Why does diarrhea occur immediately after eating, and how to deal with it?

Diarrhea after eating is quite common, causing great discomfort, especially if this illness accompanies a person for a long time and several times a day. Many attribute this to low-quality products, but the reason may lie in serious pathological disorders.

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Types of diarrhea

Watery. Watery stools are a sign of bacterial, viral or toxic changes. No other symptoms appear at the initial stage, but as it develops, food allergies, blood pressure surges (both down and up), dysbiosis, vitamin deficiency and stress instability develop. When it is watery, do not eat sweets, dairy or salty foods. You should not eat vegetables and fruits raw.

Bloody. This type is characterized by the presence of blood clots in the stool. This can be caused by infection with various types of pathogens, as well as the presence of serological diseases.

According to the mechanism of development, diarrhea after eating is divided into the following types:

• the invasive type develops against the background of infection of the digestive tract;
• osmotic diarrhea occurs against the background of enzymatic deficiency (the mechanism of water absorption in the intestine is disrupted)
• motor - appears against the background of severe intoxication of the body (too strong contraction of the intestinal walls)
• Secretory - indicates inflammatory processes in which an excessive amount of mucous exudate and fluid is produced in the intestines.

Any type of diarrhea, if not treated promptly, becomes chronic.

Causes of occurrence in adults and children

Diarrhea can occur at any age, even immediately after birth. Diarrhea after eating occurs due to increased intestinal activity. The condition occurs for various reasons, from simple stress to serious illness.

Poisoning and infections are more common in children because, due to their young age, the child cannot observe hygiene rules and distinguish between fresh and spoiled foods.

Food poisoning

Possible food poisoning due to their spoilage and poor quality. Poisoning also occurs against the background of a bacterial infection, which, once in the body, quickly multiplies and releases waste products found in the blood fluid. Pathogens pass through dirty hands used by a person to eat or prepare uncooked food.

Food poisoning is accompanied by the following specific symptoms:

• heat;
• chronic fatigue;
• headache;
• increased sweating.

As poisoning progresses, more serious symptoms appear:

Pancreatitis

With pancreatitis, the pancreas becomes inflamed and the pancreas stops producing enough enzymes. This prevents the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which leads to faster peristalsis. Diarrhea occurs approximately 30-90 minutes after eating.

The stool has an unpleasant pungent odor, a greasy consistency and a gray color. The peculiarity is the presence of fatty particles. Symptoms: opposite pain in the upper abdomen, flatulence.

Irritable bowel syndrome

This disease is characterized by a psychosomatic background - stress, anxiety, quarrels, heightened emotions, etc. Due to disorders in the nervous system, the intestines do not function properly. But there may be other causes of IBS: lack of exercise, PMS, etc.

• mucous structure of feces;
• Symptoms appear only while awake.

Acute intestinal infections

Infection with bacteria and viruses of various etiologies through food and water. Against this background, inflammatory processes, damage to the mucous membranes, accelerated peristalsis and malabsorption are observed. Special symbols:

• diarrhea occurs after every meal;
• the presence of purulent and bloody exudate;
• severe pain syndrome.

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis disrupts the microflora in the digestive tract. Most often this occurs while taking any group of drugs and with an unhealthy diet. How to recognize:

Enteritis

This disease includes a series of inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the small intestine. This manifests itself as follows:

• increased body temperature;
• Headache;
• nausea.

The peculiarity is that the symptoms worsen after 12 noon. This is a period of activity of the digestive system.

Colitis

Inflammation of the colon affects the large intestine, causing food to not be digested and carbohydrates, fats and proteins to be absorbed very poorly. Specific symptoms:

Helminthiasis

When worms enter the body, the organs of the digestive system cease to function normally. This is due to the fact that the worms eat all the beneficial substances. Additional characters:

• drowsiness;
• itching around the anus and inside the anus;
• an irresistible desire to eat sweets;
• drooling during sleep;
• grinding teeth at night;
• peeling of the skin.

Other reasons

Also, diarrhea immediately after eating occurs for the following reasons:

1. Diseases of the gallbladder and liver impair the digestion process because fats are not broken down. Specific symptoms include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, dark urine, and white stools.
2. Food allergies or intestinal asthma. After eating foods to which the body is hypersensitive, diarrhea appears after eating, accompanied by a skin rash.
3. Diabetes and thyroid diseases.
4. Enzyme deficiency occurs as a result of a disruption in the process of their synthesis.
5. Taking certain groups of drugs.

