How adults and children treat diarrhea after taking antibiotics. What to do for diarrhea after antibiotics How to cure diarrhea after antibiotics

Diarrhea after antibiotics makes it difficult to treat the underlying disease. An upset stool may indicate both an increased activity of pathogenic bacteria and a side effect of the drug. But sometimes there is no alternative to antibiotics. How to be with such diarrhea?

Causes of diarrhea after antibiotics

If you notice diarrhea after antibiotics, the disorder can be for three reasons:

• stimulation of the activity of the gastrointestinal tract due to side effects of antibiotic therapy;
• violation of the intestinal microflora;
• accession of a bacterial infection.

Side effect diarrhea after antibiotics

Some antibiotics stimulate the action on the muscles of the stomach and intestines. Diarrhea occurs. After stopping antibiotics and removing their residues from the body, the digestive tract normalizes on its own.

The laxative effect as a side effect is typical for such antibiotics:

• Erythromycin;
• Augmentin;
• Streptomycin;
• Gentamicin;
• Amikacin;
• Tetracycline;
• Doxycycline and their analogues.

To recognize this type of diarrhea, you need to check the symptoms:

• the frequency of bowel movements is moderate (3-4 times a day);
• lack of impurities in the feces;
• the onset of diarrhea coincides with the first day of taking the medicine;
• pain syndrome, fever and other symptoms are absent.

Diarrhea that occurs as a side effect after a course of antibiotics is called antibiotic-associated. It is typical for medicines intended for oral administration - tablets, drops and suspensions. Injections lead to the development of diarrhea very rarely.

Dysbacteriosis after antibiotics

The most common cause of diarrhea after antibiotics is a violation of the intestinal microflora.

This is dysbacteriosis, diagnosed by the following signs:

• diarrhea begins 2–3 later than the start of therapy;
• frequency of urge to defecate - 3-4 times a day (although exceptions are possible);
• no abdominal pain, fever, or severe weakness.

If dysbacteriosis caused an antibiotic, with diarrhea in adults there is no need to take any action. The work of the digestive tract will be restored in a few weeks. A child's body (or an adult, but weakened) may need additional help to speed up recovery.

Intestinal infection

Antibacterial drugs have a detrimental effect on the "useful" intestinal microflora. Because of this, its protective function is reduced, and pathogenic microorganisms receive favorable conditions for reproduction and growth. An imbalance can lead to increased activity of Clostridium difficile, which will provoke severe inflammation of the large intestine - pseudomembranous colitis.

This intestinal infection is dangerous, and in 2-3% of cases it causes death. The following factors influence the likelihood of its occurrence:

• age of the patient (after 65 years, the risks are significantly higher);
• the duration of the course of antibiotic therapy;
• combination of taking several antibiotics;
• combination with the intake of laxatives, antimicrobial, anticancer and other drugs;
• hospital stay;
• food through a probe;
• enemas;
• chronic pathologies of internal organs;
• HIV AIDS;
• weakened condition of the patient;
• the third trimester of pregnancy or the period immediately after the birth of the child.

Pseudomembranous colitis is manifested by the following symptoms:

• frequent diarrhea - from 3 to 20 times a day;
• discoloration of feces (green tint, sometimes with mucus, blood and whitish flakes of pus);
• liquid, even watery feces;
• an increase in body temperature (registered in 50% of cases);
• nausea;
• vomiting;
• growing weakness.

The severity of the pain syndrome cannot be considered a characteristic symptom. Some patients feel mild pain in the abdomen, others claim that it hurts very much.

Diarrhea treatment after antibiotics

An important question that worries patients in this situation is: if diarrhea occurs after antibiotics, what should be done with the treatment - cancel or not? Only a doctor can accept this. He will determine the cause of development and the danger of diarrhea. If the harm from discontinuing antibiotic therapy is higher, the use will be continued.

Sometimes it is possible to replace antibiotics with alternative means. Antibiotics can be prescribed that act against the causative agents of the underlying disease and Clostridium difficile at the same time. Vancomycin and Metronidazole are commonly used for this purpose.

If diarrhea begins after antibiotics, the doctor must also decide how to treat it.

