Diarrhea is uncomfortable but mostly harmless

Diarrhea is unpleasant but in most cases rather harmless

27/02/2012

Most people suffer from diarrhea once a year. This is unpleasant, but usually not dangerous. Strictly speaking, it is only a symptom and not a disease, as Thomas Löscher, Head of the Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich has now announced. Triggers can be bacteria, viruses or parasites.

In case of diarrhea, drink enough liquid
While diarrhea is generally harmless to healthy people, infants or weakened older people may well be at risk for their health. „In many regions of the world, diarrhea can be life-threatening, especially for infants. Here in Germany he is usually harmless and easy to handle“, reports Thomas Löscher. Doctors only talk about diarrhea when the person is rushing to the toilet more than three times a day, when there is a fluid defecation or when he comes in unfamiliar quantities.

Often, bacteria in foods are offenders
One of the most common causes of diarrhea is food poisoning. This is triggered by bacteria in contaminated food, which attack the stomach and intestine after a few hours and lead to the well-known complaints.

Tourists often suffer from the so-called „Traveler's Diarrhea“, which is often triggered by coliform bacteria, but also other bacteria, viruses or parasites. „While adult natives have built up some immune protection over the years, tourists are quite defenseless and should therefore take special precautions“, reports the travel physician.

If diarrhea with fever occurs, go to the doctor
„You should get enough fluids and electrolytes like potassium, saline and glucose - if necessary by infusion“, advises the doctor concerned. If a high, persistent fever occurs, this may indicate that pathogens are entering the body. „In this case, there is a risk of sepsis (blood poisoning), so if necessary antibiotics must be given.“ Under no circumstances should medicines be used to stop diarrhea at the beginning. Diarrhea is an immune reaction of the body. The body simply tries to flush out viruses or bacteria from the body. Who takes medicine, interrupts unnecessarily the defense against the pathogens. For this reason, such medication should only be taken on medical advice. This is the case, for example, when internal dehydration threatens due to the high lack of liquid. (Sb)

Also read:
Home remedies for diarrhea
First milk from cows prevents diarrhea