Do you know what's worse than trying to master a yoga pose that demands more flexibility than Mr. Fantastic himself? Experiencing the dribbly brown stormtroopers of poop known as diarrhea. While no one wants to discuss their bathroom habits, dark brown and watery diarrhea is not something that can be ignored.
Typically, healthy stool should be well-formed (not just pebbles or liquid) with a medium-brown color. But when your digestion arsenal hits an unexpected rough patch resulting in darker shades of poo accompanied by urgent bowel movements, don't panic! In this article, we will decode everything related to dark brown & watery diarrhea -- its causes and cures.
Table of Contents:
- What is Diarrhea
- Types of Diarrhea
- Acute Diarrhea
- Chronic Diarrhoea
- Causes Of Chronic diarrhoea
- Infectious agents
- Dietary allergies or intolerances,
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBDs etc.) Sudden Onset vs •Mild/Severe Symptoms o 6 hrs after food intake o Intravenous Drug Intake
Difficulties in diagnosis based on patient history – key facts for medical professionals
References
What is Diarrhea?
Diagnosis: If loose stools happen three times or more daily, then it falls under the category of diarrhea. It happens because food doesn't pass through the digestive system correctly, resulting in water not being extracted properly from stools. This gives the fecal matter a watery texture.
Normal Stool Color Explanation
We know what diarrhea is, but dark brown and watery stains on your undies indicate something unusual going on with your bowel movements. The color of stool can be impacted by various factors such as medication or food intake; thus, gauging someone's health based solely upon the color of their poop would raise more questions than answers.
Dark brown & Watery poop isn't merely an inconvenience - it could be an indicator of inflammation or bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract.
Types of Diarrhea
Everyone has experienced at least one bout of diarrhea in their life -- some people more often than others (hey there spicy food lovers!). But did you know that dark-brown-and-watery-variety is only two columns away from having ipecac syrup for breakfast when it comes to unpleasantness? Let's explore:
### Acute Diarrhea
People usually experience acute diarrhea along with stomach cramps and vomiting for short-term intervals ranging from several hours/a day to less than 48 hours. It could result due to:
Causes Of Acute Diarrhoea
• Bacterial Infection – Dark Brown & Watery Feces
There are several bacteria which results in dark and watery bowel movements causing severe dehydration:
o E.coli
o Salmonella
o Shigella
Packed Salads! Oh no! What do we do?
A recent outbreak was detected in Lyman Cafe where over dozens were admitted after consuming contaminated salads.
Chronic Diarrhoea
Chronic diarrhoea occurs when a person experiences loose stools for longer periods exceeding weeks/months mostly related to intestinal disorders like inflammatory diseases.
Infectious agents-
Some infectious disease can show the chronic symptoms of diarrhoea such as bacterial, viral or parasitic infections.
o HIV/AIDS
o C-difficile (clostridium difficile)
###### Dietary allergies
Diet contains various ingredients causing mild to severe reactions for individuals with food intolerances. Some causes include:
o Lactose intolerance
o Fructose mal-absorption
Ouch! Cheesecake?, Milk? Popcorn?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBDs
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases cause chronic gastrointestinal inflammation resulting in abdominal cramps, pain and watery diarrhea i.e.,
a) Ulcerative Colitis- Extensive damage inflaming colon linings giving rise to bloody stools occasion
b) Crohn's Disease- results in thickening of bowel lining along with painful nodules
Key Facts For Medical Professionals
Dark brown and watery poop is often an indicator that something is amiss within your digestive system - but don't worry; most cases aren't serious enough to warrant hospital visits.
Here are some key facts medical professionals should bear in mind when diagnosing the underlying cause(s):
-Sudden-onset vs Mild/severe symptoms
-Difficulties in diagnosis based on patient history
Home Remedies
If you're experiencing dark-brown-and-watery-pooepisodes, then it's not all doom and gloom -- here are some home remedies that could assist:
Staying Hydrated
The body loses large amounts of fluids during diarrhea episodes; thus, staying hydrated will prevent dehydration caused by water loss from loose stools – drink lots of water or drink oral rehydration solution containing essential minerals like potassium, sodium & glucose.
Avoid Certain Foods
A well-balanced diet plays a significant role in digestion. However, few food items exacerbate diarrhea:
- Fatty or fried foods
- Milk & milk-based products
- Spicy foods
Supplements
Certain supplements could aid in gut health such as probiotics, omega 3 fatty acids, and psyllium fiber.
In Conclusion
Dark brown and watery poop is no laughing matter - but it can't hurt to make light of a lousy situation! With the right preventative measures taken -- from staying hydrated to maintaining a healthy diet that doesn't trigger one's bowels-- these unpleasant episodes can be kept at bay. Although self-diagnosis may sometimes lead us astray, don't hesitate to seek medical advice for symptoms not getting relieved post-home remedy usage.