Only two groups are used without a prescription:

• enterosorbents (activated carbon, Smecta, Polysorb) - to remove toxic substances from the body;
• probiotics and prebiotics (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Rioflora Balance Neo) - to restore the intestinal microflora.

Despite the relative harmlessness of these drugs, their intake must also be agreed with the attending physician. Enterosorbents may reduce the effectiveness of primary therapy due to the ability to absorb chemicals. The interval between taking medications should be at least an hour.

If an unpleasant symptom is caused by pseudomembranous ulcerative colitis, treatment is carried out strictly under medical supervision. The basis of therapy is, paradoxically, antibiotics. In addition to them, antiprotozoal drugs are used that reduce pathogenic bacteria.

Diet treatment

To normalize the stool in the first days after the onset of diarrhea, viscous liquid porridge is recommended - semolina and buckwheat (from crushed cereals). Soups on rice broth and steam omelettes are useful. Fruit and berry kissels are also introduced into the diet menu - they have an astringent effect.

Boiled eggs, baked apples are allowed. Bananas are acceptable for fresh fruits. The remaining plant foods contain coarse dietary fiber, which will irritate the already inflamed intestinal mucosa. It is better to exclude milk and dairy products, bread and other pastries - they create an environment in the gastrointestinal tract that is favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora.

Gradually, steamed meat and fish are introduced into the diet for diarrhea. After a week, you can use all crumbly cereals, except barley and millet, vegetable soups. Dairy products, especially those enriched with lactobacilli, are allowed from the first day.

To speed up recovery, you need to observe the drinking regimen. The amount of pure non-carbonated water drunk during the day is increased to 3 liters. We need compotes, diluted fruit juices, decoctions of medicinal herbs.

Child treatment

The basic principles of treating diarrhea in a child are the same as in adult patients. But the risk of dehydration in one-year-old babies and infants is higher. If the child is breastfed, it should be applied to the mother's breast as often as possible. Breast milk performs several functions at once: restores moisture reserves in the body, provides it with nutrients and strengthens the immune system.

In case of acute diarrhea in a child, the doctor may prescribe StopDiar (from 7 years old), Klacid and Acipol. It is forbidden to treat diarrhea on your own with pills, syrups or folk methods.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

A consultation with a doctor is required. He will determine the cause of the ailment and adjust the prescribed treatment. If diarrhea is caused by the unauthorized use of antibiotics, they must be stopped and contact the clinic.

A doctor's call should be urgent if:

• the patient is at risk of developing pseudomembranous colitis - a pregnant woman or an elderly person fell ill, the treatment took place in a hospital, it was long and difficult;
• diarrhea began to intensify;
• mucus, blood, white flakes appeared in the feces;
• intestinal contents are green or black;
• there was severe weakness and pain in the abdomen;
• the body temperature has risen;
• the patient had had pseudomembranous colitis before.

Self-treatment of diarrhea caused by the use of antibiotics is not recommended. If you stop diarrhea, which is a clinical manifestation of an intestinal infection, this will lead to severe intoxication of the body. With further examination, it will be more difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

Possible Complications diarrhea after antibiotics

The main danger posed by diarrhea is dehydration. Therefore, to restore the electrolyte balance, you need to take water-salt solutions - Regidron, Humana Electrolyte and their analogues. During the day, it is supposed to drink as much liquid as possible, but divide the entire daily volume into small portions so as not to overload the kidneys.

Pseudomembranous colitis without proper treatment leads to intestinal perforation, renal failure and the development of superinfection. In severe cases, it ends in sepsis and death.

How to avoid diarrhea after antibiotic therapy

Probiotics and prebiotics are usually recommended to prevent diarrhea during a course of antibiotic therapy. These drugs have not been studied enough. The intestinal microflora, disturbed by the use of antibiotics, is restored independently. There is no reliable information about the reliability of this "method of transportation" of beneficial bacteria and its benefits.

If, nevertheless, a decision is made to take probiotics after diarrhea, products containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria and yeast-like fungi should be used. But there is no evidence that they reduce the risk of developing pseudomembranous colitis.

Each of us can face such a problem as diarrhea. An unpleasant phenomenon can completely incapacitate and chain you to bed, or rather, to the toilet. And since a busy work schedule does not provide for such a “vacation”, many are ready to use any potent drugs, if only to return to their usual way of life as soon as possible. An antibiotic for adult diarrhea is the very first choice, and usually a person does not first visit a doctor. The result is two problems instead of one. Today, our goal is to analyze in detail the mechanism of action of antibiotics in diarrhea, as well as to discuss the reasonableness of such treatment.

This is a condition in which frequent bowel movements are noted, while the person experiences pain and discomfort, and the stool becomes watery. This condition can lead to dehydration, so treatment should not be delayed. But one should not accept what has turned up under the arm either. An antibiotic for diarrhea in adults helps, but only if certain bacteria have become the cause of its development. In all other cases, it will only aggravate the situation.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a consequence of improper functioning of the intestinal tract. As a result, the digestive process is accelerated, which leads to thin bowel movements and frequent bowel movements. But the reasons for this condition can be very different. In this case, an antibiotic for diarrhea in adults is used only in some cases. You are unlikely to be able to determine the cause without a special examination and tests, so be sure to consult a doctor first. Do not forget that diarrhea is not a disease, but only a symptom of it.

We listen to our body

Are you suffering from abdominal pain? The causes of diarrhea can be various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, they usually do not appear suddenly. If you regularly or periodically have problems with the intestines, digestion, etc., but you still put off going to the gastroenterologist, it is not surprising that at one "perfect" moment, severe diarrhea begins. In this state of affairs, immediate consultation with a specialist is necessary. Diarrhea can be a symptom of ulcerative colitis. In this case, an antibiotic for diarrhea in adults helps only as part of complex therapy, so you need to undergo an examination and get a prescription from your doctor.

Other options

Diarrhea is a symptom that accompanies dozens of diseases. To quickly get rid of painful diarrhea, you need to know exactly what caused it. We list the main reasons below.

The main reason is infection with pathogenic microorganisms. They can enter the intestines with unboiled water, unwashed foods, if personal hygiene is not observed. In this case, specific symptoms are observed. It can be profuse bloody or green discharge mixed with mucus. Often there is a high fever and vomiting.

It should not be forgotten that the appearance of blood is a very alarming symptom that requires immediate diagnosis. It may indicate hemorrhoids and bowel cancer, Crohn's disease. In this case, you cannot self-medicate.

If there is no time to go to the hospital

Banal indigestion, few people perceive as a serious disease. If you do not have severe pain, but there is a greenish discharge, without blood and mucus, then at first you can try the classical methods of therapy. However, remember that if diarrhea continues on the second day, then you need to see a doctor for a more effective treatment. Which antibiotic for diarrhea in an adult to choose is difficult to answer unambiguously. We present only well-known drugs for informational purposes.

• The most effective remedy is Levomycitin. This is one of the best antibacterial drugs, acting against a large number of infectious pathogens belonging to various groups. You need to take it 2-3 times a day, 1 tablet. The duration of therapy is up to a week.
• "Amoxicillin" is an antibacterial agent that has proven itself in the fight against various intestinal infections. Take 2 tablets 3-4 times a day.
• Metronidazole is another broad-spectrum agent against many different pathogens. Take it twice a day.
• "Ciprofloxacin" is a very strong drug against pathogenic microorganisms that cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system. It is recommended to take for 5 days.

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Remember that the effect of the antibiotic should be noticeable during the first day. If time passes and there is no improvement, this means that you have chosen the wrong path: either the drug is chosen incorrectly, or the cause of diarrhea is completely different. In this case, be sure to consult a doctor.

Diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult

This problem is not rare. If the drug is chosen incorrectly or an overdose of antibiotics has been observed, unpleasant consequences will appear in a few days. Long-term use of antibacterial agents, even justified and recommended by the attending physician, leads to the death of the entire microflora. The drugs do not care whether beneficial or harmful bacteria live in your intestines, so after the course it will take a long time to restore the natural microflora. It is not for nothing that, in parallel with the treatment with these drugs, doctors prescribe prebiotics and probiotics.

It turns out a very interesting thing: you take drugs in order to get rid of diarrhea. As a result, all beneficial bacteria in the intestine die, and diarrhea develops when an antibiotic is taken by an adult. What to do next? In fact, this outcome can be predicted in advance, as there are certain risk factors.

