Diarrhea treatment
Diarrhea is one of the most common health problems in the world, and even in developed countries is one of the most common infectious diseases. Diarrhea is also one of the most common health problems during childhood. Diarrhea is generally described according to several criteria: duration (acute vs. chronic), clinical description (frequency, water content, presence of blood), and etiology. Chronic diarrhea is a distinct clinical entity from acute diarrhea that, if unchecked, results in morphological and functional pathology in the intestine. As opposed to acute diarrhea, histological examination of the chronically infected small intestinal mucosa reveals villus atrophy, crypt hypertrophy, and decreased mitosis. Chronic diarrhea leads to malabsorption, weight loss and cachexia. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have recognized this condition as the "Diarrhea Wasting Syndrome". Chronic diarrhea has been described as two to three or more loose or watery stools per day for a period of at least 30 days. Acute and chronic diarrheas represent a major medical problem in many areas of the world. Diarrhea is both a significant factor in malnutrition and the leading cause of death in children less than five years old. Secretory diarrheas are also a dangerous condition in patients of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diarrhea can result from a variety of pathophysiological disorders including bacterial and parasitic infections, disease or debilitation of organs such as liver, adrenal and others. It can also occur as a result of other therapy or diet. In all cases, diarrhea is generally a symptom of organic gastrointestinal disorders and not itself a disorder. Diarrhea, characterized by the frequent defecation of liquid or liquid-like stools, often develops as a side effect during clinical treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. This adverse effect is most commonly associated with chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin or irinotecan hydrochloride. Diarrheal diseases are treated by rehydration therapy using preparations composed of various salts (potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium hydrogen carbonate) and glucose.
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