Water diarrhea in an adult: causes and methods of treatment

The dynamic pace of life in which modern society lives imposes special obligations on us. A person of the 21st century must always be in full readiness for career and other achievements. However, despite the fact that evolution has also affected medicine, the human body is still susceptible to a variety of diseases, for example, such as water diarrhea, the causes of which in an adult can be any.

In this material we will look at what diarrhea is, why it acquires the consistency of water, and how to deal with it.

Water diarrhea in an adult: causes

Causes of yellow diarrhea

Deviations in the act of defecation require close attention and sometimes treatment. Bile takes part in the formation of feces, coloring them brown. Lack of liver product results in yellow stools. Another reason for yellow stool may be the rapid removal of feces from the intestines, which have not had time to form and acquire a natural color. The most common causes of loose stools:

Viral and bacterial infections.
Infection with staphylococci.
Side effects of medications.
Inflammation of the pancreas.
Liver dysfunction. A lack of bile salt, which is responsible for the proper functioning of the digestive tract, contributes to the appearance of yellow liquid stool.
Inflammation of the colon mucosa.
Food intolerance.
Hormonal disbalance. Yellow diarrhea in women can occur during menopause or pregnancy.
Inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa.

With salmonellosis, the stool has a dark yellow or green tint and mucus is present.

With dysentery, the stool is green and watery. Yellowish, loose stools that turn gray indicate rotavirus infection. Ulcerative colitis causes light yellow stools containing blood and pus. Bright yellow, foamy diarrhea can be caused by staph. Mustard-colored stool is caused by bacteria. With intestinal candidiasis, the stool is liquid with white flakes. A beige color indicates liver damage.

Orange, red stools are caused by eating foods containing large amounts of carotene. If such products are not consumed, the cause may be hepatitis, stomach ulcers, or cystitis.

Diarrhea may occur when changing water and food in travelers.

Yellow diarrhea due to poisoning

When the body is intoxicated, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract occurs due to the entry, reproduction, death and decomposition of microbes. Such processes irritate the mucous membrane and promote inflammation. Inflamed mucous membrane provokes the production of serous fluid. The intestinal walls lose their ability to function properly and do not absorb moisture that enters it. Excess moisture provokes light-colored diarrhea.

Poisoning is characterized by cramps, high fever, a feeling of nausea, and incessant vomiting. Intoxication is accompanied by weakness and dizziness.

The disease that causes loose stools of an unnatural color cannot be determined without a thorough examination.

Causes of intestinal disorder

Various factors can affect the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often this is an acute intestinal infection, allergies to medications, E. coli, individual food intolerance to certain foods, and stressful situations. As a rule, adults pay little attention to this disease and do not devote time to treatment, but in vain.

Children's bodies are much more susceptible to the environment, food, etc. Therefore, they are more likely to have bowel disorders. Diarrhea in children can be caused by bacteria and viruses that enter the body with food. What causes food fermentation in the intestines and food poisoning. Other causes include infection, poor diet, and stress. But most likely these are rotavirus infections.

Diagnosis and treatment

A one-time intestinal disorder in an adult can be caused by overeating and does not require qualified help. If the problem begins to occur frequently, then it is necessary to consult a doctor to identify the cause and begin treatment. Consultation with a doctor is required in the following cases:

Diarrhea does not go away for more than two days.
Repeated diarrhea with water is accompanied by fever, blood, severe nausea and vomiting, and stomach pain.
Signs of dehydration appeared: dry mouth, pale skin, coating on the tongue.
Taking medications does not bring relief.
Medical care is necessary if a child under 12 years of age or an elderly person falls ill.

Diagnostics

First of all, you need to take stool tests for scatological examination and a general blood test. Stool microscopy allows you to see an increased content of leukocytes and epithelial cells, indicating inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

If, based on the test results, the doctor sees deviations from the norm characteristic of a particular disease, a study of the organ that is supposedly unhealthy is prescribed. This may be an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, an endoscopic examination or an x-ray. You may need to examine your intestines with a colonoscope.

