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What Causes Diarrhea?

Posted on Sat, 11 Oct 2014

Question: I ate a bad piece of lettuce Tuesday for lunch. I do not get stomach viruses.
Usually, when I eat something that does not agree with me, I pass it once or twice with diarrhea immediately.
Unfortunately, I have had 10-15 bowel movements of diarrhea since Tuesday's lunch. Could it be a parasite?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern.

It could be a parasite eg Giardia but the exact cause in a patient with diarrhea is not as important as determining the volume status of a patient, i.e to see if you are dehydrated and hypotensive or not.

No matter what caused the diarrhea, if you have fever , low B.P and abdominal pain , you require IV fluids and Antibiotics. In the meanwhile keep yourself well hydrated by using ORS ( oral rehydration salts) , approx 200 ml after each loose motion.

Stool for fecal leucocytes and culture, stool for ova and parasite exam, both can be done to rule out an infectious cause.

The presence of blood in stool is the strongest indication for antibiotic use such as ciprofloxacin +/- metronidazole. The decision to use antibiotics is always empiric and modified when culture results are known.

.

Let me know if you have any query

wishing you best of health

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (13 hours later)

I do not have a fever. I started taking an herbal supplement called UTI to help a urinary tract problem. Is it possible that this may be causing the problem?

Respectively,
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Explained.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

Hope you are feeling better,

The history you gave of 10 to 15 episodes of diarrhea suggests that contaminated food is a more likely cause.

The herbal product that you are using could have preciptated the diarrhea eg via an allergic reaction. I would advise you to stop the Herbal product to see for improvement of symptoms.

Absence of fever alone cant be used as rationale for not taking antibiotics. Blood in stool and abdominal pain also shows an infectious cause and indication for antibiotic therapy.

So I would suggest to stop the herbal med, take ORS fliuds, drink clean water and let me know the answer to the following.

Do you have abdominal pain and blood in stool ?
Do you have dizziness/ light headedness ?
Have you checked your BP and Pulse , if yes, let me know the readings

Keep in touch
Thanks

Keep in touch

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (10 hours later)

Thank you Doctor.
I stopped taking the herbal supplement.
The diarrhea has stopped.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
you are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
hello.

You are welcome. Im happy to know that your condition has improved.

Let me know if you have any other query or clarification.
I will be more than glad to address them.

If not, then please close the discussion and rate the answer.

thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju