Paradoxical diarrhea: what it is, symptoms and treatment
Paradoxical diarrhea, also called false diarrhea or overflow diarrhea, is characterized by the release of mucus containing small traces of stool through the anus, most often caused by chronic constipation.
- In the elderly with chronic constipation and bedridder.
- Very hardened faeces called fecalomas can form and form a viscous mucus around them.
- Paradoxical diarrhea occurs when this mucus comes out of the anus that contains some traces of these stool.
- But hard stools become trapped in the intestine.
This diarrhea should not be confused with common diarrhea, because in the case of common diarrhea, the treatment is done with drugs that can harden the stool, which tends to worsen the situation, since these drugs make the stool trapped in the intestine, increasing mucus production.
Paradoxical diarrhoea is one of the main consequences of chronic constipation and is characterized mainly by the presence of a mass of hardened stools in the rectum or end of the intestine, the fecaloma, with difficulty evacuating, abdominal swelling, cramping and presence of blood and mucus in the stool.Learn more about fecalomas.
In addition, it is a sign of paradoxical diarrhea that mucus escapes through the anus containing traces of stool, and usually indicates the presence of faecal impact.
Treatment of paradoxical diarrhoea should be carried out in accordance with the advice of the GP or gastroenterologist, with the use of laxative drugs, such as Colonac or Lactulone, for example, in order to promote the elimination of dried and hardened faeces and reduce mucus production.
In addition, it is important to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and increase the consumption of laxative foods, such as papaya, kiwi, flax, oats or pear, for example.Discover other laxative foods.