Diarrhea is the leading cause of death among children and elderly people throughout the world. According to a recent study published in 'Lancet', diarrhea has been the main cause of death of children under 5 years of age and the elderly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia for the last few decades.
According to this study published in 'Lancet', 12 lakh people died due to diarrhea in the year 2021. However, these figures are less than the 29 lakh deaths caused by it in 1990. This means that there has been a 60% reduction in death cases in these years. Despite this, the World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned about these figures.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, every year in India, more than 1 lakh 58 thousand children aged 1-6 years die due to diarrhea.
That's why today' health water'In this we will talk about diarrhea. You will also learn that-
Diarrhea is the third biggest cause of death in children According to the World Health Organization, diarrhea is the third leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Due to this, about 4 lakh 44 thousand children die every year all over the world. The mortality rate due to diarrhea in children under 5 years of age is up to 9%.
Such deaths due to diarrhea become a matter of concern because both treatment and prevention of this disease are available. See all the figures in this graphic:
Children are at greater risk due to weak immunity Pediatrics and Neonatology Consultant Dr. Pradeep Aggarwal says that diarrhea can happen to anyone. However, the immunity of small children and the elderly is weak. Therefore they are at higher risk of infection. Apart from this, diarrhea caused by rotavirus often proves fatal for children.
Why does diarrhea occur? Most people get diarrhea due to viruses. People call it stomach flu. They infect the intestines and cause stomach discomfort. Although diarrhea can occur due to many reasons.
Due to infection: Infection caused by any virus, bacteria or parasite can cause diarrhea. Norovirus is commonly caused in older people. In young children, it is most often caused by rotavirus.
Causes of food poisoning: Poisons and pathogens can enter our stomach through contaminated food or drinks. This can reach the intestine and cause diarrhea. In case of small children, cases of food poisoning are also common.
Due to medicines: Sometimes some medicines can cause diarrhea. Excessive consumption of antibiotics kills the healthy bacteria present in our stomach. This creates a state of dysbiosis and can lead to stomach discomfort.
Due to intolerance: Some people may get diarrhea after eating certain things. If a person is lactose intolerant, eating products made from milk can cause stomach upset. This happens because their body has to work very hard to digest lactose i.e. the sweetness present in any dairy product. This spoils the digestion process.
Causes of diseases: In some diseases, inflammation in the intestine can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can be a problem in diseases like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.
What are its characteristics? Its most common symptom is passing watery stool. During this period, abdominal cramps may occur. Sometimes vomiting may also occur. If there is severe diarrhea, it can become fatal, so consult a doctor immediately. See its features in the graphic:
diarrhea Some common questions and answers related to
Question: diarrheaWhat problems can I face? Answer: The biggest complication of diarrhea is dehydration. Among these, children under 5 years of age and elderly people above 65 years of age are at greatest risk. Dehydration, if not controlled, can lead to kidney failure, heart attack or death.
Question: DiarrheaWhat is the treatment? Answer: Diarrhea in adults is usually cured at home. However, during this time they have to take care of hydration. In case of children and elderly, do not try to treat it at home as it is difficult for them to recover from dehydration. Take him to the hospital or doctor immediately.
Question: What is the treatment for dehydration? Answer: In case of dehydration, drinking water alone is not enough. Therefore, doctors may advise drinking ORS solution for this. If severe dehydration occurs, an IV (drip) may be needed.
Question: What things need to be kept in mind before and after treatment? Answer: Diarrhea causes swelling in the intestine. Therefore, only light food should be taken during and after treatment.
In case of diarrhea, it is important to stay hydrated along with treatment. Due to diarrhea, the body becomes so weak that maximum rest is necessary for recovery.
Question: What are the ways to prevent diarrhea? Answer: Maintaining cleanliness is most important to avoid diarrhea. For this-
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
