If your elderly loved one's diarrhea symptoms last more than a few days, it may be time to seek professional medical care.
If diarrhea is severe, or it is moderate but persists for more than a day or two, there's a significant risk of dehydration. Dehydration is a very serious matter for seniors and it can cause significant damage to their health.
Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:
Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
Some of the most common causes of diarrhea in older people include: Bacteria or viruses. More serious infections may cause vomiting as well. Medication: Some medications, especially antibiotics, can upset the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and cause diarrhea.
Acute diarrhoea should be investigated with a stool specimen for routine microbiology investigation under certain circumstances, including if: The person is systemically unwell; needs hospital admission and/or antibiotics. There is blood or pus in the stool. The person is immunocompromised.
If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem.
Causes of diarrhea that are not due to acute illness include eating certain foods, food allergies and intolerances, some medications, caffeine intake, laxative use, alcohol use, digestive problems and diseases (celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, small intestinal ...
Causes of Diarrhea in the Elderly
Food poisoning/traveler's diarrhea. Clostridium difficile bacteria (usually caused by antibiotics or stomach-suppressing medications) Bowel disorders. Bowel Obstruction/fecal impaction (hardened stool lodged in the colon; develops in people with severe constipation)
In most cases, diarrhea can be treated at home with plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. The BRAT diet — bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast — can also help ease symptoms. Potatoes, peanut butter, and skinless chicken or turkey are also other good food choices.
Hydration should be top priority for seniors when dealing with diarrhea. Dehydration from diarrhea can potentially be fatal in older adults and young children, so drink plenty of water, coconut water (no sugar added), broths, and electrolyte solutions.
Severe diarrhea means having more than 10 loose, watery stools in a single day (24 hours).
Who is Defined as Elderly? Typically, the elderly has been defined as the chronological age of 65 or older. People from 65 to 74 years old are usually considered early elderly, while those over 75 years old are referred to as late elderly.
Since diarrhea is your body's way of getting rid of toxins, it is best to let it run its course. However, you may use over-the-counter antidiarrheal remedies for convenience, including: Attapulgite (Kaopectate) Loperamide (Imodium)
These changes make older people more susceptible to the development of several diseases, such as gastric ulcer, atrophic gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease [41].
The most common cause of diarrhea is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). This mild viral infection most often goes away on its own within a few days. Eating or drinking food or water that contains certain types of bacteria or parasites can also lead to diarrhea. This problem may be called food poisoning.
You should avoid certain kinds of foods when you have diarrhea, including fried foods and greasy foods. Avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks.
To treat diarrhea and feel better faster, try eating only bland foods temporarily, staying hydrated, and incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements. Over-the-counter medications can also help. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if your diarrhea doesn't go away within two days.
Yogurt can usually help with diarrhea. However, if you have an intolerance or allergy to lactose, it may worsen diarrhea. If you have diarrhea and would like to try yogurt as a home remedy, choose a brand that contains probiotics and is low in sugar.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of loperamide in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have heart rhythm problems, which may require caution in patients receiving loperamide.
The most common causes of acute and persistent diarrhea are infections, travelers' diarrhea, and side effects of medicines. Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including norovirus link and rotavirus link. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute diarrhea.
Narrow or pellet-like stools: if you have advanced or severe diverticulitis, your large intestine may narrow, causing stool to become thin, narrow, or pellet-shaped.
The most common causes of a loose poop are things like viruses, food allergies and medication side effects. Some chronic conditions can, too: Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis.