Diarrhoea is the passage of watery stool, usually at least three times in 24hrs period. However , it is the consistency of the stools rather than the number that is most important frequent passing of form stools is not diarrhoea babies feed only on breast
milk often pass loose , "pasty"stools ; this is also not diarrhoea. Mothers usually know when their children have diarrhoea and may provide useful working definition in local situation. The main Causes of diarrhoea are : poor food hygiene and lack of clean drinking water .
- Diarrhoea occurs when the colon absorbs insufficient fluid as part of digestive process, thus, digestedfood is essentially liquid pror to reaching the colon. Under normal condition, the colon, absorbs water leaving the remaining material as a semisolid stool. If the colon is damage or inflammed absorption material as a semisolid stool result. Diarrhoea is most commonly caused by numerous viral infections but is often the result of bacterial toxins and sometimes-bacterial infection.
**However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhoea can become life threatening if treatment is not given in time. Diarrhoea can be a symptom of more serious disease such as dysentery,cholera or botulism of the illeum(Crohn's disease). It can also be caused by excessive alcohol consumption, especially in someone who doesn't eat enough food.
TYPES OF DIARRHOEAL DISEASES
It is most practical to base treatment of diarrhoea on the clinical type of the illnesses, which can esaily be determined when a child is first examined. Four clinical types of diarrhoea can be recognized,each reflecting the basis underlying pathology and altered physiology.
- ACUTE WATERY DIARRHOEA: In acute watery diarrhoea (including cholera) that lasts several hours or days the main danger is dehydration; weight loss also occurs if feeding is not continued.
- PERSISTENT DIARRHOEA: persistent diarrhoea (which last 4days or longer) the main danger is malnutrition and serious non-intestinal infection; dehydration may occur. Diarrhoeal with severe malnutrition; (maramus or kwashiorkor), the main danger are severe systemic infection, dehydration, heart failure and vitamin and mineral.
COMPLICATIONS OF DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea causes rapid depletion of water and salts that are not replaced fast, the body starts to "dry up" or get dehydration. If more than 10%of this body's fluid is lost, death occurs. Hypokalemia, dehydration, vasular collapse are also possible complications of severe or chronic diarrhoea.. Diarrhoea infection is one of the faecal -oral transmitted disease. The key Factors are unclean water, dirty hands at mealtime and spoilt food.
PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA
*Improving access to clean water and safe sanitation.
*Promoting hygiene education.
*Exclusive breastfeeding.
*Improved weaning practices.
*Immunizing all children, especially against measles.
*Using latrines.
Keeping food and water clean.Washing the hands with soap)the baby before touching food.
Wash, peel or cook all foods.
NoteThe above is more important message that can help parents governments and communities to prevent almost death and most of the malnutrition caused by diarrhoea.
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