Acute diarrhea – causes, treatment and prevention

When to the doctor?

Basically, diarrhea is no reason to see a doctor if it is only temporary. However, if acute diarrhea lasts longer than three days or is accompanied by severe vomiting , a doctor should be consulted, as the body could become dehydrated due to the high fluid loss. Young children and the elderly with acute diarrhea should be particularly observed, as they are more sensitive to dehydration than other people.

In addition, many nutrients and electrolytes are flushed out during diarrhea, which can cause acute deficiency symptoms. Even if the diarrhea is accompanied by very severe abdominal pain through to cramps or if there is blood in the stool , a doctor should be consulted immediately, as a serious illness or poisoning could be the cause of the symptoms.

By asking specific questions about the patient’s symptoms and medical history and with the help of certain tests, a doctor can usually quickly make a diagnosis and, if necessary, initiate appropriate therapy to relieve the symptoms as quickly as possible.

Symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of acute diarrhea:

• Diarrhea

• stomach pain

• indigestion

• constipation

• nausea

• Vomit

• stomach pain

Acute diarrhea can be identified by clear symptoms. This is when you have to go to the toilet three or more times a day, when the stool is more liquid overall, or when the amount of stool is unusually large. A shortened intestinal passage time of food also indicates diarrhea. Depending on which points occur, one can certainly speak of acute diarrhea.

If the stool has a high liquid content in particular, those affected can assume that they have diarrhea and therefore an underlying disease. However, it is difficult to estimate the amount of stool. Here, a doctor must therefore be consulted, who makes the diagnosis. Acute diarrhea can take many different forms. In most cases, the symptoms disappear after a few days and do not require treatment.

Severe diarrhea, on the other hand, can be accompanied by serious side effects such as nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. Depending on the underlying disease, dehydration, circulatory failure and shock can also occur. Children are mainly at risk because their immune system can only withstand severe diarrhea with the help of accompanying therapy. About 7.5 million people die from diarrhea every year, which speaks for a negative course. In western countries, however, the death rate is very low.

Diagnose

Acute diarrhea can only be clearly assigned to an underlying disease by a doctor. The doctor carries out a comprehensive anamnesis, in which he asks about the frequency and appearance of the diarrhea as well as when the diarrhea first appeared. Depending on the suspicion, he then examines the stool culture and carries out laboratory tests. If the diarrhea is already chronic, further steps must be taken. After the stool has been examined and the diagnosis is available, the doctor initiates the treatment directly.

Complications

Acute diarrhea can sometimes deprive the body of a lot of fluid. Even if the actual cause of diarrhea is benign, complications can arise from dehydration. If the body loses a lot of fluids within a short period of time, not only water but also salts and important electrolytes are lost. If the fluid loss cannot be compensated for quickly, there is a risk of circulatory problems and signs of dehydration. Babies and the elderly are particularly affected by these complications, as they often do not drink enough.

Signs of dehydration are skin folds that remain and do not go away immediately, clouding of consciousness, apathy and severe dizziness. Dehydration of the body is a medical emergency that calls for prompt treatment. This is all the more true if the acute diarrhea does not stop.

Even if there is the slightest indication of dehydration in connection with acute diarrhea, liquids should be given immediately. If this is not successful and the diarrhea does not stop, the patient must be presented to a doctor immediately.

In addition to a possible therapy of the underlying disease, the priority is the rapid supply of water and electrolyte solutions. Supplied via the vein, the body can compensate for the loss of fluid and the symptoms of dehydration should quickly subside.

Treatment and therapy

Acute diarrhea is treated differently depending on the cause. However, the first measures are always to compensate for the loss of fluids by administering special glucose and electrolyte solutions. In severe cases, infusions are necessary. The prescription of constipating drugs such as loperamide is also an option.

If the acute diarrhea is due to an infection, antibiotic therapy is usually carried out. However, this depends on which pathogen is present and how the disease progresses in general. Diarrhea in children must be treated as soon as possible, as otherwise the child can develop a coma and then die within a few hours. Babies in particular often have to be treated with the help of infusions, since the fluid loss can no longer be compensated for by normal fluid intake.

Outlook and prognosis

Acute diarrhea, if it occurs very severely or over several days in a row, leads to dehydration of the body because large amounts of fluid (water) and thus also minerals are lost from the organism. This can lead to a life-threatening condition, especially for the elderly, young children and anyone who has a weakened immune system.

Dehydration causes nutrient transport, waste removal, and body activities to stop working properly. If dehydration occurs, this is often accompanied by apathy , dizziness and circulatory problems up to and including circulatory collapse. Fainting spells may occasionally occur. If the consequences of dehydration are not treated immediately, kidney failure cannot be ruled out.

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is notifiable according to Section 6 of the Infection Protection Act. The severity of the course must be treated in the hospital. Intensive therapy including surgical treatment is often required. If the treatment is delayed or not at all, the course can be fatal.

Prevention

Acute diarrhea can be prevented by good hygiene. It is important to avoid endangered foods from the outset and to prevent salmonella or germs from forming by storing them correctly. Food such as fish, mollusks and shellfish, crustaceans, poultry and game are particularly dangerous. Dishes with raw eggs, such as tiramisu, should also be stored carefully and eaten as quickly as possible. The same applies to minced meat and various other foods. If you have children in the house, you should be particularly careful with the foods mentioned.

In addition, general things must be observed. Anyone traveling abroad should carry out all necessary vaccinations and observe the hygiene regulations. People who have a lot of contact with other people should disinfect their hands regularly. Finally, a doctor should be consulted as soon as the first symptoms appear. In this way, acute diarrhea can often be prevented.