Dorothy FarrarBowel sounds and diarrhea
As a rule, intestinal noises and diarrhea are not serious illnesses. Most of the time it is a matter of mild digestive problems. In the case of recurring and intense intestinal noises, a doctor must clarify whether diarrhea or another illness is causing the symptoms.
What are bowel sounds and diarrhea?
Intestinal noises are expressed as an unusual noise phenomenon that arises from the physiological intestinal movements of the intestinal contents. As a rule, intestinal noises can be heard about every ten seconds in the form of gurgles, bubbling or rumbling. The type of intestinal noise depends on the one hand on the trigger and on the other hand on the nature of the food. Various causes can be responsible for noises in the intestine, such as a food intolerance or diarrhea.
In adults, diarrhea is defined as stool that occurs more than three times a day and is watery, loose, or mushy in consistency. The causes of diarrhea are often pathogens on the intestinal mucosa or toxins that damage the intestinal cells. If the mucous membrane is no longer able to absorb water from food , the digested food is more liquid than usual. In addition to water, the organism also loses important mineral salts ( electrolytes ). Acute diarrhea usually disappears within a few days, while the symptoms of chronic diarrhea recur over the course of several weeks.
causes
Diarrhea is the main symptom of all intestinal infections. A disturbed intestinal flora can cause diarrhea, but also spoiled food and various medicines. Around a third of all diarrheal diseases are caused by viruses such as noroviruses or adenoviruses. Coli bacteria or salmonella often trigger traveler’s diarrhea , and long-distance travel increases the risk of intestinal infection with parasites . Antibiotics are often responsible for diarrhea, which occurs as a side effect after ingestion. These drugs not only eliminate harmful bacteria , but also attack the immune-boosting gut bacteria.
Staphylococci, toxic metabolites and heavy metals such as lead can also cause serious digestive problems with diarrhea. Milder complaints include intestinal noises. The intestinal wall in particular is significantly involved in the digestion of food and transports it to the anus with wave-like movements. This process is also known as peristalsis. Food components that are difficult to digest can lead to noises in the intestines such as gurgles or creaks. Flatulence is also assigned to the bowel sounds. Excessive gas build-up in the digestive tract, often triggered by flatulent foods, also causes intestinal murmurs. If there are other symptoms such as vomiting , abdominal cramps or feverIn addition, this can be an indication of an intestinal obstruction.
Diseases
- Darminfectionen
- adenovirus infection
When to the doctor?
If intestinal noises and diarrhea occur, this can be an indication of a food intolerance. With increasing digestion, the symptoms disappear without further medical measures.
It is important to note which foods caused the symptoms. In the future these should be avoided. If it is not possible to determine which foods caused the intestinal noises and diarrhea, a doctor can carry out an allergy test. This provides insight and more detailed information about the intolerance.
Bowel sounds and diarrhea can also be an indication of an existing medical condition, such as infection or inflammation. A doctor’s visit is necessary to clarify the disease and initiate treatment measures. In most cases, the diseases are caused by viruses or bacteria. These spread quickly and, if left untreated, lead to a worsening of the state of health. In addition, they are highly contagious for people from the social environment.
Intestinal noises and diarrhea can have psychosomatic causes in some people. Stress, anxiety , a period of emotional tension or sadness are possible reasons. It is advisable to consult a doctor for help and support. The present symptoms can indicate a serious illness such as the formation of a tumor or an ulcer. A doctor should be contacted as early as possible, as early detection is particularly important here.
diagnosis and course
During the examination, the doctor uses a stethoscope to filter out sounds such as bubbling or gurgling. He listens to all four fields of the abdominal wall and records the intestinal sounds in each quadrant. Doctors describe an active intestine as lively in all fields to the right and left. Conspicuous intestinal noises such as violent rumbling may be due to diarrhea.
Viral or bacterial infections come into consideration, but also lactose intolerance. Missing bowel sounds also provide important information for diagnosis. If diarrhea is suspected, the doctor examines the abdominal organs as well as the skin and tongue to find out whether dehydration has already occurred. Tissue growths can often be detected by means of a palpation examination. Most intestinal infections subside after three days without consequences.
Severe digestive problems with diarrhea, on the other hand, require further measures such as blood tests and stool samples . Laboratory tests mainly focus on the search for bacteria and viruses. However, the doctor may also order tests for parasites, such as the parasitic beef tapeworm. Depending on the assessment of the diagnosis, apparatus-based procedures such as sonography, endoscopy or magnetic resonance imaging are used in diarrhea.
treatment and therapy
In order to get to the bottom of the causes of conspicuous intestinal noises, more extensive diagnostic procedures usually follow, because this is the only way to confirm or refute a suspected illness. Especially in older people, intestinal noises can hide a serious illness. These are, for example, tumors or scarring. Bloating is usually harmless and can be treated with medication if necessary.
In the case of a severe intestinal disease, various therapeutic measures are used, either with medication or with surgical procedures. If a mechanical intestinal obstruction has been diagnosed, the doctor immediately inserts a stomach tube and administers electrolytes and antibiotics via infusions. Obstacles such as tumors that constrict the intestine must be surgically removed. If patients suffer from prolonged diarrhea, targeted therapy is also required to prevent water and electrolyte losses or problems with circuit purchasing.
In the case of diarrhea, it is essential to take in mineral salts and drink enough fluids. Suitable drugs (antidiarrheals) that counteract diarrhea and prevent excessive fluid loss are available in pharmacies. Opiates also stop diarrhea by inhibiting intestinal muscle activity. However, these preparations are less suitable for intestinal infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Infectious diarrhea can lead to complications such as kidney failure and dehydration in the elderly, children, and immunocompromised individuals.
If you have a fever and bloody stool, there is a risk of serious illnesses. When the diarrhea is severe, it is often no longer possible to compensate for the loss of salt and water. In order to avoid dangerous dehydration, the patient is treated in the hospital and receives IV fluids to compensate for the fluid loss. In food poisoning , toxins such as Staphylococcus or Clostridium cause the diarrhea. There are also other symptoms such as fever, vomiting and abdominal pain . Depending on the state of health, the doctor decides whether self-treatment is an option for the patient, home visits make sense or inpatient therapy is the appropriate measure.
prevention
If you want to prevent diarrhea or intestinal noises in general, you are well advised to eat a balanced, healthy diet . Intestinal diseases are often caused by poor hygiene. Food must therefore be washed well and stored in a cool place. A lettuce left in the sun can lead to severe diarrhea with vomiting within a few hours of eating.
It is also important to wash and disinfect your hands carefully, especially when in contact with people suffering from diarrhea. Prophylaxis for food intolerances that are not known is difficult. If intestinal noises and diarrhea keep occurring without an apparent cause, a food diary can help identify suspicious foods. Blood tests and skin tests support the diagnosis.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.