Don't rush to take antibiotics

It is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, so as not to face such a disorder later. What should be avoided (of course, if the cause is not in pathogenic bacteria, and if the doctor did not recommend this particular course of treatment) so that diarrhea does not develop? Antibiotics! Adults (we will discuss how to take drugs to avoid such consequences later) have a lot of options for solving the problem, including resorting to alternative medicine. After all, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were treated without resorting to powerful artillery? So we leave antibiotic therapy as a last resort. And if it does come, we take into account the following risk factors and adhere to certain rules:

• The age of the person. The older you are, the more vulnerable the microflora becomes. The risk group includes people who are over 65 years old. As with young children, the choice of drugs for them must be done with great care, and it is advisable to provide this to the doctor.
• The presence of acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is no secret that taking antibiotics has a bad effect on the intestinal microflora. If there is a history of chronic diseases, then it is imperative to consult a doctor before starting treatment.
• Diarrhea can be provoked by too high doses of drugs, so do not try to speed up recovery in this way.
• It is very harmful to violate the regimen of taking antibacterial drugs. This may be a frequent change of different drugs, an arbitrarily shortened or extended course.

Dysbacteriosis at the end of treatment

Every person should be aware of the likelihood of such a violation. Approximately 7-10 days later, diarrhea may develop after antibiotics in an adult. What to do and how to help your body? We have already mentioned the reason for this complication: under the influence of the drug, beneficial bacteria that are sensitive to it die. As a result, pain, bloating and a new attack of diarrhea are observed. Most often, such a reaction occurs after taking strong antibiotics: tetracyclines, cephalosporins, taken in tablets and capsules.

Correction

So, we have diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult. Treatment should not include antibiotics. In fact, such a disorder goes away by itself and does not require specific therapy. However, to help your intestines recover faster, additional therapeutic measures are used.

Diet

You need to organize meals in a special way from the day you feel the symptoms of diarrhea. It is required to exclude all fatty, fried, smoked and sweet. Be sure to drink plenty of water. In the early days, it is better to refuse food, and as bowel function is restored, gradually include crackers and dietary meat, cottage cheese and light yogurt, baked apples and buckwheat porridge in the diet.

If you follow the right diet throughout the treatment and during the recovery period, that is, 10-15 days after discontinuation of the drug, then there is no such problem as diarrhea from antibiotics. What to do (an adult usually does not have time to spend days at home and treat diarrhea several times a month) if you encounter such a complication? Go through all the stages of the therapeutic diet again. That is, refuse food completely, and then gradually add foods to the diet.

Medications

There are special remedies that help if diarrhea from antibiotics in adults has begun. How to take them? To restore the microflora, Bifidumbacterin is perfect. It is very good to use it from the first day of the end of antibiotics, mixing with natural yogurt. Dilute the contents of the bottle in half a glass of fermented milk drink and drink 2-3 times a day. It must be taken at least 2 weeks after the end of taking antibacterial agents.

Throughout the course of treatment, you need to drink sorbents. It can be "Smekta" or activated carbon. Take one sachet or 2 tablets three times a day. Just not immediately after taking the medication, keep a certain interval. As a rule, such information must be contained in the instructions. Sorbents will help remove toxins and protect the microflora. Also, in order to mitigate the impact of antibiotics, it is recommended to take the fermented milk product "Narine" throughout the entire period of treatment and recovery after it.

Diarrhea when taking antibiotics in an adult is common, but it is quite easy to avoid. The main thing is to get useful information, and with such questions it is best to contact a specialist. Be healthy!

Diarrhea from antibiotics is a consequence of dysbacteriosis. Violation of the intestinal microflora due to long-term misuse of these drugs often leads to indigestion and bloating.

When taking antibacterial agents, diarrhea can develop very quickly, and the stool returns to normal after the absorption of the drug by the intestines.

Why these deviations appear and how to treat diarrhea that occurs while taking antibiotics are important questions that many patients face.

Causes of indigestion from taking antibiotics

The use of antibiotics is necessary for the treatment of many serious infectious diseases.

Despite the great popularity, the use of these drugs is often accompanied by side effects.

In most cases, they are associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment with antibacterial drugs can provoke such functional disorders of the digestive system as nausea, constipation, vomiting, diarrhea.

