Recognize 3 Ways to Treat Prolonged Diarrhea

Recognize 3 Ways to Treat Prolonged Diarrhea

There are various ways to treat prolonged diarrhea, from setting the proper diet to using medical drugs. This condition needs to be treated immediately because it can cause dehydration which can be fatal.

Diarrhea is a condition when the stool becomes liquid, and the frequency of bowel movements increases by two or more times a day. If it occurs continuously for 2-4 weeks, this condition is also known as prolonged or chronic diarrhea.

The causes of prolonged diarrhea vary. However, this condition is generally experienced by people who suffer from lactose intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, HIV/AIDS, chronic parasitic infections, or cancer in the digestive tract.

If not appropriately treated, various causes of chronic diarrhea can lead to severe complications, such as dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and even brain or kidney damage. Therefore, this condition requires immediate medical attention.

Various Ways to Treat Prolonged Diarrhea

Treatment of prolonged diarrhea needs to be tailored to the cause. When you experience it, it is advisable to consult a doctor to identify the cause of chronic diarrhea. Doctors usually recommend various tests, such as blood tests, endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scan.

Once the cause of chronic diarrhea is found, your doctor may recommend several ways to treat prolonged diarrhea, which include:

1. Use of medical drugs

The main goal of treating prolonged diarrhea is to ensure that nutritional and fluid requirements are met to prevent dehydration. Therefore, you will be given rehydration fluids, either in the form of ORS or IV.

The doctor will also prescribe certain antibiotics, antiparasitics, or antivirals if an infection causes prolonged diarrhea. If chronic diarrhea occurs due to inflammation in the intestines, corticosteroid treatment will be given to reduce inflammation.

In addition, antidiarrheal medications, such as loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate, may also be prescribed to relieve diarrhea symptoms. In addition to taking medication, your doctor may recommend surgery in some instances, such as colon or stomach cancer.

2. The application of a healthy diet

You will be asked to record each type of food consumed along with the portion. After that, you must stop drinking one kind of food for a specific time.

For example, for a few days, you may stop consuming milk and its dairy products, such as cheese or yogurt. Next, you can eat milk again, but stop eating nuts.

This way, you can evaluate what types of food can trigger prolonged diarrhea. In addition to knowing the types of nutrients or certain foods, the body cannot digest, this method is also effective as a treatment for prolonged diarrhea.

3. Consumption of probiotics

Consuming probiotics is believed to balance the good and bad bacteria in the gut so that it can treat diarrhea. A study revealed that consuming probiotics is effective for dealing with prolonged diarrhea so that diarrhea heals faster.

Some food sources that contain probiotics include kombucha, tempeh, tofu, miso, and yogurt. Although claimed to have benefits, not all prolonged diarrhea can be treated this way. So, it is better to consult a doctor before consuming it regularly.

In addition to following how to treat prolonged diarrhea above, you are also advised to avoid oily, spicy, and high-fat foods. Expand the consumption of low-fiber foods, such as bananas, white rice, and chicken soup.

In addition, avoid foods and drinks that can cause flatulence, such as soda, beans, peas, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Given the dangers that can be caused, prolonged diarrhea needs to be treated in various ways recommended by doctors. Therefore, if you experience it, immediately consult a doctor for the proper examination and treatment.