Treatment

Regardless of the cause of the symptom, it is important to replenish the water balance in the body. When the intestines are upset, the body quickly loses moisture and beneficial microelements. Dehydration can lead to coma. In particularly difficult cases - death. Treatment must be comprehensive. If diarrhea is caused by a disease or infection of the gastrointestinal tract, then measures aimed at eliminating loose stools will be useless.

Diagnosis

To make a correct diagnosis, the following methods are used:

stool analysis for worms and occult blood, as well as dysbacteriosis;
caprocytogram;
bacteriological examination of feces;
irrigoscopy;
blood analysis;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs.

To exclude diseases of the large intestine, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are used.

Doctors talk about the reasons for constant diarrhea, watch the video:

Drug therapy

To eliminate the symptom, you will need to take sorbents. The unique properties of such drugs help remove accumulated toxins from the human body. Smecta, Polysorb, and activated carbon are popular as sorbents.

Regidron will help replenish the water-salt balance. Probiotic will help restore intestinal microflora. The doctor may prescribe Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Acipol, Acilact.

Motilium will restore intestinal motility.

Immunomodulators should be taken for loose stools if they are caused by an infection.

The doctor will prescribe antispasmodic drugs if diarrhea is accompanied by abdominal pain.

Folk recipes

In some cases, taking medications is not possible. Traditional methods of therapy will come to the rescue.

Rowan juice has astringent properties for loose stools. Consuming half a teaspoon daily before meals will help the symptoms disappear.

Pomegranate peels, pre-brewed with boiling water, will have a positive effect on diarrhea.

Herbal teas from sage and St. John's wort have astringent and anti-inflammatory properties.

A decoction of oak bark is an excellent remedy for diarrhea.

Treatment with traditional medicine can only be relevant in cases where there is no opportunity to see a doctor and stop the stool using modern methods. It is contraindicated to treat diarrhea with traditional methods in children under one year of age. If it is not possible to visit a doctor in the near future, you need to call an ambulance.

Many chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract periodically contribute to the appearance of diarrhea. In this case, treatment of diarrhea will only be elimination of the symptom. It makes more sense to conduct an examination of the organ and treat the identified pathology. After eliminating the disease, the symptom in the form of yellow loose stools will no longer bother you.

When to see a doctor

When the first symptoms of diarrhea appear, you should carefully listen to your body. After all, this is how he often signals to us that there are problems in him that need to be solved immediately.

The first thing people pay attention to is the duration of this process. If diarrhea bothered you for several days and went away, such a violation is considered minor and does not pose a danger.

In case of prolonged diarrhea that lasts more than 7 days, be sure to consult a doctor. This is a clear sign of a disease that needs to be diagnosed quickly in order to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Often diarrhea may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as weakness, apathy, loss of appetite, drowsiness and other signs.

If you notice blood in your stool or your stool is black, you should tell your doctor.

This is a sign of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to serious complications. In this case, hospitalization is necessary, the patient is treated in a hospital.

If the cause of diarrhea is an infection, the doctor will prescribe special medications to eliminate it. When chronic diseases are detected, the pathology itself is treated first.

Don't delay your visit to the doctor. After all, it is always easier to cure a disease than to deal with its consequences.

You cannot self-medicate. It can harm your health and lead to many negative consequences.

Diet

In case of intestinal disorders, special attention should be paid to nutrition. It is not recommended to overload the stomach with heavy and difficult-to-digest foods. It is necessary to include drinks with astringent properties in your diet. On the first day, it is better to refuse to eat and limit yourself to frequent intake of liquid in small sips.

On the second day, if the symptoms do not intensify, you can eat steamed vegetables and boiled rice. Recommended broth with chicken or turkey fillet, boiled low-fat fish.

Raw fruits and vegetables are strictly prohibited. You should not consume milk, kefir, or yogurt. Drinks containing alcohol are contraindicated. Beans, brown bread, fruit juices, coffee, and strong tea are not recommended.

Preventive measures

Problems affecting the intestines can be avoided by following simple rules:

Wash your hands often with soap, especially before eating and after visiting the toilet. Talk to children about personal hygiene rules.
Take medications only as prescribed by your doctor, without exceeding the dosage.
Properly handle food during cooking.
Eat often, but little by little, observing the temperature regime of the dishes. Food should not be very hot.
Carefully monitor the production date of products and do not eat food that has expired.
Regularly undergo examinations and see a doctor if you have chronic diseases of the digestive tract.
Avoid stressful situations and overwork.

Intestinal disorders, if not preceded by a disease, are easier to avoid by observing the rules of personal hygiene and not violating the diet.

The appearance of yellow stool indicates pathology in the body. Therefore, you should not ignore the symptom. In this case, doing something yourself is not recommended. It is better to undergo a thorough diagnosis and use the doctor’s recommendations for treating the disease. If you seek help in a timely manner and follow the doctor’s recommendations, the disease disappears in a couple of days.

Yellow diarrhea in an adult is a signal of malfunctions in the digestive system. Diarrhea is an alarming symptom that should not be ignored. If the condition recurs regularly, a comprehensive examination is necessary.

Forecast

Diarrhea in adults is a symptom indicating problems in the gastrointestinal tract. The prognosis is quite favorable if you prevent the development of serious complications and dehydration and take timely measures to restore the body and equip it with minerals and vitamins.

If diarrhea with water does not stop for more than 3 days in a row, then you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination. This is a sign of the development of a tumor, hepatitis C or an inflammatory process in the intestinal walls, infection with rotavirus (intestinal infection).

Timely contact with specialists for diarrhea in adults will help avoid serious consequences.

Change in stool color

If the feces turn yellow once, and then everything returns to normal, the cause of the phenomenon is poor nutrition. Many foods can cause light-colored stools, such as whole milk.

If the color of the stool is disturbed for 7 days or more, and there have been no changes in the usual diet, hepatitis or cholelithiasis is suspected.

The normal color of stool can only be brown. What makes it so is stercobilin, a bile pigment that is a derivative of bilirubin. A decrease in the production of the latter affects the coloring of feces in a different color.

The color of stool may change due to the following pathologies:

all types of hepatitis;
inflammatory liver syndrome;
cytolytic liver syndrome;
cholestasis;
portal hypertension;
hepatic cell failure.

These diseases have one thing in common - insufficient secretion of bilirubin, the main component of bile. Yellowed stools indicate a failure in the removal of bilirubin from the body, which indicates the development of liver pathology.

Factors influencing changes in the color and consistency of stool

Stool may turn yellow due to an addiction to dairy products, excessive consumption of carrots and dried apricots. Colored stools appear irregularly. When eating habits change, the color of stool becomes normal .

Diarrhea and yellow stool appear with dysentery, staphylococcal and rotavirus infections.

Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are accompanied by yellow stool.

Light yellow stool mixed with blood and pus appears with ulcerative colitis. With IBS, the patient defecates yellow water mixed with air bubbles.

Digestive pathologies

Inflammation of internal organs is the main cause of diarrhea. Any damage to the mucous membrane leads to digestive disorders.

Pathologies that cause stomach upset:

Liver and gallbladder diseases lead to decreased production of digestive enzymes, which affects the color and consistency of feces. Food is not completely digested, and the entry of microelements into the blood is difficult. This happens when the liver membranes are destroyed or cholelithiasis progresses.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) leads to a decrease in the production of lipase, amylase, and trypsin. These are enzymes that are involved in the process of digesting food. Violation of their production reduces the efficiency of the digestion process. The feces become liquid, foamy, acquire a bright yellow color, and a large amount of undigested fat appears in it.
Infection of the liver with helminths (giardiasis) provokes the development of liver pathologies. The color of the feces becomes bright yellow and even orange. A person regularly feels sick, has a headache, and loses weight.
Dysbacteriosis, a disruption of healthy intestinal flora, leads to poor digestion. The first sign is liquid yellow stool with inclusions of undigested food.
Food poisoning (intoxication) occurs when Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli enter the digestive system. Due to the proliferation of pathogenic microflora, fetid yellow liquid diarrhea with the smell of a rotten egg, nausea, and vomiting appears.

