Diarrhea

The definition of diarrhoea, as it is defined by the World Health Organization, is having 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day, or as having more stools than is normal for that one particular person.

While there are almost a dozen sub-causes of diarrhea, it is most commonly a symptom of gastrointestinal infection. An infection that can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. It is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person to person as a result of hygiene procedure chain failure. Severe diarrhea leads to fluid loss, and particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity, it may be life-threatening.

In fact, diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children who are under five years old. This is tragic since it is both preventable and treatable, yet it still manages to be responsible for killing 1.5 million children every year.

Breastfed babies who pass a loose or “pasty” stools is not diarrhea. Neither is the frequent passing of normal stools. There are three basic types of bowel movement that is diagnosed easily. Watery diarrhoea, which lasts several hours or days, bloody diarrhea which is also called dysentery and persistent diarrhoea that lasts 14 days or longer. Worldwide, there are about two billion cases of diarrhoeal disease each year.