Antidiarrheal Drugs
Medications that treat diarrhea. The drug loperamide (Imodium A-D) slows the passage of stools through the intestines. Adsorbents such as attapulgite (Kaopectate) pull diarrhea- causing substances from the digestive tract. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) decreases the secretion of fluid into the intestine and inhibits the activity of bacteria. It not only controls diarrhea but also relieves the cramps that often accompany diarrhea.
Patients should not use antidiarrheal drugs for more than two days unless told to do so by a doctor. Bismuth subsalicylate may cause the tongue or the stool to temporarily darken harmlessly. Children with flu or CHICKEN POX should not be given bismuth subsalicylate because it can lead to REYE’S SYNDROME, a life-threatening condition that affects the liver and central nervous system. Children may have unpredictable reactions to other antidiarrheal drugs; loperamide should not be given to children under six, and attapulgite should not be given to children under three years, unless directed by a physician.
Prevention and Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea
Traveler's Diarrhea is type of diarrhea that results from eating or drinking water contaminated with feces while traveling in other countries. Up to half of all Americans who visit the tropics pick up traveler’s diarrhea (or “Montezuma’s revenge”) or, in Spanish-speaking countries, “turista.”
Areas of high risk include the developing countries of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.Traveler’s diarrhea is more common in younger people. The risk of infection varies depending on where the child eats, from a low risk (in private homes) to high risk (food from street vendors).
Cause
Most traveler’s diarrhea is caused by a special strain of the common intestinal bacteria ESCHERICHIA COLI.Other bacteria responsible for SALMONELLA POISONING and SHIGELLOSIS can also cause diarrhea, as can the parasitic conditions of GIARDIASIS and amebiasis.
Categories
- Adenoidism
- Adenovirus
- Adjustment Disorder
- Airborne Allergens
- Albinism
- Allergens
- allergic rhinitis
- Angioedema
- Animal Allergens
- Anorexia
- Antifungal Agents
- Antihistamine
- Anxiety
- Baby Care
- Bell's Palsy
- Bladder Inflammation
- Body Exercises
- Calciferol
- Canker Sore
- Children's Health
- Cryptorchidism
- Diaper Rash
- Diarrhea
- Diarrhea Prevention
- Diarrhea Treatment
- Dyspraxia
- Ear Infection
- Eating Disorders
- Eye Infections
- Eye Strain
- Facial Paralysis
- Food Allergies
- Genital Warts
- Genital Warts Treatment
- Glandular Fever
- Green Tea
- Hand Injuries
- Health and Fitness
- Health and Medicine
- Health and Wellness
- Health Conditions
- Health Disorders
- Healthy Living
- Hepatitis
- Home Remedies
- Human Papilloma Virus
- Hyperventilation
- Infants Care
- Insect Bites
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Language Disorder
- Leplosprosis
- Lockjaw
- Medical Tests
- Meningitis
- Mental Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Osteoporosis
- Parasites
- Poisoning
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Respiratory Infections
- Retractile Testes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rotavirus
- Salmonella Poisoning
- Scarlet Fever
- Skin Disorders
- Skin Infections
- Skin Test
- Sore Throat
- STD
- Streptococcus Infection
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Teething Baby
- Teething Pain
- Teething Symptoms
- Tetanus
- Tonsillitis
- Tonsillitis Treatment and Prevention
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trisomy
- Tuberculin Test
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Typhoid Fever
- Urinary Infections
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Urticaria Pigmentosa
- Vaccinations
- Vaginal Infections
- Vaginosis
- Vitamin Deficiencies
- Vomiting
- Von Hippel–Lindau Disease
- Waterborne Diseases
- Women's Health
- Wrist Sprains
- Yeast Infections