choice would be ORS (oral rehydrating solution), which contains adequate concentrations of electrolytes.

In mild cases of dehydration, water, soups, juices, sports drinks and other fluids may be used in the meantime if ORS is not immediately available.

If the patient has difficulty drinking fluids, intravenous fluids may be given instead.

Moderate dehydration requires ORS to be given more frequently.

Severe dehydration requires hospitalization for IV rehydration and observation.

Some cases of diarrhea may require antibiotic treatment. The majority of cases are, however, viral and do not require antibiotic therapy.

What should we watch out for in diarrhea?

We have to watch out for dehydration. The signs of dehydration may include the following:

• Dark urine
• Small amount of urine (less number of diaper changes in small children)
• Rapid heart rate
• Headaches
• Dry skin
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Dry mouth and tongue
• Sunken eyes or cheeks
• No or decreased tear production
• Irritability or listlessness
• Skin that stays pinched instead of flattening out after being pinched

Other signs to watch out for are: fever, blood, undigested food or mucus in the stool and weight loss.

All the above conditions require medical attention.

We must especially be wary of diarrhea in very young or very old patients, or if the diarrhea lasts for weeks.

How to prevent diarrhea?
Most gastrointestinal infections are transmitted via the fecal oral route. Handwashing with water and soap before eating, before and after food preparation and after defecating would prevent trasmission of the microbes that could cause diarrhea.

All water intended for drinking should be adequately disinfected. A simple and effective way is by boiling the water for at least 15 minutes.

Hygiene should always be observed during food preparation.

Source: WebMD

The Red Eye

A common eye complaint is usually the red eye (or sometimes, pink eye). The most common cause of the red eye is an infection, and the infection is usually viral in origin (acute viral conjunctivitis).

Acute viral conjunctivitis also shows the following symptoms: tearing, discharge, slight pain, slight swelling of the eyelids, itchiness. This is a contagious condition, spread by direct contact.

What to do:
- HANDWASHING especially when you have touched your eyes. This would greatly cut down on the spread of conjunctivitis. You don't want to start an epidemic of conjunctivitis.
- Use tissue to wipe off any tearing, and throw the tissue afterwards.
- Use sterile or boiled water to clean off any crusting or discharge.
- it's best to just stay home, especially for children, in order to avoid spreading the infection.

What NOT to do:
- use just any eyedrop without a doctor's prescription. For that matter, don't just put anything into the eye, especially unclean water, urine, plant extracts etc. You might just be worsening the situation.

When you must ABSOLUTELY see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist)
- There was trauma involved, or a chemical substance has been introduced prior to the symptoms.
- When the redness has not subsided in 3 days
- There is very copious discharge.
- There is blurring of vision noted.
- Eyes are very swollen.
- There is eye pain, headache, dizziness or other symptoms.
- There is accompanying fever.
- The patient is either very young or very old.

Other possible cause of red eyes: Acute onset glaucoma, corneal abrasions, blepharitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, keratitis (bacterial or herpes), chemical burns or injury, etc.

Also published in http://blogchex.com/theworkingmom and http://hubpages.com/hub/The_Red_Eye by the same author.