What is Explosive Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a resulting factor of some underlying anomaly of the bodily functions and is not a disease on its own. It is caused due to overactive bowel movements that result in the excess ejection of fecal matter.
Forceful and severe bowel movements resulting in the increased ejection of fecal matter is medically termed as Diarrhea.
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Difference between Explosive and Normal Diarrhea
Mostly, diarrhea is an acute form of overactive bowel movements that result in loose stool consisting mainly of water. During this phase, a person is subjected to a diet that consists of food items. It is observed that there is a constant impulse to pass stool even after the individual has gone through an episode of bowel movement recently. Presence of abdominal pain and cramps is quite common.
The term Explosive Diarrhea is subjective. It is a severe form of diarrhea that results in violent and forceful movement of the bowels. This is followed by the ejection of stool along with the gaseous byproduct.
Who is most vulnerable to severe diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a common ailment. It can easily be avoided by opting hygienic practices and eating healthy. People at high risk of getting sick due to Diarrhea include:
- Individuals associated with the medical industry, especially the ones who change diapers of patients.
- Travelers who mostly visit the developing countries. Contaminated water and food is the culprit here.
- Certain antibiotic medication could also cause diarrhea as a side effect. Medications that treat heartburn lead to cases of Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a side effect of irritable bowel syndrome
What Causes Rxplosive Diarrhea?
Explosive Diarrhea can be caused by the following factors:
- Infection: Caused by a severe case of stomach flu. Episodes of Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever are common. Infections are common among people living in close proximity to hospitals and nursing homes. Food and drinks contaminated with strains of the E. Coli and Salmonella are the main sources.
- Food poisoning: Consumption food items and drinks contaminated with bacterial toxins results in the irritation of the sensitive lining of the stomach. This is followed by acute cases of Diarrhea that is the final indication for a case of food poisoning. Symptom consists of nausea, pain and severe events of vomiting.
- Drugs: Magnesium containing antacids, drugs used for the prevention of heartburn, chemotherapy drugs can also cause severe cases of diarrhea.
- Malabsorption: People intolerant to lactose, fructose or sorbitol cannot fully digest or absorb the compound in their digestive system. This results in increased sensitivity to certain food items leading to malabsorption and is then ultimately expelled out of the system through explosive diarrhea.
Other Causes that results in Explosive Diarrhea
- Bariatric weight loss surgery
- Inflammatory bowel disease (or Crohn’s disease)
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Celiac disease
Symptoms of Explosive Diarrhea
The presence of the following symptoms confirms that an individual is suffering from a case of Explosive Diarrhea:
- Stool with watery consistency
- Loud and excess build up & passing of gas
- Forceful defecation of stool
- Hyperactive bowel
- Feeling of discomfort in the before & after defecation
Problems related to Explosive Diarrhea
Even though a person suffering from an episode of explosive diarrhea is already under stress, on top of that there are several health risks too:
- Dehydration: Explosive diarrhea results in the excessive loss of fluids from the body due to insufficient absorption of water in the large intestine. To counter this, rehydrating the body by consuming the recommended amount of fluids is crucial. It ensures that the individual stays hydrated. The elderly, children and people with compromised or weak immune systems are at high risk of getting dehydrated due to explosive diarrhea.
- Chronic diarrhea: A person suffering from diarrhea for four weeks or more should visit a doctor and get to the root of the problem. Certain medical tests for proper diagnosis of the ailment are crucial to avert further damage.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome: A rare disease that is the resulting factor of infection caused by E. Coli. If proper treatment and medication are not administered to the patient on time, it can even lead to kidney failure. Symptoms can be anything from blood containing stools, fever to decreased urination and abdominal pain.
Treatments for Explosive Diarrhea
For treating symptoms of Explosive Diarrhea and to minimize the resulting complications the following measures can be taken:
- Medications: Drugs like loperamide is prescribed for the reduction of diarrhea for a limited amount of time. However, dosage for the drugs should be monitored closely, especially during cases of toxin-induced diarrhea and infections.
- ORS (Oral rehydration solutions): To avoid cases of dehydration and make up for the lost electrolytes, Intravenous or IV fluids need to be administered for countering the effects of dehydration.
- Bland diets: Diet plans that consists of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables with the minimal to a negligible use of spice and oil is ideal for patients suffering from Explosive diarrhea. Overcooked rice, mashed banana, applesauce, etc. are some of the examples that fall under a bland diet plan.
- Probiotics: Probiotic drinks that contain Saccharomyces boulardii & Lactobacillus casei helps in restoration of good intestinal bacteria. This is beneficial to restore the bowels back to its original form.
Natural remedies for Explosive Diarrhea
Following are some homemade remedies that can be applied for restoring the balance in the overall gut functions and also to reduce gas buildup.
- Ample consumption of fluids – Broth based soups, fruit juice and salted cracker aid in the restoration of lost water. On top of that, one can also make their own home-based rehydration drink by following this recipe:
- Add 1/2 Tsp. salt, 8 tsp. sugar, 1 Tsp. baking soda and 8 oz. orange juice in 1 liter of water. This should be taken at regular intervals that would ensure maintenance of electrolyte levels.
- Ginger: It is a great ingredient that aids in the reduction of both the frequency and severity of diarrhea. About 1 inch of ginger is enough for making a drink that would aid in easing out the irritated bowels.
- Ccut the inch long piece of ginger into small pieces and put the same in a cup of boiling water. Drinking this ginger based liquid 2 – 3 times is known to do wonders.
- Yogurt: Natural and unsweetened yogurt is known to relieve discomfort and gas build up caused by severe cases of Explosive Diarrhea. Consumption of a cup of yogurt at least 2 to 3 time on a regular basis is essential for healing and repairing the digestive system from the inside by natural means.
When to see a Doctor?
In most of the cases, individuals suffering from Explosive Diarrhea tend to get well in a matter of days without medical attention. It is advised to seek medical expertise if any of the following symptoms are seen:
- A child suffering from Diarrhea for more than 24 hours
- Dry mouth, excessive thirst, disorientation, reduced urination all that adds up to signs of dehydration
- Presence of pus or blood in stool, or ejection of black colored stool
- Onset of fever 101.5 °F (or 38.6 °C) or higher in case of an adult and 100.4 °F (or 38 °C) in case of a child
- Severe rectal or abdominal pain