Causes and risk factors:
The first most common cause of diarrhea is infection which is bacterial, viral or parasitic. Ingestion of contaminated food or water during traveling can lead to diarrhea. Some individual also experience diarrhea on account of the change in diet or due to the stress of travelling.
Clinical presentations:
As the name suggest, usually after an episode of traveling on returning back home or during traveling the patient suffers from diarrhea. An individual can come up with symptoms of loose watery stools or increased frequency of stools. The stools are watery, loose or sometime associated with discharge of mucus, blood in stools. It can consist of undigested food particles. Certain other associated complaints like fever, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, nausea and weakness or feeling of exhaustion or in severe cases signs of collapse can be seen. Body temperature can be warm or cold clamminess due to infection or electrolyte imbalance can be seen.
Diagnosis and investigations:
In cases of diarrhea diagnosis can be made on the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patients and the physical examination carried out by the doctor. Routine blood test and stool test is done in all cases.
Treatment:
Maintenance of hydration and electrolyte balance is the foremost step of treatment. Oral hydration therapy should be started. Anti diarrheal medications are prescribed. In severe cases hospitalization is required and intravenous administration of fluids is initiated .Adequate food intake to maintain the nutrient levels are necessary. Antibiotics are started to combat the infection. Probiotics can also be prescribed. Proper sanitation and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene is necessary to prevent the spread of infection. Intake of good hygienic food and water is recommended during travelling.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating diarrhea. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating diarrhea.
