Diarrhea is characterized by frequent loose stools or liquid bowel movements. Diarrhea can be acute (less then 14 days) or chronic (more than 2 weeks), and is also divided into three types.
Infectious Diarrhea is the most common type of acute diarrhea. Depending on the type of infectious agent, some of these diarrheas may present with just loose watery stools or even fever and bloody stools. This type of diarrhea is associated with infection by some strains of Escherichia Coli (Traveler's Diarrhea), Campylobacter (causing reactive arthritis), Shigella (food & water transmission), Salmonella (raw eggs, dairy products, pet turtles), Yersinia (joint pain & rash), E. Coli 0H157 (undercooked beef & unpasteurized milk), and Rotavirus (most common cause of infectious diarrhea).
Secretory Diarrhea is the second type of diarrhea. It presents with large volumes of stool usually more than one liter and it's usually caused by the effects of hormones. This type of diarrhea is associated with conditions like carcinoid syndrome, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, VIP secreting pancreatic adenomas, and the use of irritative laxatives like phenolphthalein.
Osmotic Diarrhea is the third type of diarrhea. It is usually caused by undigested food in the intestines. The undigested food acts a solute causing the intestine to secrete fluid into the lumen, because it is unable to absorb undigested food. Some examples of such solutes are lactate and some carbohydrates such as fructose and sorbitol. This type of diarrhea usually occurs after a meal and improves with fasting. Lactase deficiency is the most common cause of osmotic diarrhea.
Depending on the type of diarrhea, the management can range from supportive measures to intravenous fluids and antibiotics. In the case of simple diarrhea that is not bloody, the main concern should be to avoid dehydration by maintaining proper hydration and controlling fluid loss. When we lose fluids from our body, we also lose electrolytes. So water or juice isn't our best choice for hydration. On the other hand, a better choice would be either Gatorade, Pedialyte, or Ricelyte because they contain electrolytes. Also, a person should avoid eating foods that are fried or have a high fat content, and instead eat a more bland diet like mashed potatoes, soup broth, rice, toast, crackers, etc. Besides dietary measures, there is an OTC product that can be used to control diarrhea called Imodium. Imodium works by decreasing the frequency of bowl movements, giving more time for the intestines to absorb water out of the fecal matter. However, Imodium should not be used by people who present with fever, bloody stool, infections with invasive organisms that penetrate the intestinal wall (E. Coli O157:H7, Shigella or Salmonella), or that have a tendency to develop severe rebound constipation. Also people taking certain medications or who have certain health conditions (ex. Diabetes, Hypertension) should always consult with their doctor before taking any OTC medications.
