Diarrhea is considered when the person goes to the bathroom more than 3 times to the bathroom and the consistency of the stool is watery or pasty, it is important to go to the gastroenterologist if the diarrhea is persistent and others. symptoms that may suggest complications, such as chapped lips, fatigue, decreased urine output, and mental confusion, for example.
Among the main causes of diarrhea are intestinal infections, whether due to viruses, parasites or bacteria, intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, stress and anxiety, as well as food intolerances and allergies, such as the case of celiac disease, for example, in which the person is intolerant to gluten in food.
- Diarrhoea may have different colors.
- And this information is critical for your doctor to indicate possible causes and thus order more specific tests to identify the cause of diarrhea to initiate treatment.
- Find out what the color of poop can say about health.
Thus, the main types of diarrhea are
Infectious diarrhea is usually one of the symptoms of an infection by parasites, viruses or bacteria that can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, leading to the development of intestinal symptoms. Among the main bacteria responsible for infectious diarrhea are E. coli, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. , which are found in contaminated food.
Parasitic infections are more frequent in children, due to the immaturity of the immune system and the fact that they always put their hands in their mouths, whether dirty or clean, the most common parasites being Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoides , for example .
What to do: If diarrhea is caused by infections, your doctor usually orders specific tests to identify the infection-causing microorganism to begin proper treatment. For parasitic infections, your doctor usually orders a stool test to identify the presence of the parasite. Understand how the stool test is performed.
The presence of blood in the stool, in most cases, indicates the presence of hemorrhoids or fissures. However, when bloody diarrhea occurs, it usually means more chronic problems, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection.
Also, bloody diarrhea can occur as a side effect of certain medications or be a sign of bowel cancer, for example, and it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause of the diarrhea. Learn more about the causes of bloody diarrhea.
What to do: If diarrhea is accompanied by blood, it is important that the person is referred to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible to make the diagnosis and start treatment. This is because in the case of diarrhea caused by bacteria, the presence of blood in the stool may be an indication that the bacteria can be found in the blood, which can lead to sepsis, which is severe.
So, in case of bloody diarrhea, the doctor will usually order laboratory tests to make the diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
The presence of yellow diarrhea is usually related to difficulty digesting fats and a decrease in intestinal absorption capacity, being more common in people with food intolerances and allergies, as in the case of celiac disease for example.
In general, yellow diarrhea is temporary, lasts up to 2 days and is linked to emotional factors, such as stress and anxiety, for example; however, when it persists longer and is accompanied by other symptoms, it may indicate intestinal, pancreatic or biliary disorders. that need to be treated, like irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal infections, for example. See what yellow diarrhea can be.
What to do: It is important to see the gastroenterologist when diarrhea lasts more than 2 days to identify the cause and start treatment. In the case of celiac disease, it is recommended that the person avoid eating foods that contain gluten, for example.
When yellow diarrhea is due to an intestinal infection, treatment is usually done with the use of drugs to remove the agent causing the infection, and can be done with antibiotics or antiparasitic medications, for example.
If irritable bowel syndrome, problems related to the pancreas or gallbladder are suspected, the gastroenterologist usually recommends laboratory and imaging tests in order to make the correct diagnosis.
Green stools are generally related to an increase in the speed of intestinal function, which means that the bile is not fully digested and results in the greenish color of the stool, which can occur as a result of stress and intestinal diseases, such as diseases parasitic. , Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome, for example.
In addition, green diarrhea can also occur due to the consumption of a lot of vegetables, foods with green coloring and the constant use of laxatives, for example. Learn more about the causes of green stool.
What to do: As with all other types of diarrhea, it is critical that the person drinks a lot of fluids and receives adequate nutrition to avoid dehydration.
It is also important that the person visit the gastroenterologist so that the cause of the green diarrhea is identified and treatment can be started. iron-rich green vegetables, for example, until the situation is under control.