Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Diarrhoea is a common health issue that most people face. It can vary from a temporary condition to a mild one. It can in very severe cases lead to a very life-threatening condition. Diarrhoea takes place when there is increase in bowel movement frequency. There is increase in the consistency of the stool.

Diarrhoea occurs as a result of increased fluid secretion and lowered absorption of the fluid coming out from the intestine and also swift passage of the faeces via the intestine. Symptoms that are found indicative of diarrhoea are cramping and lower abdominal pain. Diarrhoea needs to be differentiated from other conditions having similar symptoms. These include rectal urgency, incomplete evacuation, incontinence of the stool and bowel movements that follow immediately after consuming a meal.

Diarrhoea is defined as either relatively or absolutely. Absolute diarrhoea is understood as the requirement of bowel movement for more than five times a day or the passing of liquid stools. Relative diarrhoea is a steady increase in the frequency of bowel movements on a regular basis. Diarrhoea can be either chronic or acute having different treatment methods and causes for the onset of the disease. The complications that become associated with diarrhoea over time include electrolyte imbalance, irritation of the region of the anus and dehydration.

The really mild cases of diarrhoea can be resolved without needing any treatment at all. Whether the patient has chronic diarrhoea is diagnosed and in addition the symptoms of diarrhoea will also be treated.

In case of severe dehydration the patient is required to drink lots of fluids or receive fluids intravenously. Usually aged patients as well as patients are susceptible to becoming dehydrated. Patients in such a case will be advised to drink ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) which is a constitution comprising of glucose and salts that gets easily absorbed and fills the void created by the loss of electrolytes and water from the body

Antidiarrheal medications include Imodium or Loperamide which is a drug that lowers the frequency of stool passage. The diarrhoea has been caused as a result of bacterial infection then only antibiotics are prescribed. Probiotics is very helpful for reducing the diarrhoeal tendency in children and works great as a preventive measure is consumed daily. Probiotics can also be derived through the natural diet, namely from foods such as unflavored yoghurt. At any rate, diarrhea can be treated easily, if the proper treatment is followed.

Infants who are experiencing more than five bouts of diarrhoea in a span of day or more than two bouts of vomiting are required to go visit the doctor immediately. Also children aged more than a year are required to be taken to the doctor if they experience more than six bouts of diarrhoea in a day or if they have vomited and passed stool simultaneously.

People who are not experiencing any bouts of diarrhoea or vomiting do not need to go for treatment.

The side effects of loperamide includes dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain and constipation. The adverse effects of antibiotics include skin allergies, vaginal itchiness or white discharge, appearance of white patches on the tongue of the patient, watery diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. The side effects of probiotics are very mild and generally include bloating or gas.

The post-treatment guidelines include drinking plenty of fluids such as fresh fruit juices, clear broth and fizzy drinks. Abstain from drinking dairy products such as milk for at least a week after your treatment is complete. Also, avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine and apple juice.

People suffering from acute diarrhoea will in a few days time recover if they take their medication on time. However, those suffering from chronic diarrhoea that has lasted for more than two weeks may take some to recover from their disease as the doctor will be required to run a couple of tests in order to figure out the underlying reasons.

The price of diarrhoea treatment in India varies between Rs. 100 to Rs. 50,000.

The results of a diarrhoea treatment are not permanent and the person suffering from it can also face recurrent diarrhoea even after a few months because of bacterial infections.

Certain alternative treatments of Diarrhoea include following home remedies such as having boiled green bananas, probiotics and pectin.