Gray diarrhea: causes, symptoms and treatment. Symptoms, color and causes of diarrhea Gray diarrhea in adults causes

Diarrhea is a human condition in which frequent bowel movements are observed, while the stool is watery. This condition is dangerous because it can lead to dehydration. Diarrhea can be caused by infections of the digestive tract, poor diet, stress, and drug poisoning.

The disease can also be caused by the presence of worms or intestinal dysbiosis. It is worth carefully monitoring the frequency of stool, paying attention to its smell (sour, putrid), color (gray, white), and the admixture of blood.

There are several types of stool disorders; to determine them, there are specific characteristics that, in fact, distinguish this symptom from the norm.

Clear criteria and differences between them are given in the table:

The data presented in the table requires a little clarification, since the boundaries of normality and pathology are individual for each person. All generally accepted physiological indicators are averaged, combining a fairly wide spread. First of all, it is worth clarifying the indicator of the number of daily bowel movements. For some people it ranges from once every 2-3 days to 3-4 times a day. The same applies to the consistency of feces, which can be from liquid-mushy to solid-formed.

The most important thing when assessing these characteristics of bowel movements is their duration. If they occur over a long period of time (long months and years), without causing any negative manifestations in a person, then there is no need to worry, since such characteristics are individual. This is not diarrhea.

The situation is completely different with other characteristics of the stool, such as odor and the presence of impurities. Their change always indicates diarrhea. Moreover, from time to time, by their appearance, one can clearly determine its origin. Therefore, it is so important to always pay attention to feces, because they indicate the state of digestion and the health of the body as a whole.

Causes of diarrhea in adults

Diarrhea is a consequence of improper functioning of the intestinal tract: the digestive process accelerates, and this leads to dilution of stool and frequent bowel movements.

As a rule, diarrhea is caused by viral or bacterial infections or food poisoning. Typically, the causative agents of diarrhea are Escherichia coli and salmonella bacteria; they can be in food or water. Diarrhea, which is caused by a bacterial infection, most often affects tourists when traveling to exotic countries. It’s not for nothing that this type of disease is sometimes called “tourist’s diarrhea.”

Diarrhea can be caused by herpes simplex or hepatitis viruses, as well as taking antibiotics.

Another cause of diarrhea can be ulcerative colitis. It also causes severe diarrhea, but colitis is detected very late and, as a rule, during an internal examination of the intestines.

Considering the close contact of the digestive system with the external environment and internal systems of the body, one can safely notice its persistent dependence on them. That's why she gets sick so often. Most often, any irritation or disruption in normal functioning is manifested by increased motor skills, mucus secretion, and ultimately diarrhea.

A complete list of causes of diarrhea is given below:

Viral infections

Rotaviruses;

Enteroviruses;

Adenovirus;

Bacterial infections

Salmonellosis;

Dysinteria (shigellosis);

1. Food poisoning;

   Escherichiosis;

Enzyme deficiency

Pancreatitis;

Gallstone disease with impaired bile outflow;

Enzymopathies;

Congenital intolerance to certain foods;

Intestinal diseases

1. Enterocolitis;

   Nonspecific ulcerative colitis;

   Crohn's disease;

   Whipple's disease;

Tumor growths

1. Adenocarcinomas;

   Diverticula complicated by inflammation;

Autoimmune diseases

Intestinal damage due to lupus erythematosus;

Rheumatoid arthritis;

Atopic dermatitis and allergic reactions;

Intoxication

Nitrate poisoning;

Heavy metals;

Pesticide;

Household chemicals;

Drug influences

Antibiotics;

Cytostatics;

Overdose of laxatives;

Anticholinesterase agents and prokinetics;

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Open ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;

Small intestinal bleeding;

Colonic bleeding;

Diarrhea after taking antibiotics

This is due to the fact that it is caused by iatrogenic (medical) influences, which are initially designed to help a person. They are very common and can cause serious illness and even death. First of all, this concerns the side effects of antibacterial therapy, which causes dysbiosis, and subsequently pseudomembranous colitis. The peculiarity of the latter complication is that it is very difficult to correct by any methods, accompanied by debilitating diarrhea.

No less important are infectious diarrheas of bacterial and viral origin. They occur more often than others, but fortunately, they end well in most cases. This is due to the body's ability to ultimately defeat aggressive pathogens, since they are natural components of nature. The same cannot be said about diarrhea caused by toxic influences and other external influences. They, being unnatural, cannot be overcome only by protective immune mechanisms without outside influence.

