Diarrhea and vomiting – causes and diagnosis

Proven content

Diarrhea is a symptom of a disease characterized by the passing of an excessive amount of more than three semi-liquid or liquid stools a day. Taking into account the speed of symptom development, diarrhea can be divided into acute and chronic.

The causes of diarrhea

Under physiological conditions, the stomach empties food within 2-3 hours. By the time the intestinal contents reach the caecum, the vast majority of the food elements are absorbed in the small intestine, mainly in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. In the initial part of the large intestine, the content is subjected to segmental contractions of the intestine, which from time to time perform peristaltic movements, moving the stool towards the sigmoid colon and rectum. These cramps usually start after meals (gastrointestinal reflex). In the large intestine, semi-liquid stool becomes thickened by the absorption of water and electrolytes.

At least seven different mechanisms lie at the root of the pathogenesis of diarrhea, including:

1. the presence of osmotically active substances in the digestive mass, causing excessive hydration of the stool,
2. the presence in the intestines of bacterial toxins or hormonal substances secreted by cancerous tumors, which force the intestinal epithelium to continuously secrete water into the intestinal lumen,
3. increased gastrointestinal motility (hormonal and neurogenic factors),
4. damage to the intestinal mucosa as a result of an inflammatory (less often cancerous) process with subsequent exudation and impaired water resorption,
5. reduction of the resorptive surface of the small intestine (atrophy of intestinal villi),
6. filling the intestine with digestive mass due to constriction that hinders intestinal passage with excessive development of bacterial flora (hydrolysis of bile salts),
7. impairment of digestion and fat absorption (steatorrhea).

Some dietary supplements have anti-diarrheal effects. It is worth ordering, among others Purgatory medicine extract 10: 1 – YANGO dietary supplement available in packages of 90 capsules.

Diarrhea diagnosis

The medical history of patients suffering from diarrhea should be focused on determining the number of bowel movements and the time of day of the highest intensity of symptoms. Night-time diarrhea indicates an organic rather than functional basis of the disease. It is also important to determine the color and consistency of the stool.

The presence of mucus and blood indicates inflammatory or neoplastic etiology of bowel disease. Loose, black tarry stools are a symptom upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The vomiting accompanying the diarrhea suggests gastritis. The absence of dyspeptic symptoms indicates localization infection / inflammation in the small or large intestine.

The development of diarrhea after or during the use of antibiotics requires a test for Clostridium difficile toxin. In turn, the return from countries with low socioeconomic standards indicates the so-called travelers’ diarrhea, most commonly caused by E. coli or Giardia lamblia. The association of diarrhea with milk consumption is a symptom lactase deficiencyand with the consumption of peanuts, fruit, chocolate or clams symptom of an allergic reaction of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Vomiting

Vomiting is a symptom of the mouth having to empty the stomach automatically. They can appear in the course of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and for reasons beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

The reasons

The pathogenesis of vomiting is complex and based on a multi-component reflex, the most important element of which is the emetic center, located in the medulla (at the bottom of the 4th ventricle). Via the fibers of the autonomic system, this center receives impulses from the visceral receptors, sensitive to nutrients and toxins, and receptors located in the brainstem, which respond to changes in the chemical composition of the blood. The act of vomiting is preceded by a deep inhalation which lowers the position of the diaphragm, followed by closure of the glottis, contraction of the pylorus and relaxation of the stomach body and lower esophageal sphincter. Vomiting is the result of cyclic contractions of the abdominal muscles, which increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity, which is transferred to the walls of the flaccid stomach.

Vomiting diagnosis

First, a distinction must be made between vomiting and regurgitatio regurgitation and from drooling. Coexistence of nausea indicates stomach or duodenal disease. In the case of vomiting due to a disease of the central nervous system, nausea may be absent.

It is important in the medical history to establish the temporal relationship between the occurrence of vomiting and the intake of food (fasted, with or after a meal) and the frequency of this symptom (cyclic vomiting). The volume of vomiting as well as the appearance and smell of its contents should also be determined. For example, vomiting that looks like coffee grounds, the so-called grounds-like vomit with a sour or mushroom odor suggests upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Vomiting may be related to the consumption of alcohol or the use of medications (e.g. digitalis preparations). They can also be a symptom of low potassium levels in your blood. In many cases, the correct diagnosis suggests the coexistence of abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, fever or jaundice with vomiting.

In the case of diarrhea and vomiting, remember to supplement the intestinal microflora with an appropriate probiotic. On Medonet Market, buy Lactobacillus Max SOLHERBS – a supplement with a natural composition that can be used even by vegans and vegetarians. We also recommend LACTIBIANE Imedia for acute gastric disorders and diarrhea containing 4 specific probiotic strains

They have a soothing effect on gastrointestinal problems, e.g. Blueberry fruit, which you can buy in the form of dried ready-to-make tea, at Medonet Market.

Source: Abdominal PHYSICAL TEST WITH ELEMENTS OF DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTICS; Czelej Publishing House