Causes of infectious diarrhea

But often yellow diarrhea in adults appears due to infection. Such reasons are serious and in this situation one cannot do without the intervention of a doctor.

If these manifestations of the body are detected, immediately consult a doctor to avoid complications. Why does it occur:

Salmonellosis causes diarrhea. The feces become dark yellow or green in color and contain mucous impurities.
Dysentery may be indicated by frequent diarrhea, which is very thin, yellow, watery and with mucous impurities. Additionally, this disease is accompanied by high body temperature, reaching 39.5 degrees, and acute pain in the left side of the abdominal cavity.
With ulcerative colitis, light yellow stool is observed. It includes purulent patches, sometimes containing blood.
With a staph infection, the stool takes on a foamy consistency and includes green spots. This symptomatology is aggravated by pain in the abdominal region.
Rotavirus infection affects the entire digestive system. The tongue becomes yellow and the stool becomes bright yellow.
Diarrhea may occur due to irritable bowel symptoms.

After a couple of days, the diarrhea becomes gray, severe pain is felt in the abdominal cavity when palpated, and there may be no increase in temperature.

Associated symptoms

When diarrhea develops, you need to pay attention to accompanying signs that indicate problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Yellow feces interspersed with mucus

A healthy adult has a small amount of inclusions in the discharge, but it is difficult to notice them with the naked eye. Such mucous fractions consist mainly of nasopharyngeal secretions, which combine with food during eating.

Pathology is considered to be the formation of rather large patches of mucus with bloody streaks.

Such formations indicate inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. When digesting food, the diseased organ is damaged, the mucosal epithelium is rejected, which connects with feces.

The disease is characterized by the appearance of diarrhea with mucus, pain in the lower abdomen, and frequent unsuccessful urge to defecate.

A person with such symptoms should seek medical help, otherwise the painful condition threatens the rapid development of pathology of the digestive organ, dehydration of the body, and loss of microelements.

In advanced cases, conservative treatment is impossible.

Yellow diarrhea with water

Stools of a characteristic color with water indicate both a severe infectious disease and a banal indigestion. If there is no fever, unbearable pain in the epigastrium, nausea and vomiting, we can talk about indigestion.

During this period, you should switch to dietary nutrition, eat pureed food little by little but often, and drink antidiarrheal medications. If relief does not occur after 2 days, you should consult a specialist.

Severe infectious diseases are accompanied by diarrhea with the release of yellow feces with water, high body temperature, pain, cramps, a sharp deterioration in the general condition of the body, and vomiting.

In this case, they do not self-medicate . This means that urgent qualified help is needed.

Diarrhea with a strong odor

The stench from feces indicates the development of pathogenic intestinal microorganisms.

In normal conditions, digestion is facilitated by fermented intestinal bacteria. Under certain circumstances (dysbacteriosis, infection, antibiotic therapy), beneficial bacteria die and the growth of pathogenic microflora increases.

The digestion process is disrupted, rotting and fermentation of undigested food begins in the intestines, and stool becomes foul-smelling. Diarrhea, gas formation, and rumbling appear.

A diseased pancreas cannot secrete enough secretion to fully process the food bolus, so the digestion process is disrupted and stool becomes foul-smelling.

The pathology is accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, and girdle pain in the epigastrium.

Foamy diarrhea

Fermentation in the body affects the appearance of foam in feces. Cravings for carbohydrate foods can cause this condition.

Foam is air bubbles that come out during defecation. Diarrhea is accompanied by excessive gas formation, bloating, and the stool acquires a sour smell.

If after correcting the diet the situation has not changed, then the cause of the pathology is different.

The inflammatory process of the digestive system is also accompanied by the release of foamy feces. Ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, enterocolitis can provoke pathology.

Bright yellow diarrhea

The appearance of bright yellow feces indicates a difficulty in the outflow of bile.

This disease refers to serious pathologies, including cholestasis, dyskinesia, cholecystitis, and cholelithiasis. With these pathologies, frequent bowel movements up to 5 or more times a day, a slight increase in temperature, and pain in the epigastric region are observed.

Diarrhea, yellow stool, fever

Stomach flu causes diarrhea with yellow feces. The disease is accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting.

This disease is preceded by a common cold, the body loses a large amount of fluid.

When to see a doctor

If diarrhea develops, be alert and listen to your body. If the following signals appear, consult a doctor:

duration more than 7 days.
apathy;
drowsiness, weakness;
loss of appetite;
black color of stool;
blood discharge;
painful stomach;
bright red color or blood;
mucous discharge, foam in large quantities.

Don't delay your visit to the doctor. These symptoms indicate the presence of serious pathologies or infection with a dangerous infection that can cause serious health problems.

The appearance of yellow diarrhea immediately after eating

This condition often occurs due to dysbacteriosis. When the intestinal microflora is disturbed, the digestion process is also disrupted, and regular intestinal upset appears. Fatty or heavy foods can cause diarrhea.

Also, diarrhea after eating appears with the following pathologies:

IBS;
thyroid diseases;
liver diseases.

In the case of chronic diarrhea after eating, it is important to determine its cause. In irritable bowel syndrome, watery diarrhea can be a psychological problem.

Treatment methods

Medicines and traditional medicine are used in accordance with the pathology that caused such a condition. Symptomatic treatment is carried out at home before visiting a doctor.

Medications

You can get rid of diarrhea using the following antidiarrheal drugs: Imodium, Loperamide, Smecta. For food poisoning, drink activated carbon.

For dysbacteriosis, if it is the cause of diarrhea, a course of probiotics (Linex, Acipol, Bifiform) is prescribed.

If there is insufficient production of pancreatic enzymes, take the following tablets: Mezim, Pancreatin, Creon.

In all other cases, treatment is prescribed by a doctor.

ethnoscience

To fix the stool, use an infusion of oak bark (25 g of shavings per 1 glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour). Drink 100 ml of the drink before meals.

When emergency medical care is needed

For which symptoms should you not self-medicate:

yellow diarrhea does not stop for 3 or more days even after nutritional correction;
temperature increase;
acute abdominal pain;
nausea, vomiting.

If these signs do not go away, then it is necessary to urgently seek help, otherwise there is a high probability of developing irreversible consequences, including death.

Diarrhea like water in an adult: causes

Loose stools are a signal of problems in the body. If diarrhea lasts up to three weeks, it is considered an acute condition. If the condition lasts longer than twenty days, it means the problem has become chronic.

A healthy human body excretes up to three hundred grams of feces per day. In a state of diarrhea, bowel movements increase due to fluid. When intestinal function is disrupted, feces are released frequently and in small portions.

Causes of loose stools:

All of these factors lead to short-term diarrhea, which goes away in a couple of days. But there are other reasons that require timely treatment:

viral and bacterial infection (intestinal flu, dysentery, etc.);
inflammation of the digestive organs (peptic ulcer, gastritis);
poisoning by toxins;
infection with certain types of intestinal parasites.

Such reasons require immediate medical intervention and even hospital treatment.

Severe water diarrhea in an adult

Symptoms of critical dehydration may include dark urine, dry mucous membranes, rapid pulse and muscle spasms.

If water diarrhea is severe, it is important to begin rehydration immediately. Especially if diarrhea is accompanied by persistent vomiting. The appearance of traces of blood in the stool signals life-threatening diseases such as dysentery or Crohn's disease.

Diarrhea with water and fever in an adult

The combination of loose stools and high temperature are signs of severe food poisoning, inflammation of the pancreas or rotavirus infection.

Bacterial infections can also cause fever. If they are present, the stool becomes greenish in color and may contain blood.

Yellow diarrhea with water in an adult

Yellow diarrhea may appear for the following reasons:

changes in hormonal levels due to diabetes or problems with the thyroid gland, pregnancy and menopause;
prolonged use of antibiotics that disrupt the natural balance of microorganisms in the intestines;
problems with bile secretion and liver function;
rehabilitation period after surgery on the gastrointestinal tract.

What are the dangers of diarrhea?

The main danger of diarrhea is dehydration. This condition is especially dangerous in children and the elderly. Measures should be taken immediately to restore the water-salt balance

Why does this diarrhea occur?

In many cases, yellow, loose stool in an adult manifests itself in serious illnesses and signals a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is impossible to independently identify the causes; this will require consultation with a doctor. He will diagnose the condition of the internal organs and prescribe all the necessary tests.

Based on these data, the doctor will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. Why does yellow diarrhea occur?

Entry into the body of rotavirus infection. Its other name is intestinal flu. This infection enters the human body through dirty hands or poorly washed food (vegetables and fruits), causing yellow liquid diarrhea. Due to the spread of this disease by airborne droplets, epidemics and mass casualties are possible. They recommend complete isolation of the patient to avoid infecting other family members.
Disturbances in the body associated with hormonal levels. Yellow liquid stool in adults often accompanies diabetes and thyroid dysfunction. Such hormonal changes can occur in the female body during menopause, pregnancy and menstrual irregularities.
Often, yellow diarrhea appears with long-term use of medications. These medications include antibiotics. They not only kill pathogenic microorganisms, but also beneficial ones, disrupting the healthy intestinal microflora. Because of this reason, doctors strongly recommend taking additional drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora in parallel with antibiotics.
If there are chronic diseases of the digestive system, adult yellow diarrhea appears regularly. It is appropriate here not to try to eliminate this unpleasant symptom, but to identify the disease that provokes it. The reasons may lie in the presence of ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis and other diseases.
Yellow stools with a liquid consistency may appear due to disorders in the nervous system. Often stress, depression, nervous shock or disturbances in the psycho-emotional environment become provoking factors that cause diarrhea.
Pathologies of the liver or gall bladder. Liver diseases can cause yellow diarrhea.
After surgical intervention. If a patient has undergone surgery on the organs of the digestive system, yellow diarrhea in an adult may accompany him throughout the entire rehabilitation period.

But this phenomenon is considered temporary, therefore, after recovery, the symptom goes away and treatment is not required.

Water diarrhea in an adult: treatment

Treatment for diarrhea should be prescribed by a doctor. You should not self-medicate, as this can lead to worsening of the condition, sudden loss of fluid and even death.

Drugs

Antibiotics for diarrhea are not a panacea.

They are prescribed only after laboratory tests have identified the causative agent of diarrhea. In the presence of a viral infection, Arbidol is prescribed; in case of microbial infection, Enterofuril is prescribed.

The drugs Loperamide and Imodium will help to quickly slow down intestinal motility.

To restore the balance of fluids and salts, you need to drink solutions with Regidron, Gastrolit and Citroglucosolan. If you don’t have these drugs on hand, just dilute a third of a glass of sugar, one teaspoon of salt and lemon or orange juice in half a liter of water. This composition is drunk in small portions throughout the day.

Important in the treatment of liquid diarrhea is the use of sorbents. It must be remembered that they should not be used simultaneously with other medications and should be kept at an interval of approximately two hours. Traditionally, they take activated carbon, Smecta or Polyfipan.

For dangerous causes of diarrhea - dysentery or Crohn's disease, hormonal medications may be prescribed.

Enzyme agents, such as Mezim or Festal, stimulate absorption in the intestines and replace the lack of digestive fluid.

Preparations with probiotics (Enterol, Linex) stimulate the growth of bacteria necessary for normal intestinal function.

For infectious diarrhea, the doctor may recommend the immunomodulatory drug Galavit (it is not prescribed to children).