Diarrhoea is the frequent passing of increased amounts of loose stools. Seven children a minute die of diarrhoea in areas where clean water and good hygiene are absent. Not only is the pharmaceutical industry continuing to develop medicines that treat dehydration and diarrhoea, it is also researching vaccines to help prevent viral diarrhoea.
Disease: Diarrhoea
Last update: May 2005
Intro
FAQ
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What is it?
Diarrhoea is the frequent passing of increased amounts of loose stools and is a symptom of other conditions or diseases, not a disease in itself.
Diarrhoea is commonly caused by eating food or drinking water containing a virus, bacterium or protozoan, which irritates the lining of the gut. It can also be caused by food allergies, or occur as a side effect of some medications.
Chronic diarrhoea can be a symptom of a number of more serious gastro-intestinalconditions. -
Who gets it?
Most people are affected by diarrhoea at some point in their lives, though it is generally only a rare occurrence for individuals living in developed countries.
However, 2.4 billion people worldwide have no access to basic sanitation. In South-East Asia and Africa diarrhoea is responsible for eight per cent of all deaths.
Many tourists experience travellers' diarrhoea, which generally lasts 3-4 days, though it can persist for longer than a week and be accompanied by fever or bloody stools. -
What can be done about it?
The most important thing is to prevent and cure dehydration by giving plenty of clear, lightly sweetened fluids or specific rehydration solutions.
Anti-diarrhoeal medications are sometimes used to return bowel movements back to normal.
Antibiotics can be given for severe diarrhoea once the cause has been identified.
Most recently a new antiprotozoal medication for children has been developed which is active against two of the most common waterborne protozoa that cause diarrhoea, and an antibiotic has been approved for the prevention of travellers' diarrhoea. -
What does the future hold?
There are currently a number of vaccines being developed to help prevent viral diarrhoea.
Recent research has also revealed information on the action of viruses, which is now being used to develop more selective therapies for both the prevention and cure of diarrhoea.