Friday, April 13, 2012

Digestive Upsets:When to Seek Help

An upset of the digestive track in the form of diarrhea is experienced by the average adult about four times a year.There are a number of causes of this very common affliction.Usually it resolves itself in a few days or less and medical attention isn't required.
Causes of diarrhea include:
bacterial infection(foodborne illness);viral infection(Norovirus);food intolerances;parasites;reactions to medication such as blood pressure pills;intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease;functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome;post-surgical reaction(stomach or gall bladder surgery);stress.
Medical attention should be sought when either:
it lasts longer than three days;there is severe abdominal or rectal pain;there is fever of 102 degrees or higher;there are bloody or black stools;there are signs of dehydration,especially in children or the elderly.
When ill,sip water,soup or pedialyte if possible in order to prevent dehydration.Sports drinks are not recommended by the CDC for this purpose.When recovering,avoid dairy,greasy,high sugar/fat,high fiber foods.Taking over the counter medicine may mask dehydration or even prolong diarrhea if caused by microrganisms,so be careful with that remedy.

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