Diarrhea -- What is it, How it is Treated?

Diarrhea may result from one of the three most common mechanisms:

• (1). Poorly absorbable particles found in the intestines
• (2). Active ion secretion (ions are being secreted into the gut rather than what is supposed to happen, i.e., the ions are supposed to be absorbed).
• (3). A problem with the motility of the intestines
• (4). Altered cellular morphology of the intestinal walls, which can lead to a problem with absorption (mal-absorption leads to diarrhea).
  
  

There are a number of different forms of diarrhea, and while, for the most part, diarrhea is diarrhea, having an understanding as to the reasons for the problem may help understand how it can be rectified. As an overview, the following is a list of the most common forms of diarrhea:

• (a). Osmotic diarrhea: This is caused by ingesting essentially non-absorbable foods, such as salt and salt products, maldigested foods (foods that are consumed too fast in order to fulfill digestion requirements) or in cases of lactase deficiency – the protein that is required in order to digest or absorb lactose, and a general failure of the transport mechanisms that allow foods and liquids to be transported across the lumen of the intestinal walls. In this case, i.e., osmotic diarrhea, much of the water and salts remain in the gut, and, hence, there is a liquid stool and therefore diarrhea. The diarrhea stops when the person stops doing what is causing the diarrhea.

• (b). Secretory diarrhea: There are a number of these, and, for simplicity, they will be discussed in shortened form. The purpose of the gut, or the intestines, is to either absorb the foods or secrete certain proteins, enzymes, and other substances that aid in the digestion of foods and liquids we consume. If the gut, for example, is stimulated to secrete a substance, the net effect is either an inhibition of absorption or a secretion of water or electrolytes, or, actually, both simultaneously. Secretory diarrhea is easily recognized, at least in the clinical sense; and, in this case, I am referring to what is seen clinically without any tests being performed. There are a large amount of stools and a very large amount of water, actually more than 1 liter per day. This type of diarrhea typically persists with fasting, whereas osmotic diarrhea does not persist with fasting. There are many different reasons for the occurrence of secretory diarrhea, and many of us are aware of many of them:
  
  

  • (1). Enterotoxin-induced Secretion: In this case, sometimes called Asiatic cholera, is caused by bacteria, the classic one being E.coli, which, as we have all heard about, is found in meat that is either stored or prepared incorrectly. The classic example is the Hudson Meat problem when large amounts of E.coli was found in the hamburger meats. There are other forms of bacteria that can cause secretory diarrhea, namely Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile,Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and others.