- Types of diarrhea
- 1. Infectious diarrhea
- 2. Diarrhea with blood
- 3. Yellow diarrhea
- 4. Green diarrhea
Diarrhea is considered when the person goes to the bathroom more than 3 times in the bathroom and the consistency of the stool is liquid or pasty, it is important to go to the gastroenterologist if the diarrhea is persistent and other symptoms that may suggest complications, such as lips cracking, tiredness, decreased urine output and mental confusion, for example.
Among the main causes of diarrhea are intestinal infections, whether by viruses, parasites or bacteria, intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, stress and anxiety, in addition to intolerance and food allergy, as in the case of celiac disease, for example, where the person is intolerant to the gluten present in food.
Types of diarrhea
Diarrhea can have different colors, and this information is essential so that the doctor can indicate the possible causes and, thus, request more specific tests to identify the cause of the diarrhea and, thus, start treatment. Find out what the color of poop can say about health.
Thus, the main types of diarrhea are:
1. Infectious diarrhea
Infectious diarrhea is usually one of the symptoms of infection by parasites, viruses or bacteria that can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, leading to the appearance of intestinal symptoms. Among the main bacteria responsible for infectious diarrhea are E. coli , Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. , which can be found in contaminated food.
Parasite infections are more frequent in children, due to the immaturity of the immune system and the fact that they always bring their hands to their mouth regardless of whether they are dirty or clean, with the most frequent parasites being Giardia lamblia , Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoides , for example.
What to do: In case the diarrhea is due to infections, the doctor usually orders specific tests to identify the microorganism causing the infection and, thus, start the appropriate treatment. In the case of parasitic infections, the doctor usually requests a stool test to identify the presence of the parasite. Understand how the stool test is done.
2. Diarrhea with blood
The presence of blood in the stool is, in most cases, indicative of the presence of hemorrhoids or anal fissures. However, when bloody diarrhea occurs it usually means more chronic problems, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and bacterial, viral or parasitic infection.
In addition, bloody diarrhea can happen as a side effect of some drugs or be a sign of bowel cancer, for example, and it is important to consult the doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause of the diarrhea. Learn more about the causes of bloody diarrhea.
What to do: If the diarrhea is accompanied by blood, it is important that the person is referred as soon as possible to the nearest emergency room so that the diagnosis can be made and treatment started. This is because in the case of diarrhea caused by a bacterium, the presence of blood in the stool can be an indication that the bacteria can be found in the blood, which can result in sepsis, which is severe.
Thus, in the case of bloody diarrhea, the doctor usually requests laboratory tests to make the diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
3. Yellow diarrhea
The presence of yellow diarrhea is usually related to the difficulty in digesting fats and decreased intestinal absorption capacity, being more frequent in people who have intolerance and food allergies, as in the case of celiac disease, for example.
Usually yellow diarrhea is transient, with a maximum duration of 2 days and is related to emotional factors, such as stress and anxiety, for example. However, when it persists for a longer time and is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be indicative of intestinal, pancreatic or biliary changes that must be treated, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and intestinal infections, for example. See what yellow diarrhea can be.
What to do: It is important to go to the gastroenterologist when the diarrhea lasts for more than 2 days in order to identify the cause and start treatment. In the case of Celiac disease, it is recommended that the person avoid the consumption of foods containing gluten, for example.
When yellow diarrhea is due to an intestinal infection, treatment is usually done with the use of medications to eliminate the causative agent of the infection, and can be done with antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs, for example.
In case of suspected Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pancreatic or gallbladder related problems, the gastroenterologist usually recommends performing laboratory and imaging tests so that the correct diagnosis can be made.
4. Green diarrhea
Green stools are usually related to an increase in the speed of bowel functioning, which means that bile is not fully digested and results in the greenish color of the stools, which can happen as a result of stress and intestinal diseases, such as parasitic diseases, Crohn's and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, for example.
In addition, green diarrhea can also happen as a result of consuming a lot of vegetables, foods with green coloring and constant use of laxatives, for example. Learn more about the causes of green stools.
What to do: As with all other types of diarrhea, it is essential that the person drinks plenty of fluids and has an adequate diet to prevent dehydration from happening.
It is also important that the person goes to the gastroenterologist so that the cause of green diarrhea is identified and treatment is started, and the use of antiparasitic drugs may be indicated in the case of intestinal infection, or improvement in eating habits, being indicated to avoid the consumption of green and iron-rich vegetables, for example, until the situation is controlled.
