The word diarrhea etymologically signifies a condition of 'flowing through' which is nothing but a disease of frequent bowels movement leading to derogatory health syndromes and general malaise. Symptoms of diarrhea manifest particularly in the loose and recurrent bowels movement that may cause dehydration and loss of energy and consequent weakness. Oral rehydration solution or ORS is the most commonly and widely used medical remedy to combat symptoms of diarrhea that saved millions of children and people in various times. Diarrhea is one of the most common medical causes of deaths worldwide, especially in the underdeveloped or developing nations, particularly among children. According to the latest available information in 2009 alone diarrhea was the principal cause of death for more than a million children worldwide. Let us now have a look at the clinical aspects of the disease before focusing on the distinct and common symptoms of diarrhea.
Clinical description
As per the clinical definition and guideline provided by the supreme global regulatory body on health matters, World Health Organization or WHO, three or more times of liquid stools or bowel movement is called to be the medical condition of diarrhea. Diarrhea can be of various types according to the different contributing factors and clinical outcomes. Osmotic diarrhea or the diarrhea that occurs due to excessive liquid intake that consists excess salt or sugar, exudative diarrhea in which stool has the traces of blood and pus, inflammatory diarrhea or infectious diarrhea caused by bacterial, viral or parasitic infection or autoimmune disorder, are some of the commonly diagnosed types of diarrhea. Symptoms of diarrhea, especially dehydration can fast causes the health condition of the patient deteriorate at a fast pace and so as soon as the first symptom manifests in the recurrent liquid bowel movement it should be medically attended.
40% of diarrhea cases in children or a considerable amount of diarrhea cases can be accounted to viral disorders like gastroenteritis. Especially in adolescents this is the main cause of diarrhea. While rotavirus is the most common factor that is responsible for diarrhea in children and adolescents, norovirus is the principal virus responsible for manifesting symptoms of diarrhea in adults. Adenovirus and astrovirus are other two significant viruses responsible for infectious diarrhea. Though only in a minority of cases it is held as the principal cause, malabsorption of consumed food staff, especially in the lower intestine is held to be responsible for diarrhea, at least as a secondary factor. Diarrhea in adolescents or children is mainly the result of immune system failure, which is again boosted up by malnutrition and exposure to toxins among other factors.
Clinical symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of diarrhea in a majority of cases include the following ones,
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