What is antibiotic associated diarrhea
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a side effect that results from taking medication used to treat bacterial infections also known as antibiotics. You may find yourself passing loose, watery stools consistently after taking antibiotic medication.
In most cases, diarrhea requires no treatment as it is mild and it clears up in a few days after you finish the medication but a serious case of antibiotic-associated diarrhea may require you to stop or change medication.
Symptoms of antibiotic associated diarrhea
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea might begin about a week or so after you start taking an antibiotic. You will experience mild symptoms like recurrent bowel movements that may cause abdominal pains, nausea and loose stool. Other manifestations of antibiotic-associated bacteria that are less common may include, mild fevers, complete loss of appetite and cramping. However, some symptoms don't appear until after you have finished antibiotic treatment.
Causes of antibiotic associated diarrhea
What causes antibiotic-related diarrhea, you may ask? Well, it is caused by changes in the composition and function of the intestinal flora. Bacteria that are toxin producing upsets the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. The pathogen may also cause antibiotic-associated colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine caused by Clostridium difficile infection that results in excessive diarrhea which normally occurs after the antibiotic therapy. Taking multiple antibiotic medications can also lead to severe cases of antibiotic-associated bacteria. For instance, taking Cephalosporin’s, such as Suprax and Penicillin’s, such as amoxicillin. Combinations of the two types of medication may lead to inflammation of the bowel.
Risk factors for antibiotic associated diarrhea
Like any other disorder, antibiotic-associated diarrhea it definitely has risk factors that increase your chances of developing it. They include advanced ages of 65 years and above which is 50 to 100 times more than that of a teenager or a young adult, previous surgical operations on your intestinal tract and having previously experienced antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Having been previously hospitalized is also a risk factor that might lead to you suffering from the disorder. This is due to the antibiotic treatment that is administered to patients in hospitals. In comparison to a study conducted in Sweden, bacterial colonization of hospitalized adults was 20 to 30 percent more than that of outpatients which were only at 3 percent.
Complications of antibiotic associated diarrhea
The most common complication of antibiotic-associated diarrhea or any other form of diarrhea is dehydration. It is advisable for you to take lots of fluids especially water to compensate for the loss of electrolytes. Severe dehydration is life-threatening and can be fatal. Symptoms of dehydration include intense thirst, a dry mouth and to feel general body sluggishness.
Other complications include bowel perforation which can be repaired surgically and a toxic megacolon that is accompanied by paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel that enable you to defecate.
Diagnosis of antibiotic associated diarrhea
Diagnosing of Antibiotic-associated diarrhea involves conducting a series of tests like abdominal radiography and endoscopy to detect the presence of toxins produced by the bacteria in the abdomen.
Diagnosis is also made by analyzing stool samples. This approach is advantageous because it yields a higher degree of accuracy if it’s conducted correctly. However, you have to wait for two to four days for the results. It is advisable for you to have more than one stool specimen tested as this increases the diagnostic yield.
Precautions & Prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea
The best precaution for you to take to minimize chances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is to avoid antibiotics or to limit their use unless your doctor prescribes them for u. You should also inform your doctor if you have previously experienced antibiotic-associated diarrhea so that he/she can take it into consideration when prescribing you medication.
Taking probiotics can also be helpful for you. It might beat logic that you are taking antibiotics so taking probiotics will undo the treatment the antibiotics have done. But this is not the case, probiotics add good bacteria to your digestive system to treat the side effects that have resulted from the antibiotics.
You should also watch what you eat. Some foods and dairy products naturally contain probiotics. It is recommended for you to take at least half a liter of natural yogurt per day. Never the less, some foods are culprits for stomach upsets. It’s always good to stay away from such foods when you are on antibiotic medication as they may flare diarrhea. Always follow the instructions written on your antibiotics so as not to hinder their effectiveness. Not all antibiotics are absorbed on an empty stomach thus some are recommended to take after meals.
How is antibiotic associated diarrhea treated and managed?
Treatment depends on the conditions of your symptoms. Mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea is likely to go away in a few days after you are through with your antibiotics. In a case of severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea that leads to developing Clostridium difficile infection, other forms of treatment may be approached.
Homeopathic treatment can be incorporated in treatment. It boosts your body’s immunity and it also opposes side effects of the antibiotics. This kind of treatment addresses the pathological condition of your body as it creates an equilibrium in energy, immunity and body functions thus curing the root of the disorder. Common homeopathic treatment medicines for antibiotic-associated diarrhea include Carb V and Sulph.
Conventional or allopathic treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea mainly constitutes of antibiotic prescriptions that your doctor may prescribe or recommend depending on the severity of your antibiotic-associated diarrhea after tests have been carried out.
In cases of extreme antibiotic-associated diarrhea that has led to a toxic megacolon or if your body is not responding to medical treatment, surgical measures can also be taken. Surgery has a high mortality rate of close to 40 percent therefore early and continuous surgical consultation is recommended for better outcomes.
Dietary and herbal treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is the most common form of treatment. It involves watching what you eat and taking homemade remedies to replenish the body with electrolytes lost due to dehydration. You should drink plenty of fluids and avoid spicy and fatty foods or foods with high fiber contents.
Taking precaution is far cheaper and safer than managing complications or getting treatment for extreme antibiotic-associated diarrhea. You should, therefore, invest more in taking precaution and preventive measures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patient's Feedback
For Safe Natural Holistic Treatment, contact or visit:
Ethos Healthcare
Email : contactethos@gmail.com
Phone: +91-11-26164016, 46026700
Mobile / Whatsapp: +91-9810155920
Website:
www.ethosbodyandmindclinic.com
and
www.ethoshealthcare.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a side effect that results from taking medication used to treat bacterial infections also known as antibiotics. You may find yourself passing loose, watery stools consistently after taking antibiotic medication.
