Know the Various Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the most common digestive problems. Its characteristics are that the stools become soft or runny, runny, with bowel movements more than three times a day. The cause of diarrhea itself is very diverse, ranging from infections to side effects of drugs. Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases in Indonesia. Symptoms of diarrhea can include stooling becomes soft or runny, frequent bowel movements, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and sometimes accompanied by fever. Diarrhea can make the body lose a lot of fluids, so the risk of dehydration.

Causes of Diarrhea

In the normal digestive process, water and electrolytes and nutrients from food and drink will be absorbed in the intestine. But when there is interference in the digestive process, water and electrolytes will accumulate in the digestive tract, causing diarrhea. Here are some things that can cause diarrhea:

1. Infection

Viral infections are the most common cause of diarrhea. Some types of viruses that often cause this diarrhea include norovirus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A. Diarrhea due to infection with this virus will usually improve itself within 2-3 days. Besides viruses, bacterial and parasitic infections can also be a cause of diarrhea. The types of germs that often cause diarrhea are E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. While the parasites that can cause diarrhea are parasites of the Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium types. Diarrhea due to bacterial and parasitic infections usually lasts for three days or more, and requires treatment with antibiotics. Consuming less hygienic water or food, and not keeping the body clean and the environment a major risk factor for diarrhea due to infection.

2. Lactose intolerance

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and its processed products. Lactose requires the enzyme lactase to be digested in the body. The condition where a person lacks or even does not have the enzyme lactase to digest lactose in the small intestine is called lactose intolerance. Symptoms can include flatulence, frequent bowel movements, and diarrhea. These symptoms usually appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming milk or processed products.

3. Side effects of drugs

Antibiotic drugs can destroy bad bacteria and good bacteria in the intestine. As a result, the balance of natural bacteria in the intestine is disturbed. This is more common with long-term antibiotic use. Besides antibiotics, there are many other types of drugs that can also cause diarrhea, such as blood pressure-lowering drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs, chemotherapy drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and antacids.

4. Inflammatory bowel disease

Long-lasting diarrhea can be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease. This disease can cause wounds in the intestinal wall, so that digestive function is disrupted. Besides causing long-term diarrhea, this condition can also cause sufferers to experience a fairly drastic weight loss.

5. After surgery

People who have just had gastrointestinal surgery, such as surgery on the gallbladder, pancreas, or intestine, are also at risk of diarrhea. This is because the digestive tract has not fully recovered so that digestive function has not been able to run normally.

6. Hormone disorders

Increased levels of thyroid hormone in the body, called hyperthyroidism, can make intestinal movements more active. As a result, the frequency of bowel movements will become more frequent.

Food and Beverage Triggers Diarrhea

Apart from illness, diarrhea can also be caused by certain foods or drinks, such as:

1. Foods with artificial sweeteners

Sorbitol and mannitol are artificial sweeteners that are often used in snacks or sugar-free products.

2. Foods containing fructose

Fructose is naturally found in honey and fruits. Fructose is often added as a sweetener of soda, packaged fruit juice, sweets, and cakes.

3. Spicy food

Foods that are too spicy can irritate the stomach and intestines when ingested. People who are not accustomed to eating spicy foods can experience bloating, heartburn, and diarrhea after trying these spicy foods.

4. Coffee

The caffeine in coffee can stimulate digestion so that bowel movements become faster. As a result, food and drinks that enter the digestive tract will pass too quickly through the intestine, causing diarrhea. There are very many causes of diarrhea, but the most frequent cause is infection. Therefore, it is very important to maintain environmental hygiene and routine hand washing, especially before eating, to avoid the germs that cause diarrhea. When you have diarrhea, drink more water and rehydration drinks to prevent dehydration. Consult a doctor if the frequency of bowel movements does not decrease after 2 days, accompanied by high fever, vomiting, or blood in the stool.