Why is this happening

If the urge to go to the toilet occurs immediately after eating, this indicates a disruption in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Digesting food is a complex process. Products release microelements and nutrients that provide a person with energy. The absorption process does not end in the stomach, but continues in the small intestine.

Loose stools immediately after eating indicate that the speed of food movement through the digestive tract is greater than normal. Food is not digested, and vitamins and microelements are not absorbed. Before treating this problem, you should be examined by a doctor. There are serious factors that cause diarrhea when eating.

Associated symptoms

The symptoms accompanying diarrhea after eating depend on the cause of its occurrence, but there are also general symptoms that indicate a pathological etiology of origin:

• weakness;
• heartburn;
• nausea and sometimes vomiting;
• belching (may be sour or rotten);
• stomach and headache;
• dizziness;
• feeling of heaviness and flatulence;
• decrease or, conversely, increase in appetite.

When should you see a doctor?

Few people go to the hospital with diarrhea, mistakenly believing that the problem can be cured on their own. In fact, in such situations it is already necessary to contact a specialist:

• If the frequency of bowel movements is more than 5-7 times a day;
• If loose stools persist for a long time (5-7 days)
• Watery and mucous stools;
• The presence of purulent and bloody particles;
• increased body temperature;
• lack of effects after taking medications;
• nausea and vomiting.

Causes of the disease

There are several main reasons why diarrhea appears after every meal:

• irritable bowel syndrome;
• nervous experiences;
• poor diet or stale food;
• intestinal diseases;
• food allergies;
• intestinal dysbiosis;
• intestinal infections.

Having figured out why diarrhea begins after eating, you should take the necessary measures.

Diarrhea due to irritable bowel

Irritable bowel syndrome is a widespread condition. About a third of the world's population suffers from this disease. Diarrhea after eating appears due to processes occurring in the mucous membrane of the organ.

Irritable bowel syndrome, the causes and treatment of which lies in the functioning of the endocrine and digestive systems, is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• cramping pain;
• constant abdominal discomfort;
• increased gas formation;
• bubbling sounds in the intestines;
• bowel disorder.

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In adults, the disease manifests itself as diarrhea.

Diarrhea due to stress

It is surprising that diarrhea after eating can develop due to emotional experiences. Constant nervous tension disrupts normal digestion and causes bowel movements after each meal.

Treatment of the condition involves changing lifestyle, reducing stress, and taking sedatives. In addition to stabilizing the psycho-emotional background, it is important to monitor nutrition, avoiding fatty and difficult-to-digest foods.

Diet as a Cause of Diarrhea

It is not for nothing that many experts associate intestinal disorders with food intake. The reason often lies in eating stale or heavy food.

When poisoned, a person experiences stomach pain and diarrhea. This is due to the penetration of toxic substances into the blood. Sometimes symptoms appear immediately after eating, and sometimes it takes longer - up to 3-4 hours. In addition to diarrhea and pain in the intestines, a person experiences other symptoms. Nausea, weakness, and fever appear.

Food poisoning is most often caused by the following products:

• meat;
• fish;
• salads with mayonnaise;
• cakes;
• canned food

In the summer, poisoning occurs more often due to hot weather. There is a high risk of getting problems with the intestines after visiting lavish banquets, where food storage and preparation standards are violated.

Intestinal diseases

Diarrhea in an adult occurs due to inflammatory bowel disease. For a long time they are asymptomatic. When symptoms appear, the disease requires immediate action.

Diarrhea after eating occurs in inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Colitis can occur in chronic and acute forms. The causes are associated with poor diet and allergic reactions. With diarrhea, the patient feels discomfort in the intestines and cannot eat calmly, because he immediately wants to go to the toilet.

With Crohn's disease, a lot of salts and fluid accumulate in the digestive system. Therefore, the causes of diarrhea often lie in this disease.

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Diarrhea due to an allergic reaction

Among the immediate causes of diarrhea are food allergies. Intestinal upset is a common symptom of the disease.

