Diarrhea and kidney failure

kidney failure due to diarrhea/ dehydration

1. Diarrhea And Kidney Failure Yousaf khan Renal Dialysis Lecturer IPMS-KMU

2. Diarrhea And Kidney Failure Diarrhea can cause or worsen kidney failure. In case of diarrhea, the whole body’s effective blood volume will experience sharp decline Blood flow to the kidneys will be suddenly reduced and cause hypoperfusion in the kidneys. Unclean foods can cause gastrointestinal tract infections which can cause renal damages too. diarrhea can cause dehydration, electrolyte disorders, malnutrition and disturbed internal environment. As a result, kidneys will be impaired and kidney functions will be lost and kidney failure will occur.

3. Diarrhea And Kidney Failure The good thing is that most renal failure cases caused by diarrhea can be recovered with timely and proper treatment. If the kidneys are damaged, patients often will have obvious symptoms such as dehydration, reduced urine output, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, fatigue, swelling of the legs, back pain, etc. In case of these symptoms, early tests should be done to rule out the possibility of acute kidney failure. Though most patients can recover, there are 10-20% patients can not have complete recovery of their kidney functions. They will gradually turn into chronic renal failure and require long term dialysis treatment to sustain their life

4. Diarrhea D iarrhea is loose, watery stools. Having diarrhea means passing loose stools three or more times a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own. Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Chronic diarrhea—diarrhea that lasts at least 4 weeks—may be a symptom of a chronic disease. Chronic diarrhea symptoms may be continual or they may come and go. Diarrhea of any duration may cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid and electrolytes—chemicals in salts, including sodium, potassium, and chloride—to function properly. Loose stools contain more fluid and electrolytes and weigh more than solid stools.

5. What causes diarrhea? Causes of diarrhea include bacteria from contaminated food or water viruses that cause illnesses such as the flu parasites, which are tiny organisms found in contaminated food or water medicines such as antibiotics problems digesting certain foods diseases that affect the stomach, small intestine, or colon, such as Crohn’s disease problems with how the colon functions, caused by disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome

6. What other symptoms accompany diarrhea? Diarrhea may be accompanied by Cramping A bdominal pain Nausea A n urgent need to use the bathroom loss of bowel control. Some infections that cause diarrhea can also cause a fever and chills or bloody stools.

7. Dehydration Diarrhea can cause dehydration. Loss of electrolytes through dehydration affects the amount of water in the body, muscle activity, and other important functions. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Dehydration must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems, such as organ damage, shock, or coma—a sleeplike state in which a person is not conscious.

8. Dehydration Signs of dehydration in adults include T hirst less frequent urination than usual D ark-colored urine D ry skin F atigue D izziness L ight-headedness Signs of dehydration in infants and young children include D ry mouth and tongue No tears when crying No wet diapers for 3 hours or more S unken eyes, cheeks, or soft spot in the skull H igh fever L istlessness or irritability

9. Dehydration Also, when people are dehydrated, their skin does not flatten back to normal right away after being gently pinched and released. Anyone with signs of dehydration should see a health care provider immediately. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization. Although drinking plenty of water is important in preventing dehydration, water does not contain electrolytes. Adults can prevent dehydration by also drinking liquids that contain electrolytes, such as fruit juices, sports drinks, caffeine-free soft drinks, and broths. Children with diarrhea should be given oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte , Naturalyte , Infalyte , and CeraLyte to prevent dehydration

10. When should adults with diarrhea see a health care provider? Adults with any of the following symptoms should see a health care provider: signs of dehydration diarrhea for more than 2 days severe pain in the abdomen or rectum a fever of 102 degrees or higher stools containing blood or pus stools that are black and tarry Diarrhea is not usually harmful, but it can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem.

11. When should children with diarrhea see a health care provider? Children with any of the following symptoms should see a health care provider: signs of dehydration diarrhea for more than 24 hours a fever of 102 degrees or higher stools containing blood or pus stools that are black and tarry If children have diarrhea, parents should not hesitate to call a health care provider for advice. Diarrhea is especially dangerous in newborns and infants, leading to severe dehydration in just a day or two. Children can die from dehydration within a day

12. How is the cause of diarrhea diagnosed? If acute diarrhea lasts 2 days or less, diagnostic tests are usually not necessary. If diarrhea lasts longer or is accompanied by symptoms such as fever or bloody stools, a doctor may perform tests to determine the cause. Diagnostic tests to find the cause of diarrhea may include the following: Medical history and physical examination. Stool culture.. Blood tests.. Fasting tests. To find out if a food intolerance or allergy is causing the diarrhea, the doctor may ask a person to avoid foods with lactose, carbohydrates, wheat, or other ingredients to see whether the diarrhea responds to a change in diet. Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. These tests may be used to look for signs of intestinal diseases that cause chronic diarrhea.

13. How is diarrhea treated? In most cases of diarrhea, the only treatment necessary is replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. Over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate ) may help stop diarrhea in adults. However, people with bloody diarrhea—a sign of bacterial or parasitic infection—should not use these medicines. If diarrhea is caused by bacteria or parasites, over-the-counter medicines may prolong the problem, so doctors usually prescribe antibiotics instead. Medications to treat diarrhea in adults can be dangerous for infants and children and should only be given with a doctor’s guidance.

14. Eating, Diet, and Nutrition To prevent dehydration when you have diarrhea, it is important to drink plenty of water, but you also need to drink fluids that contain sodium, chloride, and potassium. Adults should drink water, fruit juices, sports drinks, sodas without caffeine, and salty broths. Children should drink oral rehydration solutions—special drinks that contain salts and minerals to prevent dehydration. These drinks include Pedialyte , Naturalyte , Infalyte , and CeraLyte . These drinks are sold in most grocery stores and drugstores.

15. Eating, Diet, and Nutrition If you have diarrhea, eat soft, bland foods such as bananas plain rice boiled potatoes toast crackers cooked carrots baked chicken without the skin or fat Once the diarrhea stops, you can go back to eating your regular foods. If a certain food is the cause of diarrhea, try to avoid it. While you wait for the diarrhea to end, avoid foods that can make it worse: drinks with caffeine, such as coffee and cola high-fat or greasy foods, such as fried foods foods with a lot of fiber, such as citrus fruits sweet foods, such as cakes and cookies

16. Can diarrhea be prevented? Two types of diarrhea can be prevented—rotavirus diarrhea and traveler’s diarrhea. Rotavirus Diarrhea Two vaccines, RotaTeq and Rotarix , protect against rotavirus—a common virus that causes diarrhea in babies and children. RotaTeq is given to babies in three doses at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Rotarix is given in two doses. The first dose is given when the baby is 6 weeks old, and the second is given at least 4 weeks later but before the baby is 24 weeks old.

17. Can diarrhea be prevented? Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by eating food or drinking water that contains harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. You can prevent traveler’s diarrhea by being careful: Do not drink tap water, use tap water to brush your teeth, or use ice cubes made from tap water. Do not eat or drink unpasteurized milk or milk products. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables unless they can be peeled and you peel them yourself. Do not eat raw or rare meat and fish. Do not eat meat or shellfish that is not hot when served to you. Do not eat food sold by street vendors. You can drink bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, and hot drinks such as coffee and tea.

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