When you have diarrhea, your defecation (stools) are loose and watery. It’s very common and although it feels bad, it’s generally not significant.
It typically lasts two to three days, and if you need to treat it, there are over the counter medications, which means they don’t need a prescription.
For lots of people, diarrhea strikes once or twice each year. If you have particular conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, it can occur more commonly.
What Are the Symptoms of Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea?
You might have:
- An urgent sensation that you need to have a bowel movement
- Thin or loose stools
- Watery stool
- Nausea and throwing up
- Bloating in your belly
- Aches
More significant symptoms consist of:
- Blood, mucus, or undigested food in the stool
- Weight-loss
- Fever
If you have watery stools more than three times a day and you do not drink adequate fluids, you might become dehydrated. That can be dangerous if it’s not dealt with.
Stomach cramps and diarrhea can be for 2, 3, 4, 5 days or even over a week, after eating, during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy, after running, every morning, at night, with nausea, with gas, after eating while pregnant.
What Causes Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea?
Normally, diarrhea is triggered by a virus that contaminates the digestive tract. Some individuals call it “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu.”
It can likewise take place due to:
- Alcohol abuse.
- Allergies to specific foods.
- Diabetes.
- Illness of the guts (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
- Consuming foods that distress the digestive system.
- Infection by bacteria (the cause of most kinds of food poisoning) or other organisms.
- Laxative abuse.
- Medications.
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
- Radiation treatment.
- Running (Some individuals get “runner’s diarrhea”).
- Some cancers.
- Surgery on your digestive system.
- Problem taking in some nutrients (Doctors call this “malabsorption.”)
Diarrhea may likewise follow constipation, especially for individuals who have cranky bowel syndrome.
When Should I Call My Doctor?
Call your doctor right away if you have:
- Blood in your diarrhea or black, tarry stools.
- A fever that is high (above 101 F) or that lasts more than 24 hours.
- Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days.
- Nausea or vomiting that prevents you from drinking liquids to replace lost fluids.
- Severe pain in your belly or anus.
- Diarrhea when you come back from overseas travel.
Also, call your doctor immediately if you have diarrhea and any of these signs of dehydration:
- Dark urine.
- Smaller sized than usual quantities of urine or fewer damp diapers than typical in a baby or little one.
- Fast heart rate.
- Headaches.
- Dry skin.
- You feel irritable or confused.
What’s the Treatment?
If your case is mild, you might not have to take anything. Or you can take a non-prescription medicine such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) or loperamide (Imodium) which are available as liquids or tablets. Follow the guidelines on the plan.
If you have itching, burning, discomfort, or pain in your rectal area since you have a lot of bowel movements, attempt these suggestions to feel much better:
- Take a warm bath. Later on, pat the area dry (do not rub) with a clean, soft towel.
- Utilize a hemorrhoid cream or try white oil jelly.
- Do your finest to stay hydrated. You should drink a minimum of 6 8-ounce glasses of fluid per day. Choose fruit juice without pulp, broth, or soda (without caffeine). Chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey, and sports drinks are likewise great options.
Instead of drinking liquids with your meals, consume liquids between meals. Drink small amounts of fluids typically.