If a product enters the digestive system that is not accepted by the body, it will cause diarrhea. Children are more likely to experience the disease, but the disease also occurs in adults. Food allergies are caused by the following foods:

• milk;
• fish;
• eggs;
• chocolate products;
• citrus fruit;
• strawberry.

As you get older, your allergies may go away. At an early age, due to inappropriate foods, bouts of diarrhea can occur up to 6 times a day.

Intestinal dysbiosis

Any intestine loses normal microflora after taking antibiotics. Improper nutrition, at different times, dry food can lead to dysbacteriosis. The abdomen may become swollen and painful.

If after eating I immediately go to the toilet, diarrhea may be caused by dysbacteriosis. In this case, people usually go to the doctor to find out the true cause of the disease and begin treatment.

Infection causes diarrhea

If you suspect diarrhea of ​​this etiology, immediately go to a specialist. Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, parasites and fungi provoke acute intestinal disorders. The body loses a lot of fluid and valuable substances and dehydration occurs.

It is impossible to heal on your own. The doctor will give a referral for tests, identify the pathogen and prescribe proper treatment.

Infectious diseases are accompanied not only by diarrhea. A person feels constant lethargy, weakness, dizziness, nausea. Going to the toilet is associated with severe pain.

Diagnostics and necessary tests

At the first visit to the clinic, the therapist collects anamnesis. That is, he asks the patient about accompanying symptoms, the nature of diarrhea, past and present diseases. The doctor visually feels the abdominal area, measures heart rate and blood pressure. Next we turn to diagnostic measures:

1. Blood collection for a general examination, which shows hormonal disorders and inflammation. Stool collection for laboratory testing for the level of leukocytes, mucus and other inclusions. The epithelium, fatty acids, the presence of helminths, viruses and bacteria are studied.
2. If it is determined that the cause is a serious disease, an additional instrumental examination is carried out and blood is taken for biochemical analysis.

Diarrhea can become chronic if a person has persistent diarrhea. In this case, treatment may be slightly different from treatment for episodes of loose stool.

Treatment of diarrhea

If diarrhea develops after eating, treatment is needed. The doctor gives the prescription after the examination. If there are any diseases, it is important to treat them first.

You need to take medications depending on the causes of the disease.

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If there is blood in your stool, you should immediately consult a doctor. This may be a sign of a serious pathology and require urgent intervention.

In addition to medications, diet will help cope with the problem. You need to give up fatty, fried, smoked and pickled foods. The digestive system will not benefit from alcoholic drinks, canned food and coffee. It is important to exclude chips, soda and sweets. The diet should be dominated by porridge, boiled dietary meat, lean fish and salads with sunflower oil.

Proper nutrition and careful attention to the body will help maintain excellent health. If alarming signs appear, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination. This will protect the body and help you always feel great!

Treatment of single and chronic diarrhea

Single episode of diarrhea:

absorption of sorbents;

• Soft diet for a week;
• moisturizing preparations (restore water-salt balance).
• Chronic form:

sorbents and humectants;

• antidiarrheal drugs;
• sedatives;
• anthelmintic drugs;
• probiotics;
• strict diet and water intake.
• Drug treatment is mandatory - it must be aimed at achieving several goals:

Medicines

To normalize the water-salt balance, a moisturizer is recommended - Regidron.

1. To remove toxic deposits and other harmful substances, sorbents are needed: Enterosgel, activated carbon.
2. You can stop loose stools with antidiarrheal drugs: Imodium, Lopedium.
3. If the cause is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed. The specific drug is selected first of all by the attending physician.
4. In case of helminthic infestation, antiparasitic therapy is necessary: ​​Dekaris, Pirantel.
5. To restore the microflora, you will need to take enzyme preparations: Bifiform, Linex.
6. Since prolonged diarrhea often disrupts the psycho-emotional background, sedatives should be prescribed: Novo-Passit, Lotusonic, knotweed tincture or valerian herb. This group is also needed for the neurotic type of diarrhea.
7. If diarrhea occurs after eating, you should immediately consider changing your diet. Use a menu that will make the digestive system easier. Basic principles of regulation:

Nutrition

It should be eaten in small portions.

