Treatment Of Diarrhea

1. There are 2 types for treatment of
diarrhea
One of them is
PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT
The other is NON-
PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT

2. A)diet
all patients should receive their normal diet or
breast-feeding during bouts of diarrhea as these
don’t make the diarrhea worse and may actually
improve the condition :however, fatty foods, foods
rich in simple sugars and spicy foods should be
avoided.

3. b)Fluids
the most impotant part of treating acute diarrhea is the
replacement of lost fluids and electrolytes
1)if the patients experience mild to moderate fluids
loss,fluid replacement can be achieved with oral –
rehydration solution (ORS).
2)if fluids loss is severe ( > 10% loss of body weight)and/or
severe vomiting persists ,then patients may need
intravenous rehydration before oral maintenance fluids
can be administreted

4. *antidiarrheals are classified on the basis of their
chemical class or pharmacologic mechanism of action
into :
1)miscellaneous agent
2)antiperistaltic drugs
3)adsorbents

5. 1)miscellaneous agents :
a.Bismuth subsalicylate
b.Lactobacillus
c.Lactase
d.Anti-infective agents
e-Anticholinergics

6. a)bismuth subsalicylate :
it works as adsorbent but also believed to decrease secretion of
water into the bowel .
bismuth preparations have moderate effectiveness against the
prevention and treatment of the travelers
diarrhea
Contraindications
*patients with black or bloody stools .
* children or teenagers during or after recovery from
chickenpox or flu because of the possible association of
salicylates with reyes syndrome.
*patients with documented allergies to salicylates shouldn’t take
this product.
*pregnant or breast feeding patients
.

7. b.lactobacillus
products containing nontoxic strains of
lactobacillus .
acidophilus are intended to replace the
normal bacterial flora that is lost during
the administration of oral antibiotics.

9. c.lactase enzyme:
it is indicated for individuals who have insufficient
amounts of lactase enzyme in the small intestine
(lactose intolerance).
Accumulated lactose draws water into GIT and
diarrhea results.

11. d.anti-infective agents
depending on the suspected origin of the infectious
diarrhea ,prescription antibiotics and antiprotozoal
medications can be used to eradicate the organism
and decrease the duration of symptoms .
Example :
nifroxazide

13. e.anticholinergics:
decrease bowel motility ,which result in an increase of fluid
absorption from the intestinal tract and a decrease in abdominal
cramping.
These products are found in combination with adsorbents or opiates
Examples:

Atropine and hyoscyamine

Adverse effects :
Dry mouth,blurred vision and tachycardia.

Warning
These products shouldn’t be used in patients with narrow-angle
glaucoma.

14. SODIUM CHLORIDE (TABLET SALT )(0.5
Teaspoonful )
Potassium chloride (potassium salt)(0.25 teaspoonful)
Sodium bicarbonate(baking soda )(0.5 teaspoonful)
Glucose (sugar) 20 g (2 teaspoonful)
Water (enough to make 1 L of solution)
- all of these solutions are considered safe but have no
effect on the duration of diarrhea .