Diarrheal disease is a major public health problem among children under the age of 5 years. However all age groups and both sex are affected. Diarrhea is more common in a person with malnutrition. Malnutrition leads to infection and infection leads to Diarrhea which is a well known viscious cycle. Other some contributory factors are – Poverty, Immaturity, Lack of personal and domestic hygiene, Immunodeficiency.
Signs & Symptoms of Acute Diarrheal Disease
The passage of loose, liquid or watery stools. These stools are usually passed more than three times a day. It is caused by an infection of the bowel. In many cases Diarrhea stools are watery but if blood is visible in stools, the condition is called dysentery and is associated with abdominal pain. Diarrheal diseases are classified by clinical syndromes as:
Acute Watery Diarrhea
Acute Diarrhea starts suddenly and is characterized by the passage of loose watery motions. Patient recovers within 3–7 days.
Dysentery
Dysentery is blood in the stools.
Persistant Diarrhea
If Diarrhea persists for more than 14 days is associated with weight loss is classified as persistent diarrhea.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
- Fever.
- Loose stools.
- Pain and straining while defecating.
- Crampy pain in the abdomen.
- Thirst.
Infections Causing Diarrhea are
1. Viruses
- Rotaviruses
- Adenoviruses
- Enteroviruses
- Norwalk Group Viruses
- Coronaviruses
- Calciviruses
- Astroviruses
- Vibrio Cholerae
- Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
- Escherichia Coli
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter Jejuni
- Bacillus Cereus
- E. Histolytica
- Giardia Intestinalis
- Intestinal Worms
- Trichuriasis
- Cryptosporidium SPP