1. The intervals between meals are 4 hours.
2. You should not eat solid food. It should be semi-liquid.
3. Remember to keep food warm.
4. Avoid fried, fatty, salty, sweet, spicy and smoked foods. Remove spices completely; they irritate the intestinal mucosa.
5. You should not eat foods that cause gas formation and fermentation. These include cabbage, radishes, beans, sweets and confectionery. Apples should only be eaten baked.
6. Drink a cup of strong tea after your meal.
7. Use cereal instead of bread.
8. During diarrhea, you must adhere to the drinking regime. You should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. If you don't find any home remedies for diarrhea, use the recipe below. The solution should be taken after visiting the toilet. Warm water (up to 40 °), add salt (a teaspoon), 0.5 tablespoons of soda and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Mix and take 200 ml.

Water mode

Additionally, you can use mineral water - Narzan, Borjomi, Essentuki. Drinking tea, jelly or a decoction of medicinal herbs is also allowed. The minimum amount of water is 2-3 liters.

Prohibited drinks:

• sweet carbonated water;
• alcohol;
• kvass;
• juices (grape, tomato, pineapple, peach);
• cocoa, coffee, milk and green tea.

It is not necessary to take only diarrhea medications. Additionally, you can use folk recipes:

Folk remedies

Boil the rice in plenty of water. Pour the remaining liquid into a glass. Add 10 grams of chopped ginger. Take for regular diarrhea.

1. A decoction of oak bark and St. John's wort. Brew 2 teaspoons of each ingredient in 200 ml of boiling water. Leave for an hour. Voltage. Receipt: 50 ml three times a day.
2. Blueberry jelly. Pass fresh berries through a fine sieve. Pour in 400 ml of water. Put on fire and cook for 20 minutes. Then add a tablespoon of starch. Mix thoroughly to prevent lumps from forming. Cook for 3 minutes, then cool. Drink 5 times a day, 0.5 cups.
3. Bird cherry. Pour a glass of “steamed boiling water” into a container with a tablespoon of the dried ingredient. Steam for no more than 20 minutes. Then the broth is cooled and filtered. Take 1/4 cup 3 times a day.
4. Finely chop the pomegranate zest. Dip them in boiling water (400 ml). Leave for 25 minutes. Take a tablespoon on an empty stomach.
5. In summer, the likelihood of developing diarrhea increases. To prevent this from happening, you should follow the rules of prevention:

How to get rid of the problem?

Illnesses force me to visit the toilet several times a day. Most often, a person's stool is sparse. Its external signs change. This refers to the color, smell and consistency of stool. It’s really bad when clots or specks of blood appear in them.

You need to respond immediately to obvious signs of illness. A visit to a gastroenterologist becomes urgent. To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe tests and studies:

• blood, urine and stool tests;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• colonoscopy - examination of the intestines;
• fibrogastroscopy – study of the condition of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum;
• rectoscopy - examination of the rectum.

If you suspect an intestinal infection, it is possible that you will need to undergo hospital treatment.

If blood, stool and urine tests are normal, and ultrasound results do not indicate the presence of serious problems, you can do without a more detailed examination. Minor drug therapy will bring the condition back to normal. Of course, the doctor will definitely introduce you to the basic recommendations regarding the daily menu.

Preventive measures

Wash your hands as often as possible before eating. Also after visiting public places. If you cannot use soap, you should buy special antibacterial agents (spray).

1. Wash food under water. It is best to scald them with boiling water.
2. Don't buy ready-made food sold on the street. If you come to the beach, refrain from buying food (cookies, corn, etc.).
3. Perishable foods should only be stored in the refrigerator.
4. Pay attention to the expiration date.
5. Wash purchased eggs to remove chicken droppings before storing them in the refrigerator.
6. When cooking food, make sure it is either overcooked or overcooked.
7. Pay attention to the proximity of food. Do not place raw foods next to cooked foods, especially mayonnaise or sour cream.
8. Don't drink tap water. Use good quality liquids.
9. Wash kitchen utensils in hot water and detergent. Rinse well under running water.

If you develop diarrhea soon after eating and it does not go away for a long time, contact your surgeon immediately. This will allow you to find the cause in time and get rid of the problem faster. Modern medicine will allow this to be accomplished in the shortest possible time.