How to Prevent Diarrhoea and Symptoms of Diarrhoea?

I get diarrhoea very often. Can you let me know how to stop diarrhoea?

Diarrhea can be controlled by a good control on the dietary intake and measures which keep the digestive tract clean and active.

Diarrhea refers to frequent liquid bowel movements which create a feeling of unpleasantness in the stomach. The disorder is often treated with home remedies and medications but severe diarrhea where the patient does not receive treatment on time (especially in developing countries) may lead to death. In fact, diarrhea is regarded as the second most common cause of infant death worldwide.



    
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and if treatment is not given on time the disease can become life threatening. Diarrhea can lead to more serious diseases in the long run such as cholera, dysentery and botulism. Hence timely treatment for diarrhea is very much essential.
 
Steps to stop diarrhea  
 
In most cases diarrhea gets resolved on its own.


You must take proper rest and drink plenty of fluids to prevent further dehydration. If the condition is not serious, a couple of home remedies will do the trick. The most common home remedy that can be followed is following the BRATTY diet.


BRATTY stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, tea, and yogurt. Your doctor may advice you to stick to this diet so that the intestines get bulked up.    

Prevention of Diarrhoea and Diarrhoea Cure

The BRATTY diet is recommended by doctors for children and infants as well. As a result the virus and the bacteria pass away through excreta and are replaced by the so called good bacteria.


The doctor may suggest an antibiotic as well. Herbal tea or green tea is given to children. Green tea has excellent health benefits and has low amounts of caffeine.   
Bananas can be eaten directly or they can be sliced. Applesauce is good as it contains pectin; a soluble fiber which will naturally reduce diarrhea by binding stools and providing bulk.

The BRAATY diet is low in protein and hence it is advisable to have yogurt.

Regular intake of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fiber can actually help to bulk up bowel movements and reduce diarrhea. Soluble fiber is very beneficial in diarrhea. Those who have irritable bowel syndrome are particularly encouraged to eat at last the RDA of dietary fiber daily. If unable to consume that much fiber, fiber supplements are readily available to help supplement a healthy diet.

You can also drink sports drinks like Gatorade which helps to replenish lost electrolytes and keeps the disease at bay.

Foods to Stop Diarrhoea

Abdominal pain accompanied by frequent watery stools and gas is called diarrhoea. In some cases, one may find mucous, pus, or even a little bit of blood in the stools. It must be understood that diarrhoea may be the body’s way of flushing out toxins and harmful bacteria that may have entered the body through the food ingested. Diarrhoea may also be the result of an infection or parasites in the intestines. Certain medicines like antibiotics can also trigger a bout of diarrhoea. Before looking for ways to stop diarrhoea, it would be best to try to find the cause of the problem.  Diarrhoea is a problem that can affect adults as well as children. However, when young children or senior citizens are affected, they need to be treated immediately.  This is because the dehydration caused by diarrhoea can have life threatening consequences for them. Helpful intestinal flora and vita nutrients from the body may be flushed out along with the stools, so it is important to control diarrhoea. When accompanied by vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever, diarrhoea patients should be given immediate medical attention to replace lost body fluids.

Contaminated food and water are the most common causes of diarrhoea around the world. When asked how to stop diarrhoea, doctors and healthcare professionals point to the fact that most infections are spread by improper hand sanitation after using the toilet. Children and adults should follow the simple routine of always washing their hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Eating food that has been exposed to flies, food that is rancid, food that has not been refrigerated adequately, or lack of personal hygiene on the part of the person preparing the food, could all lead to a bout of the runs. Prevention of diarrhoea and diarrhoeal diseases in both children and adults depends on the adherence to the basic rules of personal hygiene. Even if one knows how to prevent diarrhoea and takes all the necessary steps, bacterial infections and inflammation in the intestine may lead to diarrhoea. The first step in treating diarrhoea is to replace lost fluids by ingesting juices, soups, or a simple oral rehydration solution made of salt, sugar, and water. Since the body is getting rid of toxic substances, it is better not to stop the runs but rather control it and allow the body to recover. Soft foods like rice, boiled vegetables, yoghurt, bananas, and apples are ideal foods to stop diarrhoea.  Adding a half spoonful of dry ginger powder to a glass of buttermilk and consuming it three times a day helps soothe irritated bowels. Greasy fried food, meat, fish, and poultry should be avoided.

So how do you stop diarrhoea? One important step in diarrhoea prevention is to ensure that all fruits and vegetables consumed raw are thoroughly washed under running water before they are chopped.  Raw meat, fish, and poultry should be kept covered and away from other food. Using pasteurized milk and milk products is the safest for children as well as adults. Knives, cutting boards, and hands should be cleaned thoroughly once they have been used to cut meat or seafood. All meats should be cooked to an internal temperature that makes them safe for human consumption. Raw seafood is likely to be contaminated by parasites and harmful microorganisms before they are packed. Cooking seafood in hot boiling water makes them safe for human consumption. Lists of home remedies name apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extracts as food to stop diarrhoea. Honey, lime juice, garlic, and teas made with herbs and spices are used in various cultures around the world to treat diarrhoea. Charcoal tablets are said to be an effective remedy to remove toxins from the intestines. You can also drink pomegranate juice or chew a few pieces of the inner skin of pomegranate with a pinch of salt for relief.  For adults, soups, crackers, applesauce, blueberries, cereals like oats, and boiled vegetables with rice are the foods that stop diarrhoea. Spices like cumin, fennel seeds, and nutmeg are also effective against diarrhoea.  A well-known remedy for diarrhoea is to boil a raw grated papaya in three cups of water for ten minutes and then drink the strained water all through the day. Combining a spoonful of mint juice and honey with a half a spoonful of ginger juice and swallowing it eases stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

People with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, or lactose intolerance may experience chronic or long-term diarrhoea.  Whatever the reason, it is essential to maintain the electrolyte balance in the body by consuming lots of fluids. One of the ways to stop diarrhoea is to identify the trigger foods that cause the problem; in the case of food intolerances like milk products or gluten in wheat or seafood or any other food allergy, stop consuming that food group. In older people, it may even a new medication that is the culprit. Sometimes, excessive consumption of alcohol, soft drinks with caffeine, coffee, low calorie drinks sweetened with sorbitol, and even sodas sweetened with fructose can lead to diarrhoea. Babies and children may be susceptible to diarrhoea caused by the residue of the detergent used to wash dishes and bottles if these are not rinsed thoroughly after been scrubbed.

For those who ask how to stop diarrhoea in adults and children naturally, the answer lies in taking adequate precautions before eating or drinking anything, particularly if one is traveling to the tropics. Food on buffet tables tends to remain at room temperature for long hours and might be a breeding site for bacteria. Even if you take care to drink only bottled mineral water when you are out, the ice that they put in your drink at the bar may be made with contaminated water and lead to diarrhoea. Street food might look enticing and colorful, but the undercooked animal protein or the raw vegetables in the side salad may result in stomach infections, so it is best to avoid them. Diarrhoea usually lasts no more than a day or two, and though it is uncomfortable and irritating, it is not a serious health issue for most adults. With adequate hydration, rest and a sensible diet, acute or short term diarrhoea can be managed.