Monday, March 14, 2011

Different types of Diarrhea

Different types of Diarrhea

It is a common ailment especially among children or people with careless dietary habits and unclean drinking water intake.


Inflammatory diarrhea

It occurs due to damage to the brush border or mucosal lining. This condition causes a passive loss of protein rich fluids. The absorption of the lost fluids is also decreased. Its causes may be viral, bacterial or parasitic infection. In some individuals, disturbed autoimmunity such as inflammatory bowel diseases can cause inflammatory diarrhea.

Osmotic Diarrhea

When excessive water flows into the bowels it causes osmotic diarrhea. Digestive disorders, celiac or pancreatic disease can be the causative agent of this condition. The nutrients remain in the lumen to draw water inside. Osmotic laxatives taken to cure constipation can also cause this disease. Undigested lactose or high content of ascorbic acid and magnesium in a person can lead to distention of the bowel or osmotic diarrhea. If present in large amounts, sorbitol or other sugar alcohols, that are not easily absorbed into the body can cause diarrhea. The disease is treated by cutting the intake of the disturbing agents such as milk, sorbitol, laxatives and other ingredients.

Motility-related diarrhea

It occurs owing to a rapid movement of food through the intestinal area. Quick movement of food does not permit the absorption of the nutrients to be absorbed into the blood as it needs appropriate time which is not available in this irritating condition. Sometimes, it causes severe pain in the lower abdomen right after eating any edible.

Secretary Diarrhea

This diarrhea occurs with an increased active secretion and no absorption of the nutrients into the blood. Cholera toxin, that is responsible for anions secretion is the most common cause of this disease. The secretion continues even when the individual is with fast or not taking any food.

Exudative Diarrhea

If there is puss and blood in the stools, it is exudative diarrhea. The main cause is ulcerative colitis, E.coli, food poisoning or other inflammatory bowel diseases.


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