Diarrhea can be classified as acute or chronic according to the duration of symptoms, or according to the cause. Among the main causes of diarrhea are intestinal infections, whether caused by viruses, parasites or bacteria, intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, stress and anxiety, as well as food intolerance and allergies, as in the case of celiac disease. .
Diarrhea is considered when a person goes to the bathroom more than 3 times a day and the consistency of the stool is liquid or pasty, and it is important to go to the gastroenterologist if the diarrhea is persistent and other symptoms appear, such as chapped lips, tiredness, less urine volume and mental confusion, for example.
Diarrhea can have different colors, which is important information so that the doctor can indicate the possible causes and, thus, request more specific tests to identify the cause of the diarrhea and, thus, begin treatment. Find out what the color of your poop can say about your health.
Main types
The main types of diarrhea are:
1. Acute and chronic diarrhea
Classification into acute and chronic diarrhea is based on the duration of symptoms. Acute diarrhea lasts up to 14 days, while chronic diarrhea lasts 30 days or more.
What to do: It is important that the gastroenterologist is consulted so that the cause of the diarrhea can be investigated and, thus, the best treatment for diarrhea can be indicated and prevent complications.
Consult the nearest gastroenterologist so that the diagnosis can be made and the best treatment can be initiated:
2. Infectious diarrhea
Infectious diarrhea is normally one of the symptoms of infection by parasites, viruses or bacteria that can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, leading to the appearance of intestinal symptoms. Among the main bacteria responsible for infectious diarrhea are E. coli, Salmonella sp. e Shigella sp.which can be found in contaminated food.
Parasite infections are more common in children, due to the immaturity of the immune system and the fact that they always put their hands in their mouths regardless of whether they are dirty or clean, parasites being the most common. Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica e Ascaris lumbricoidesfor example.
What to do: If diarrhea is due to infections, the doctor usually requests specific tests to identify the microorganism causing the infection and thus initiate appropriate treatment. In the case of parasitic infections, the doctor usually requests a stool test to identify the presence of the parasite. Understand how the stool test is performed.
3. Bloody diarrhea
The presence of blood in the stool is, in most cases, indicative of the presence of hemorrhoids or anal fissures. However, when diarrhea with blood occurs it usually means more chronic problems, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and bacterial, viral or parasitic infection.
Furthermore, bloody diarrhea can occur as a side effect of some medications or be a sign of bowel cancer, for example, and it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause of the diarrhea. Learn more about the causes of bloody diarrhea.
What to do: If diarrhea is accompanied by blood, it is important that the person is taken to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible so that a diagnosis can be made and treatment can begin. This is because if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, the presence of blood in the stool may be an indication that the bacteria can be found in the blood, which may result in sepsis, which is serious.
Therefore, in the case of bloody diarrhea, the doctor normally requests laboratory tests to make the diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
4. Yellow diarrhea
The presence of yellow diarrhea is usually related to difficulty in digesting fats and reduced intestinal absorption capacity, being more common in people with food intolerance and allergies, as in the case of celiac disease, for example.
Normally yellow diarrhea is temporary, lasting a maximum of 2 days and is related to emotional factors, such as stress and anxiety, for example. However, when it persists for longer and is accompanied by other symptoms, it may indicate intestinal, pancreatic or biliary changes that must be treated, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and intestinal infections, for example. See what yellow diarrhea can be.
What to do: It is important to go to the gastroenterologist when diarrhea lasts more than 2 days so that the cause can be identified and treatment can be started. In the case of Celiac disease, it is recommended that the person avoid consuming foods that contain gluten, for example.
When yellow diarrhea is the result of an intestinal infection, treatment usually involves the use of medication to eliminate the agent causing the infection, which can be done with antibiotics or antiparasitics, for example.
In the case of suspected Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pancreatic or gallbladder-related problems, the gastroenterologist normally recommends carrying out laboratory and imaging tests so that the correct diagnosis can be made.
5. Green diarrhea
Green feces are normally related to an increase in the speed at which the intestine functions, which means that the bile is not digested completely and results in a greenish color in the feces, which can occur as a consequence of stress and intestinal diseases, such as parasites, Crohn’s and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, for example.
Furthermore, green diarrhea can also occur as a result of consuming a lot of vegetables, foods with green dye and constant use of laxatives, for example. Learn more about the causes of green stools.
What to do: As with all other types of diarrhea, it is essential that the person drinks plenty of fluids and has an adequate diet to prevent dehydration from occurring.
It is also important that the person goes to the gastroenterologist so that the cause of the green diarrhea can be identified and treatment can be started, which may include the use of antiparasitic drugs, in the case of intestinal infection, or improvement in eating habits, being recommended to avoid the consumption of green vegetables rich in iron, for example, until the situation is under control.