In most cases, diarrhea requires no treatment as it is mild and it clears up in a few days after you finish the medication but a serious case of antibiotic-associated diarrhea may require you to stop or change medication.
Symptoms of antibiotic associated diarrhea
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea might begin about a week or so after you start taking an antibiotic. You will experience mild symptoms like recurrent bowel movements that may cause abdominal pains, nausea and loose stool. Other manifestations of antibiotic-associated bacteria that are less common may include, mild fevers, complete loss of appetite and cramping. However, some symptoms don't appear until after you have finished antibiotic treatment.
Causes of antibiotic associated diarrhea
What causes antibiotic-related diarrhea, you may ask? Well, it is caused by changes in the composition and function of the intestinal flora. Bacteria that are toxin producing upsets the ratio of good to bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. The pathogen may also cause antibiotic-associated colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine caused by Clostridium difficile infection that results in excessive diarrhea which normally occurs after the antibiotic therapy. Taking multiple antibiotic medications can also lead to severe cases of antibiotic-associated bacteria. For instance, taking Cephalosporin’s, such as Suprax and Penicillin’s, such as amoxicillin. Combinations of the two types of medication may lead to inflammation of the bowel.
Risk factors for antibiotic associated diarrhea
Like any other disorder, antibiotic-associated diarrhea it definitely has risk factors that increase your chances of developing it. They include advanced ages of 65 years and above which is 50 to 100 times more than that of a teenager or a young adult, previous surgical operations on your intestinal tract and having previously experienced antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Having been previously hospitalized is also a risk factor that might lead to you suffering from the disorder. This is due to the antibiotic treatment that is administered to patients in hospitals. In comparison to a study conducted in Sweden, bacterial colonization of hospitalized adults was 20 to 30 percent more than that of outpatients which were only at 3 percent.
Complications of antibiotic associated diarrhea
The most common complication of antibiotic-associated diarrhea or any other form of diarrhea is dehydration. It is advisable for you to take lots of fluids especially water to compensate for the loss of electrolytes. Severe dehydration is life-threatening and can be fatal. Symptoms of dehydration include intense thirst, a dry mouth and to feel general body sluggishness.
Other complications include bowel perforation which can be repaired surgically and a toxic megacolon that is accompanied by paralysis of the peristaltic movements of the bowel that enable you to defecate.
Diagnosis of antibiotic associated diarrhea
Diagnosing of Antibiotic-associated diarrhea involves conducting a series of tests like abdominal radiography and endoscopy to detect the presence of toxins produced by the bacteria in the abdomen.
Diagnosis is also made by analyzing stool samples. This approach is advantageous because it yields a higher degree of accuracy if it’s conducted correctly. However, you have to wait for two to four days for the results. It is advisable for you to have more than one stool specimen tested as this increases the diagnostic yield.
Precautions & Prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea
The best precaution for you to take to minimize chances of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is to avoid antibiotics or to limit their use unless your doctor prescribes them for u. You should also inform your doctor if you have previously experienced antibiotic-associated diarrhea so that he/she can take it into consideration when prescribing you medication.
Taking probiotics can also be helpful for you. It might beat logic that you are taking antibiotics so taking probiotics will undo the treatment the antibiotics have done. But this is not the case, probiotics add good bacteria to your digestive system to treat the side effects that have resulted from the antibiotics.
You should also watch what you eat. Some foods and dairy products naturally contain probiotics. It is recommended for you to take at least half a liter of natural yogurt per day. Never the less, some foods are culprits for stomach upsets. It’s always good to stay away from such foods when you are on antibiotic medication as they may flare diarrhea. Always follow the instructions written on your antibiotics so as not to hinder their effectiveness. Not all antibiotics are absorbed on an empty stomach thus some are recommended to take after meals.
How is antibiotic associated diarrhea treated and managed?
Treatment depends on the conditions of your symptoms. Mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea is likely to go away in a few days after you are through with your antibiotics. In a case of severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea that leads to developing Clostridium difficile infection, other forms of treatment may be approached.
Homeopathic treatment can be incorporated in treatment. It boosts your body’s immunity and it also opposes side effects of the antibiotics. This kind of treatment addresses the pathological condition of your body as it creates an equilibrium in energy, immunity and body functions thus curing the root of the disorder. Common homeopathic treatment medicines for antibiotic-associated diarrhea include Carb V and Sulph.
Conventional or allopathic treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea mainly constitutes of antibiotic prescriptions that your doctor may prescribe or recommend depending on the severity of your antibiotic-associated diarrhea after tests have been carried out.
In cases of extreme antibiotic-associated diarrhea that has led to a toxic megacolon or if your body is not responding to medical treatment, surgical measures can also be taken. Surgery has a high mortality rate of close to 40 percent therefore early and continuous surgical consultation is recommended for better outcomes.
Dietary and herbal treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is the most common form of treatment. It involves watching what you eat and taking homemade remedies to replenish the body with electrolytes lost due to dehydration. You should drink plenty of fluids and avoid spicy and fatty foods or foods with high fiber contents.
Taking precaution is far cheaper and safer than managing complications or getting treatment for extreme antibiotic-associated diarrhea. You should, therefore, invest more in taking precaution and preventive measures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patient's Feedback
For Safe Natural Holistic Treatment, contact or visit:
Ethos Healthcare
Email : contactethos@gmail.com
Phone: +91-11-26164016, 46026700
Mobile / Whatsapp: +91-9810155920
Website:
www.ethosbodyandmindclinic.com
and
www.ethoshealthcare.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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