Introduction
Diarrhea affects most of the people in developing countries and it involves frequent passing of loose, soft, and liquid stool. This condition causes discomfort, restlessness, and uneasiness to the persons suffering from it. The frequent bowel movement leads to dehydration and loss of electrolytes from the body resulting into electrolyte imbalance. According to Katzung, “diarrhea is most commonly due to viral gastroenteritis with rotavirus” (2004, p.24). Although viruses play a major role in causing diarrhea infections, other agents such as bacteria and parasites also contribute to the spread of the infection. Treatment of diarrhea helps to alleviate the excessive loss of body liquid and promotes lessening of abdominal pains and uneasiness.
Diarrhea medication
The initial diarrhea medication entails the intake of diarrhea absorbents which include the kaopectate anti diarrheal, which are bismuth subsalicylate compounds treating diarrhea among other conditions. According to Alam, “these drugs include kapectolin, Maalox, Pepto-Bismol and pink bismuth which relief stomach upset” (2003, p.151). The medication streams into the intestines and reduces the rate of liquid loss from the body into the stool. The drugs are in both tablet and syrup form. The medicines also have side effects with some being severe and others being less harmful. The severe side effects include allergic reaction leading to swelling of face, lips, and tongue. Experience of these effects calls for doctor’s intervention. On the other hand, less harmful effects include darkened stool, tongue, and constipation (Alam, 2003, p.152). This medication, if administered to children with fever, can predispose them to Reye’s syndrome; therefore, it is not fit for young children with fever.
Another medications applied in treatment of diarrhea are the opioids drugs especially the loperamida, which include Imodium, lopex, fortasec and dimor. These opioids do not affect the central nervous system as other opioids, instead they act as “receptor agonist in the myenteric plexus of the large intestines” (Butler, 2008, p.105). The mentioned drugs increase the time that food remains in the intestine allowing enough time for absorption of water from the fecal material in the intestines. Like other medications, loperamide contain side effects including vomiting, nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and constipation. Severe side effects entail blistering of skin, swelling of the mouth and development of hives. These drugs are over the counter (OTC) drugs and therefore, their dosage is as per the labels or according to doctor’s prescription.
Home remedies
Mild diarrhea requires home remedies to control excessive loss of water through vomiting and looseness. Drinking plenty of water helps to avoid dehydration as the body loses large volumes of water during diarrhea. Milk may prolong diarrhea; therefore, it should be avoided although it has high nutrient content. Consumption of bananas, rice, apples, and dry bread alleviates diarrhea especially in children. These foodstuffs shorten the sequence of diarrhea. Probiotics in yogurt are known to alleviate diarrhea symptoms and thus consumption of yogurt reduces the duration of symptoms of some types of diarrhea. The emergence of symptoms such as bloody or black stool, doziness, bowel movement lasting more than three days and muscle cramps calls for medical attention.
Conclusion
Although diarrhea presents as a symptom of other diseases, it requires medical attention as other illnesses because frequent diarrhea can result in acute dehydration and electrolyte instability ultimately leading to death. Medication for diarrhea is available via OTC category although the dosage may include unfavorable side effects. Home remedies also help to reduce the cases of diarrhea reported, but persistence of the condition requires medical attention.
Reference list
Alam, N. H. (2003). Treatment of infectious diarrhea in children. Pediatric drugs, 5(3), 151-153
Butler, T. (2008). Loperamide for treatment of traveler’s diarrhea. Clinical infectious Disease, 47(8), 105-107.
Katzung, B. (2004). Basic clinical pharmacology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishers.