Loose Stools and Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Introduction:

Loose stools are the loose, watery consistency of the bowel movement. They can be caused by infections, certain foods, or medications. It can be due to infections, food poisoning, or lactose intolerance. Diarrhea is the more frequent loose stool that can be accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In chronic cases, weight loss is also seen. They are usually diagnosed by testing the stool samples and treated with antibiotics and antidiarrheal medications.

What Is the Difference Between Loose Stools and Diarrhea?

Loose stools are known for their loose consistency. They are mushy, can hold their shape, or do not hold their shape once they go into the toilet bowl. It can happen in regular intervals or occasionally.

Diarrhea is a more frequent loose stool that occurs more than three to four times a day.

What Causes Loose Stools and Diarrhea?

Though there is a difference in the frequency of loose bowel movements between loose stools and diarrhea, the causes are the same.

• Food contaminated by bacteria.

• Laxative abuse.

• Viruses like the influenza virus, rotavirus, or norovirus.

• Tiny parasitic organisms present in water or food.

• Lactose intolerance.

• Diseases like Crohn’s disease that affect the stomach and the intestines.

• Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.

What Are the Symptoms of Loose Stools and Diarrhea?

Loose stools do not show symptoms other than loose and mushy stools. Whereas diarrhea is accompanied by symptoms like,

• Abdominal pain.

• Abdominal bloating.

• Abdominal cramps.

• Fever.

• Vomiting.

• Nausea.

• Weight loss.

How Are Loose Stools and Diarrhea Differentiated?

• Loose stool is the beginning of diarrhea.

• The physician will question the affected person to figure out the cause,

  • Questions like, when did the loose stool start?

  • How often does the loose stool happen?

  • What is the consistency of the stool?

  • Recent history of food intake.

  • History of blood in stool will also be asked.

• Diarrhea diagnosis needs stool sampling and blood tests, etc.

What Medical Conditions Cause Loose Stools and Diarrhea?

• Celiac Disease: Celiac disease occurs when there is a change in the immune reaction when exposed to gluten-rich foods like wheat, barley, and rye. It damages the covering that lines the small intestine leading to inflammation.

• Crohn’s Disease: Crohn’s disease is a variant of irritable bowel syndrome that causes inflammation of the layer of tissues lining the gastrointestinal tract.

• Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation of the layer of tissue lining the colon.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive tract disease that causes irritation to the large intestine leading to symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and both.

What Tests Are Done to Find the Causes?

• Stool Test: A stool sample test is done to find out the organism causing diarrhea or loose stools.

• Complete Blood Count: A complete blood count is done to find any abnormalities in the changes in the normal ranges of blood components like red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, eosinophils, hemoglobin, etc. The changes in the normal ranges denote if there is an infection.

• Breath Test: A breath test is performed to check for the presence of H. pylori bacteria. The affected person is made to blow into a balloon, and the breath is checked for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.

• Endoscopy: An endoscopic procedure is performed with a flimsy, flexible tubular structure that has a camera, a light, and portals for instrument attachment. It is inserted into the mouth to check for any abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract.

What Dietary Modifications Help the Cessation of Diarrhea and Loose Stools?

• Staying hydrated with ample fluids, including juices or broth that have salt and sugar in them.

• Consume easily digestible foods like potatoes, bananas, rice, oatmeal, soup, etc.

• Take probiotics like yogurt or curd.

• Consume fiber-rich foods that aid in smooth bowel movements.

What Factors Affect the Color and Consistency of Loose Stools and Diarrhea?

• Vegetables that have deep colors, like green vegetables and beetroot, change the color of the stools.

• Foods rich in fat and high-fiber foods also cause changes in stool consistency.

• Gluten-rich foods.

• Milk and dairy products.

• Iron tablets.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Certain medications.

• Gastrointestinal obstructions.

• Medications that contain bismuth, like Pepto-Bismol.

• Cancer and hemorrhoids.

• A few diseases of the gastrointestinal tract also cause changes in stool consistency.

How Are They Treated?

Loose stools and diarrhea are treated with,

• Antibiotics: Suitable antibiotic medications will be recommended to treat the infection.

• Intravenous Fluid Therapy: Intravenous fluid therapy is considered when a patient has chronic diarrhea and to prevent and treat dehydration.

• Anti-diarrheal Medication: Antidiarrheal medications like Loperamide or Bismuth subsalicylate reduces gastric motility and helps in reducing bowel movement.

• Dietary Modifications: Dietary modifications must be considered in patients who have frequent loose stools, and an appropriate diet should be substituted.

• Other Medications: Certain medications that cause diarrhea or loose stools as side effects need to be stopped after consulting with a personal physician.

Can Loose Stools and Diarrhea Be Prevented?

• Avoid foods that trigger increased gastric motility leading to diarrhea and loose stools.

• Washing hands before eating food.

• Cleaning hands with handwash prior to and after using a restroom.

• Washing hands thoroughly before cooking food, after taking out the waste bin, changing diapers, petting animals, and after cleaning or blowing your nose.

• Washing or cleaning fruits and vegetables before eating.

• Thoroughly cooking meat and seafood until done completely.

• Maintaining the refrigerator temperature at 40 Fahrenheit and the freezer temperature below -17.7 celsius.

• Wash the kitchen counter and vessels after they are in contact with raw fruits or vegetables.

What Are the Complications?

• Dehydration: When there is prolonged diarrhea or loose motion, the water, by default, present in the body, is also removed through repeated water loose stools. This leads to dehydration.

• Malnutrition: Since there is chronic diarrhea or loose stools’ the gastric contents are emptied at intervals leaving the stomach empty. The necessary nutrients are removed from the body through the stools leaving the person weak and malnourished.

When Is It Considered a Medical Emergency?

• When there are signs of severe dehydration like looking pale, dry mouth, and feeling extremely weak and tired to walk.

• Blood or pus in the stools.

• Higher fever that is 102 degrees or above.

• Diarrhea or loose stools that exist for two or more days in adults.

• If diarrhea or loose stools last for more than 24 hours in children, medical attention is needed,

• If the stools are black or tarry in color.

Conclusion:

Loose stools and diarrhea occur due to changes in bowel movements when exposed to contaminated food or water due to side effects of certain medications, underlying medical conditions, etc. The primary distinction between loose stools and diarrhea is a change in the consistency of stool that becomes soft and mushy, whereas in diarrhea, if the frequency of loose stools is more than three to four times a day, it is diarrhea. Also, they lead to dehydration and malnutrition, so getting treatment when symptoms appear initially and keeping one well-hydrated will improve the condition and prevent complications. It can be treated with certain antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications, and increased intake of fluids and probiotics.