As for the mechanisms of diarrhea, they can also be different. Which one is included depends on the cause of the diarrhea. The most typical pathogenetic mechanisms and their corresponding causes are presented in the table.

Usually, with diarrhea, there is not only one mechanism for its implementation. Their combination with the predominance of one over the others is typical.

Types of diarrhea

Infectious diarrhea is observed with dysentery, salmonellosis, food infections, viral diseases (viral diarrhea), amoebiasis, etc.

Alimentary diarrhea occurs due to poor diet or allergies to any foods.

Dyspeptic diarrhea occurs when the digestion of food masses is impaired due to secretory insufficiency of the stomach, pancreas, liver, or when there is a lack of secretion of any enzymes by the small intestine.

Toxic diarrhea accompanies uremia, mercury and arsenic poisoning.

Drug-induced diarrhea occurs when the physiological intestinal flora is suppressed and dysbiosis develops.

Neurogenic diarrhea is a consequence of a violation of the nervous regulation of intestinal motor activity (for example, diarrhea that occurs under the influence of excitement or fear).

Mild and short-lived diarrhea has virtually no effect on the general condition of a person. Severe or chronic - depletes the body, leads to hypovitaminosis, significant changes in organs.

Diarrhea symptoms

Clinical manifestations of diarrhea are usually characterized by a standard set of complaints and objective examination data. For some of its types, there are specific distinctive features that can be used to accurately determine the specific nature of the disease. But it also happens that even additional laboratory and instrumental data do not always turn out to be informative. In order not to miss anything, you need to be very attentive to everything that happens to the body, accompanying diarrhea.

High temperature with diarrhea

It is noted by many patients as an additional symptom. Its development is characteristic of many types of diarrhea. First of all, this concerns microbial (viral and bacterial) types. After all, any penetration of foreign protein structures into immune cells causes the production of antibodies, which is accompanied by the release of inflammatory mediators and a temperature reaction.

Considering that the intestines are one of the most powerful immune organs, its occurrence should not be surprising. On the contrary, when a person has signs of an infectious intestinal disease, but there is no fever, this indicates the presence of immunodeficiency. As for its specific values, they depend on the pathogenicity of the microbe and the reactivity of the body and can range from 37.1? C to above 39? C.

Nausea and vomiting with diarrhea

Nausea is by far the most common symptom of diarrhea of ​​any origin. There is a logical explanation for this. After all, disruption of the normal movement of food and feces through the intestines necessarily leads to their incorrect reflux in the opposite direction.

In addition, intoxication that occurs against the background of any intestinal catastrophe necessarily leads to the absorption of these toxic products into the systemic bloodstream with their distribution to all organs and tissues. The first to react to them is the vomiting center of the brain, which clinically manifests itself in the form of nausea followed by vomiting. By the way, the last reflex act is one of the most physiological mechanisms for cleansing the body of toxins of any origin.

Abdominal pain

It is always a consequence of increased intestinal motility. As a rule, it is spastic, strong and intense. It is characterized by a paroxysmal course with periods of sharp intensification with gradual subsidence and complete cessation. Usually after or during a painful attack there is a urge to defecate, which is manifested by severe diarrhea.

The appearance of pain is characteristic of almost all types of diarrhea, but most often occurs with microbial types and food poisoning. All other types of it are accompanied by discomfort and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

Rotten belching with diarrhea

It occurs as a primary symptom or gradually against the background of diarrhea. In the first case, when it precedes diarrhea, its appearance indicates enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas, stomach and biliary system.

As a result of the fact that the food entering the body is not digested, it rots. This eventually vents into the formation of foul-smelling gases, which emanate from the stomach through belching. Naturally, undigested particles entering the intestines cause irritation and diarrhea. When rotten belching occurs against the background of diarrhea, this is a consequence of secondary digestive disorders caused by the underlying disease and indicates its progression.

Color of diarrhea in an adult

An experienced clinician can determine the origin of diarrhea by the color and typical characteristics of liquid stool. In this case, it is necessary to add up the remaining symptoms. This will make it possible to understand and clarify some details of the origin of the true culprit of diarrhea.

Green diarrhea

Characteristic exclusively for bacterial and viral intestinal lesions. The appearance of greenery is associated with the direct accumulation of leukocytes in the feces, as well as the active proliferation of pyogenic coccal flora (staphylococci) against the background of weakened local immune mechanisms in the intestines.

Clinically, it looks like liquid stool of heterogeneous consistency with small greenish inclusions or thickly coated and mixed with viscous green mucus. Typically, such diarrhea is accompanied by a severe hyperthermic reaction, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, signs of severe intoxication and inflammatory changes in the blood system.

Yellow diarrhea

It is one of its most favorable types, since most often it is caused by increased peristalsis (contraction) of the intestine. As a result of the acceleration of the movement of feces, they do not have time to fully form into a normal shape and consistency. But at the same time, they undergo almost complete enzymatic processing and partial absorption of the active components into the bloodstream. The result is stool of normal color, but liquid consistency. There are no additional symptoms except for minor pain and heaviness in the abdomen,

Black diarrhea (dark in color)

Refers to very formidable or, conversely, natural symptoms. First of all, it’s worth focusing on it as a threatening sign. The appearance of stool that is black, like tar or tar, can indicate only one thing - bleeding from the stomach. The appearance of this particular color is due to the destruction of erythrocyte hemoglobin under the influence of hydrochloric acid of the stomach. In this case, hydrochloric acid hematin is formed, which provides the characteristic color. In such situations, you should not waste a minute and urgently seek medical help.

The second situation that may result in black feces is the consumption of foods based on animal blood (bloodweed), large amounts of beets, blueberries, or certain medications (activated carbon, bismuth preparations - Vikalin, de-Nol). It is this fact that often causes people to seek medical help. A differential diagnostic criterion for the origin of black diarrhea is the presence of an appropriate history of use of the listed substances or a decrease in hemodynamic parameters (hypotension, tachycardia) in the case of gastrointestinal bleeding.

White diarrhea (light in color)

Along with black feces, it is one of the most specific, characterizing only one reason for its appearance. In this case, it is insufficient processing of food masses in the intestines with bile. This is possible when the common bile duct is compressed or blocked by a tumor or stone.

In typical cases, such diarrhea is necessarily accompanied by yellowness of the skin and severe darkening of the urine. Pain, temperature reaction and dehydration are not typical. It is often of a mild nature, occurring only a few times, after which the white color of the stool remains with its normal consistency.

Diarrhea with blood

The most dangerous of all types of diarrhea, since it indicates ongoing active bleeding into the cavity of the intestinal tract. Usually characteristic of disintegrating tumors of the large intestine, severe intestinal infections, which result in complete destruction of the mucous membrane of the intestinal wall.

Sometimes the appearance of bloody diarrhea can be a consequence of the toxic effects of various chemical compounds and poisons on the intestines. Bloody diarrhea may not be represented by pure blood, but by liquid, dark cherry-colored stool. In this case, we can say with confidence that the source of bleeding is located in the right half of the large intestine.

Diarrhea with mucus

This characteristic alone cannot determine the true origin of diarrhea. After all, mucus can be completely different and released in different quantities. Its transparent appearance is a sign of a relatively favorable course, which may be due to foodborne illness and mild poisoning. When the mucus becomes greenish, brown or bloody, this always indicates severe diarrhea or lack of effect from its treatment.

Water diarrhea

In any scientific manual or regular women's health magazine, you can find only one answer to the question about watery stools. This is of course cholera. The causative agent of the disease is designed in such a way that when it enters the intestines, it turns on all possible mechanisms of diarrhea, which is manifested by the indomitable release of water instead of feces. The most interesting thing is that the temperature rises extremely rarely. But the number of bowel movements is so large that patients are unable to count them. As a result, severe dehydration occurs, which requires immediate correction through massive infusion therapy.

Treatment of diarrhea in adults

Only those who can clearly determine its nature and mechanism of occurrence can treat diarrhea correctly and effectively. The table below should help you navigate these issues a little.

Type of diarrhea

Basic groups of drugs

Infectious

Antibiotics;

Intestinal antiseptics;

Slowing down peristalsis;

Sorbents;

Enzymes;

Enzymatic

Replacement therapy with enzyme preparations

Intestinal diseases

Antibiotics;

Specific anti-inflammatory intestinal drugs;

Glucocorticoid hormones;

Bleeding

Antiulcer drugs;

Hemostatics;

Intoxication

Gastric lavage and enemas;

Sorbents;

Motor normalizers;

Diarrhea after antibiotics

Antifungal;

Sorbents;

Probiotics;

Diet for diarrhea in adults

The issue of nutrition for any disease of the digestive system should be given special attention. Especially with diarrhea. In general terms, it is worth saying that you should not eat rough, fried, fatty, smoked foods. Everything should be light, well digestible and not burden the already busy intestines. He must simultaneously rest and provide the body with the most necessary substances for life. The water regime must be adjusted with the consumption of a sufficient amount of liquid in any form.

What can you eat if you have diarrhea?

Types of products

What should you not eat if you have diarrhea?

Black with bran, yesterday's baking, crackers, biscuits

Bread and flour dishes

Fresh white bread, buns, pies, rolls, cookies

Dietary meat of chicken and rabbit, turkey, doctor's sausages

Meat products

Pork, beef, duck and other fatty meats, smoked sausage

Ryazhenka, cottage cheese, yogurt, light yogurt

Dairy products

Whole milk, full fat sour cream, cream

Lemon juice in water, blueberries, viburnum, cranberries, baked apples, potatoes

Vegetables and fruits, berries

Tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, orange, banana, plums, apricot

Buckwheat, rice, oatmeal

Cereals and porridges

Legumes and peas

Beans, peas in any form

Dried blueberries, apples, pears, rose hips

Nuts and dried fruits

Raisins, dried apricots, all types of nuts

The given power supply diagram is indicative only. Nutrition for diarrhea depends on the intensity of diarrhea, the form and stage of the disease that led to its occurrence. Naturally, in the first hours and even days after the problem occurs, it is better to abstain from food altogether, with the exception of sweetened tea and various liquids. This approach will provide trophism to the affected intestinal cells and will not have an irritating effect on them. Gradually, the volume of nutrition is expanded, introducing permitted foods as the condition stabilizes.

As for the method of cooking, it should be exclusively boiled or stewed. It is best to cook non-rich soups, porridges, mashed potatoes, steamed cutlets and meatballs. Various jelly and jellies made from permitted fruits are suitable. When the intensity of diarrhea decreases, you can add half a soft-boiled egg and a little butter to your diet for seasoning soup or porridge. Gradually, the diet expands with the transition to a normal, habitual diet.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a pathological condition associated with indigestion, in which stool has a liquid consistency and occurs more than three times a day. Loose stools are a consequence of increased intestinal motility (contraction of muscle tissue) or impaired absorption of liquid by the walls of the digestive tract, as a result of which the stool becomes liquefied and comes out faster.

Digestive disorders are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdominal area, elevated body temperature, weakness, and lack of appetite. The consequences of loose stools are dangerous to human health and life. Thus, diarrhea is the cause of dehydration, lack of vitamins, minerals and many vital substances washed out of the body with liquid feces. Also, frequent bowel movements can cause the formation of hemorrhoids and many intestinal diseases. may appear suddenly and last from several days to several months. If the duration of diarrhea is no more than two weeks, it is classified as acute. If it lasts more than fourteen days, it is classified as long-term, which gradually becomes chronic.

Causes of diarrhea

Loose stools appear due to disturbances in the digestive system, and many reasons can contribute to this:

Depending on the causes, there are several types of diarrhea:

• neurogenic in nature;
• infectious;
• alimentary occurs when there is an allergy to foods or an unbalanced diet;
• toxic diarrhea, the causes of such diarrhea are poisoning with chemical elements;
• dyspeptic diarrhea is called when there is enzyme deficiency of the pancreas, liver, stomach, intestines;
• medicinal, the causes of which are drugs;
• exudative - occurs as a result of diseases of the digestive system.

The nature of the stool depends on the type of diarrhea and the reasons that caused it. This means that loose stools vary in consistency, smell and color, and may contain various impurities such as mucus or blood particles. That is, the color of the diarrhea depends on the root cause.

Orange loose stools

Often the color of stool depends on what kind of food a person ate. Loose, orange-colored stool may occur from foods containing beta-carotene (vitamin A). Beta-carotene is found in large quantities in berries, vegetables and fruits in orange, red and yellow shades. There is a lot of it in carrots, pumpkin, apricots, melons, plums, nectarines, mangoes, cherries, as well as cauliflower, lettuce, and beet tops. This means that stool can acquire an orange color after eating food containing a huge amount of vitamin A, an overdose of which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal colic and itching. Orange diarrhea can also be caused by the use of certain medications, such as rifampin.

In addition, orange diarrhea can mean some pathological conditions in the body:

• inflammatory processes in the digestive tract;
• stomach ulcer;
• colitis;
• hormonal disorders;
• pancreatic diseases;
• hepatitis and other liver pathologies;
• diseases of the biliary tract;
• stones in the biliary tract;
• cystitis;
• lung diseases.

Loose brown stools

Gray loose stools

Gray stool in an adult may indicate the presence of liver pathologies, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. Gray diarrhea means that there are disturbances in the bile ducts, which lead to their blockage and disruption of the flow of bile to the intestines, and diseases such as:

• inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis);
• hepatitis;
• Crohn's disease;
• inflammatory diseases of the pancreas, for example;
• stones or tumors in the gallbladder and bile ducts, liver, pancreas.

In addition, gray liquid stool may have an unpleasant rotten odor caused by:

• disruption of the production of digestive enzymes;
• decreased stomach acidity;
• inflammation of the colon mucosa.

In addition, the formation of gray feces can be affected by an abundance of fatty foods, taking antimicrobial and antifungal drugs, contraceptives, and medications for gout. Allergies can also contribute to the appearance of gray, loose stools.

Loose red stools

So, the red color of liquid stool may mean that there is damage in the digestive tract, accompanied by the release of blood, most often this is facilitated by: ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, infectious intestinal pathologies.

Black loose stool

Black color of loose stool means that there is severe damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and the presence of prolonged bleeding. Black diarrhea is characterized by damage to the upper intestines, with loose stools having a tarry consistency and a very unpleasant odor. This type of diarrhea is fraught with a huge threat; it is often accompanied by black or scarlet vomit, which means that the body experiences large blood loss, which leads to a decrease in hemoglobin, pressure, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and coma. The causes of such conditions are ulcers, cancer, gastritis, esophagitis, Crohn's disease, esophageal varices, histoplasmosis.

The formation of dark diarrhea is possible after eating any red food: beets, blueberries, black licorice, prunes. In this case, the consistency of loose stool is not as tarry as with diarrhea caused by bleeding. Also, the appearance of black diarrhea can be caused by:

• excess iron in the body;
• Activated carbon;
• bismuth-based medicines;
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• medications that cause bleeding in the stomach (ibuprofen, aspirin);
• mercury poisoning.

White diarrhea

White diarrhea means bile deficiency. This means that there is a blockage of the bile ducts, which is caused by the following diseases:

• tumors and stones in the bile ducts;
• hepatitis;
• liver cancer;
• cirrhosis;
• Crohn's disease;
• tumor formations of the pancreas;

Often the culprit of pale stools is malignant tumors of the digestive system. You should observe the nature of the regularity of diarrhea. In oncology, it manifests itself in a chronic form, that is, constantly. In other cases, white stools are short-lived.

In addition to organ pathologies, there are other factors that can cause the formation of white, loose stool. This is an unhealthy diet, eating foods that are light in color or contain large amounts of calcium - rice, tapioca, milk, sour cream. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages also contributes to the outflow of bile and the appearance of white stool. Another reason may be taking medications for gout, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Green diarrhea

Green color of loose stool indicates intestinal infections. These diseases are characterized by disruption of the intestinal microflora as a result of the suppression of beneficial microbes in the intestine by pathogenic ones, the growth of which causes fermentation. They are accompanied by a sour, putrid odor and the presence of mucus in the stool. The causes of green feces are: violation of hygiene standards, treatment with antibiotics, consumption of spoiled food, unwashed vegetables and fruits. Feces can also acquire a green color after eating lettuce, spinach, sorrel, that is, greens.

Green stool may also indicate problems with the liver and blood.

Diarrhea Treatment Methods

The main rule in treating diarrhea is to drink plenty of fluids. Frequent bowel movements dehydrate the body, so fluid should be replenished regularly, every half hour. But you should not use carbonated drinks or raw water. It is best to drink herbal infusions, decoctions and jelly, which have astringent, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. The following are suitable for this: St. John's wort, rose hips, chamomile, blueberries, bird cherry, apples, pears, lingonberries, etc.

To remove toxins from the body, you should take drugs that have adsorbing properties - carbon tablets, Smecta, Enterosgel. Salt solutions, for example, help replenish the water balance. Until it is known what causes the diarrhea, you should not take drugs to harden the stool. First you need to undergo an examination. You should also consult a doctor if diarrhea does not go away for more than a day, is accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, or impurities in the form of blood and mucus in the stool.

In case of stool disorders, it is necessary to adhere to dietary nutrition. In the first hours after the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, or better yet for a day, it is better to refuse food, using only drink. The diet should contain food that helps restore the digestive tract. If vomiting is present, a decoction of rice is suitable. You can eat:

• rice or oatmeal;
• crackers;
• soft-boiled eggs;
• boiled meat or fish (but low-fat varieties);
• low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir;
• boiled vegetables;
• baked apples;
• bananas.

It is important that the food is pureed. You should avoid fatty, spicy, smoked, cold and hot foods so as not to irritate the intestines.

In many cases, attacks of diarrhea that do not cause any accompanying symptoms can occur due to poor nutrition, overeating and even overwork. Very often, treatment with antibacterial drugs or other types of medications can lead to digestive problems or disrupt the microflora.

But, if a person has red diarrhea (with pronounced blood impurities), this can be considered as an alarming signal about the development of severe gastrointestinal pathology. In medical practice, stool mixed with blood requires emergency treatment, and it is not advisable to carry out therapy on your own.

Causes

There are many reasons for the appearance of feces in the blood, which is why it is necessary to undergo an examination by a qualified specialist. Among the typical diseases that have a symptom in the form of red diarrhea are:

1. Infectious diseases such as salmonellosis, enteritis, dysentery. They are accompanied by frequent attacks of painful diarrhea mixed with mucus and blood, body hyperthermia, and vomiting.
2. Disturbance of intestinal microflora and ulcerative colitis - cause diarrhea with traces of bright red blood.
3. Blood clots in the feces often indicate the presence of hemorrhoids, but this disease is also characterized by many additional symptoms, especially severe pain and burning in the anal area.
4. Severe food poisoning.
5. Blood during diarrhea often appears due to polyps in the intestines, which are damaged during the passage of feces and begin to bleed.
6. Dark blood clots indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract - a stomach ulcer or cancer.
7. Cracks in the rectum.

Sometimes, red diarrhea is an alarming signal of the development of a dangerous disease - oncology in the gastrointestinal tract. Blood impurities appear mainly in the last stages, so a person should take this problem seriously and consult a doctor, especially if there are other signs:

1. Body hyperthermia coupled with red diarrhea, frequent symptoms of intestinal infection.
2. Nausea and vomiting that accompany diarrhea most often occur after poisoning with toxic substances, or against the background of severe intestinal diseases (cholera, salmonellosis).
3. General malaise, constant drowsiness, body aches and red diarrhea are frequent companions of a disease called dysbacteriosis. And also, this is part of the symptoms of an ulcer or malignant tumor.

Treatment of hemorrhagic diarrhea

Drug (conservative) therapy

To treat such a pathology as diarrhea with traces of blood, only if its cause does not lie behind some severe pathology, special medications are used that have a binding effect, and at the same time, possible dehydration is prevented - by simply taking oral rehydration agents, such as Regidron powder .

Self-medication at home, especially with antibiotics or any other group of drugs, is strictly prohibited. If red diarrhea is not treated correctly, it can make the problem worse.

Almost all drugs for oral use are actively absorbed by the intestinal walls, and when the cause of diarrhea is an imbalance of microflora, and not an infection, then self-medication with antibiotics will only lead to worsening.

To treat diseases such as hemorrhoids, it is important to carry out local therapy using ointments, suppositories or surgery. When diagnosing oncology in parts of the intestines, the doctor is more likely to prescribe surgery.

If diarrhea with blood impurities occurs against the background of ulcerative colitis, then in this case it is impossible to do without complex therapy with drugs and intravenous injections. In addition, the ulcer must be treated with strict adherence to a special gentle diet, which includes eating food that does not irritate the walls of the stomach and intestines.

Treatment with folk remedies

Having discovered red diarrhea, the patient should definitely visit a doctor, and only after that begin treatment, be it traditional or traditional medicine. People who trust the old recipes of healers try to treat all ailments at home, using the means at hand. Traditional medicine has recipes for treating even such a problem as traces of blood in diarrhea, but most of them are aimed at combating hemorrhoids (the most common cause):

• Horse chestnut - this remedy has a tonic effect on the intestinal vascular system. For medicinal purposes, a tincture is prepared consisting of 50 g of fruit and 1 liter of vodka. The fruits are crushed and filled, the vessel is sent to an unlit room for 14 days. After infusion, you can use 30 drops diluted in 1/3 glass of water.
• Walnut – the partitions of the walnut (they are located between the kernels) have beneficial properties in the fight against diarrhea. 1 tbsp. A spoonful of partitions is boiled for 15 minutes in 0.5 liters of water. The decoction is filtered and consumed 3-4 times a day.
• Oak bark - this product has a strong bonding effect and relieves inflammatory processes. A small amount of bark is crushed into a powdery mass (1 teaspoon) and poured with 1.5 cups of boiling water. Boil the mixture until the water boils to 1 cup of liquid. Take 1-2 spoons, 3 times a day.
• Rosehip – has a strengthening effect on vascular walls and relieves inflammation in hemorrhoids. The fruits need to be ground in a blender (about 1 tablespoon of powder). All this is filled with water and another 2 teaspoons of sugar are added. The mixture is infused throughout the night, and in the morning it is filtered and drunk in 3 doses during the day.

When treating red diarrhea, we must not forget that dehydration may develop. Doctors recommend monitoring the body’s water balance by drinking at least 2 liters of water per day.

The human body is a very complex mechanism. Millions of biochemical reactions take place in it every day. Some of them are actively discussed, while others are hushed up - this concerns the bowel movement procedure. Every person has experienced diarrhea at least once in their life, but ashamed to see a doctor, they endured the debilitating symptoms. Under no circumstances should this painful condition be allowed to take its course, especially if gray diarrhea is noted. There is no shame in wanting to be healthy. That is why, at the first symptoms of diarrhea, consult a doctor immediately. There is always a risk that diarrhea is not just a bowel disorder, but a symptom of a serious illness developing in the body.

Possible causes of intestinal dysfunction

Gray diarrhea indicates that there are disturbances in the human bile ducts. In a healthy body, feces are colored brown by a bile derivative, the enzyme bilirubin. Under the influence of unfavorable factors or diseases, an insufficient amount of it is produced or bile enters the intestines instead, changing the color of the stool. The following diseases can cause disturbances in the biliary tract:

Gray diarrhea in an adult may be associated with lifestyle and may not require drug treatment. For example, eating fatty foods or foods containing iron can change the color of your stool. As soon as a person’s diet is normalized, feces acquire a typical color.

Taking certain medications, in particular antibiotics and antifungal agents, affects the stool. In some patients, gray diarrhea may be the result of an allergic reaction to a food product or other irritant. This is how the body tries to get rid of the toxin. Violation of hygiene standards, as well as changes in climatic conditions, also play an important role in the functioning of the intestines.

Only a qualified doctor can confirm which cause caused gray loose stools, based on instrumental examination and laboratory tests.

Principles of treatment

The doctor will eliminate gray loose stools depending on the diagnostic results. If gray diarrhea in an adult is caused by food products, it is enough to drink sorbents for three days. After this, your health will improve, and your stool will return to its normal color. Such sorbents as Polysorb, Smecta, Enterosgel, Atoxil, Sorbex and activated carbon have proven themselves to be effective in removing toxins. The antidiarrheal medicine Lorepamide will help reduce the frequency of urges during food poisoning. Linex, Lactiale, Acylact, Bififiform - will help normalize the intestinal microflora, thereby reducing gray diarrhea.

If the pathology is caused by cholecystitis, hospitalization of the patient and the prescription of drugs that normalize the flow of bile, relieve abdominal cramps and eliminate other unpleasant symptoms are indicated. If you have gallstones, you may need surgery or medications to dissolve the stones. The following drugs have proven themselves to be excellent:

• Allopurinol;
• Blémarin;
• Marelin;
• Madder extract;
• Spilled;
• Cyston.

With diarrhea, gray diarrhea often signals the development of inflammatory bowel diseases. Treatment of enterocolitis, colitis and other typical pathologies is carried out using anti-inflammatory drugs and products containing digestive enzymes - Mezim, Festal, Creon. In the presence of spasms, it is recommended to prescribe Drotaverine and Papaverine, and Espumisan is used to relieve signs of flatulence. To restore the acidity of the stomach, Orthotaurin Ergo and Plantaglucid are prescribed. In the presence of pancreatitis, it is very important to carry out timely therapy with cytostatics, antispasmodics, and antisecretory drugs. Pancreatitis can become chronic and lead to death.

Loose gray stools are fairly easy to prevent. To do this, you should limit the amount of sweets, baked goods, fresh fruits, canned goods and dairy products in your diet. Preference should be given to cereals, lean meat, fish, as well as vegetables, stewed or steamed. The best results for diarrhea can be achieved by wisely combining traditional medicine and dietary nutrition. Do not be ashamed of your body and seek help from doctors. The sooner you start treatment for diarrhea, the faster you will get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

With diarrhea, few adults immediately rush to see a doctor. But it is simply necessary to visit the hospital if the child has diarrhea and in addition the color of the stool has changed. Dark brown or gray diarrhea should alert parents, since this phenomenon is not considered normal and almost always indicates serious pathologies. In this case, it is very important to consult a doctor as quickly as possible, since for some diseases the success of treatment depends on the timely administration of therapy.

Causes of stool color change

Various factors can cause changes in the consistency and color of stool. Most often, these are disturbances of normal digestion, which are provoked by various pathogenic microorganisms. Gray or brown diarrhea can occur in the following cases:

Only a doctor can determine what exactly caused the watery, grayish or dark brown stool. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests, on the basis of which treatment is prescribed..

If diarrhea of ​​an unusual color appears, you should definitely consult a doctor to prevent dangerous complications.

What else can cause gray diarrhea in a child?

Watery stool in young children is a fairly common occurrence and in most cases does not pose a health hazard. This is due to imperfection of the digestive organs or improperly organized nutrition. But in cases where the color of the stool is not yellow, but gray or dirty brown, you should definitely consult a pediatrician.

Even if a child has gray diarrhea, but this is not accompanied by other symptoms, then we can say with confidence that such changes were caused by new complementary foods or a change in formula. Doctors identify several more harmless reasons that can cause gray stool in a small child:

1. If silvery shells, similar to soap film, are visible on the stool, and the child is fed cow's milk, then we can talk about poor breeding of dairy products.
2. If the stool is watery, gray in color, and has a putrid odor, it is necessary to adjust the baby’s diet. What should be added to the diet and what should be excluded - this can be suggested by a pediatrician.
3. Grayish diarrhea can also occur in children who are being treated with iron-containing medications.

None of these causes of diarrhea pose a risk to the baby's health. But this is true only if such a change in stool is not accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy and other unpleasant phenomena. If the child’s condition has noticeably worsened, you should immediately consult a doctor.. Such symptoms may indicate an intestinal infection, for example, rotavirus infection. Watery stools, if not treated promptly, can lead to serious complications.

It is worth remembering that young children develop dehydration very quickly, which can lead to irreversible consequences.

What to do if your child has diarrhea of ​​an unusual color

If a child has brown or unusual gray diarrhea, then first of all it is necessary to understand the cause of this phenomenon. Sometimes it is difficult to do this without the help of a qualified specialist, so it is advisable to immediately go to the hospital. Before visiting the doctor, it is necessary to analyze whether the child’s diet has changed or whether new foods have been introduced.

If for some reason you can’t get to the doctor yet, you can take the following actions:

1. Give your baby plenty to drink, preferably clean boiled water.
2. If there is a suspicion of rotavirus, then the baby is given adsorbents.
3. The child’s diet is adjusted; cabbage, legumes and other foods that can cause diarrhea should be excluded from the diet.

The baby must be constantly monitored; if the condition worsens, you need to call an ambulance.

If the child’s general condition is not disturbed, but only the color of the stool has changed, then it is permissible to observe the baby for about 2 days. If this phenomenon is not caused by pathology, then during this time everything returns to normal.

If you suspect that a new milk formula has contributed to the change in stool color, you should not immediately rush around looking for a new one. Perhaps this is how the baby’s body adapts to the new diet, because, say what you will, the baby’s digestive system is designed only for breast milk.

Quite often, the color of the stool changes when treated with certain medications, such as Augmentin, Panadol or Nurofen, especially if they are prescribed in a high dose. When these medications are discontinued, everything quickly returns to normal.

When urgent medical attention is needed

When ashy-colored stools last more than 4 days and the baby’s health noticeably deteriorates every day, you need to consult a doctor. Parents should be alert to high body temperature, vomiting, bloating and yellowing of the skin.

The doctor will definitely prescribe a series of tests that will need to be taken to clarify the diagnosis. Early diagnosis is very important for any disease, and changes in stool color play an important role here.

With timely treatment, the baby’s health condition quickly improves and he is on the mend. During the rehabilitation period, it is very important to follow a diet so as not to burden the digestive organs.