Diarrhea from the use of antibiotics is caused both by the chemical composition of these drugs and by their mechanism of action.

The natural balance between different microorganisms inside the intestines is the key to high body resistance to external and internal infections.

When it is violated, various pathological abnormalities appear in the form of diarrhea, nausea, and bloating: the so-called dysbacteriosis occurs.

The use of antibiotics to treat various diseases is often the main cause of intestinal problems, since these drugs destroy bacteria and microorganisms.

On the other hand, if you use these drugs moderately and carefully, then with a high probability you can avoid side effects.

Thus, diarrhea that appears after the use of antibiotics in an adult often occurs due to improper administration of drugs, violations of their dosage.

On the other hand, diarrhea that occurs after taking antibiotics can be a sign of infectious diseases of the intestine.

For these reasons, it is important to learn to distinguish between indigestion caused specifically by the use of certain drugs.

You can do this by following the signs:

• the absence of pain in the abdomen;
• normal body temperature and other physiological parameters;
• absence of weakness and malaise.

In some cases, with prolonged use of antibacterial drugs, stomach upsets can begin, with symptoms of colitis.

The intestine is mainly responsible for immunity, therefore, a violation of the functioning of its internal environment reduces not only the efficiency of digestion of food, but also the protection of the body as a whole.

In stressful situations in a person, the use of heavy foods and in a bad environmental situation, bowel dysfunction often occurs.

A complex of similar causes, when superimposed on each other, enhances these dysfunctions, and in the process of treating infectious diseases, diarrhea after taking antibiotics in an adult in such cases may begin with a greater likelihood.

Learning important rules about how to treat acute illnesses with antibiotics will help to avoid side effects, in particular diarrhea.

It is important after each therapeutic course with the use of antibiotics to give the body a rest.

When using these drugs, the following rules must be observed:

• antibiotics should be used only with symptoms of an acute bacterial infectious disease: temperature, purulent discharge, deterioration of the patient's condition, blood changes. In cases of viral diseases, proper treatment excludes the use of these drugs;
• the use of antibacterial agents is not always justified, therefore, the antibiotic used can only be chosen by the doctor, taking into account the possible consequences;
• to prevent side effects, before using strong drugs, it is better to do a bacterial culture test: this will greatly simplify the choice of the optimal drug;
• it is important to keep information about the previous use of antibiotics and the side effects they caused. This will avoid errors in prescribing the drug in each case;
• it is imperative to adhere to the continuity of the therapeutic process, since only in this way can the disease be finally cured;
• the duration of antibiotic treatment is determined exclusively by the doctor, so the main thing is to strictly adhere to his appointments;
• it is necessary to observe the frequency and time of taking medications;
• in no case is it recommended to independently change the prescribed doses of the antibiotic;
• it is best to drink these drugs with clean water;
• effective treatment with antibiotics is possible only against the background of dietary nutrition;
• the use of antibacterial drugs in combination with drugs that improve the functioning of the intestinal microflora will prevent the possible occurrence of side effects. The most popular means for this are probiotics.

Thus, by following these rules, diarrhea can be effectively prevented if antibiotics are taken correctly.

Ways to restore intestinal microflora

When using antibiotics, you need to be careful, because they directly affect the immunity of the whole body.

In the course of therapy with the use of these drugs, the use of sorbents and antacids, which reduce the activity of antibacterial agents, should be limited.

Frequent use of antibiotics adversely affects overall health. Their uncontrolled use leads to the destruction of beneficial intestinal bacteria, a decrease in immunity, allergies, and increased infections.

Diarrhea after taking antibiotics is a direct consequence of these problems.

Initially, the human body is characterized by a healthy intestinal microflora, which is a solid foundation of the immune system.

Thanks to this, a person successfully resists the pathogenic factors of the external environment. When treating infectious diseases with antibiotics, it is important to maintain a healthy balance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms.

To resolve issues - what to do in such situations, experts resort to the help of probiotics, which have no contraindications and side effects.

These beneficial products come in the form of liquids and capsules for internal use, nasal drops, mouthwashes, suppositories for vaginal, rectal use.

Kefir and yogurt are natural remedies that have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora of an adult.

Effective treatment with antibiotics, prevention of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders can be successful in the presence of a sparing diet.

The diet should include fermented milk products, whole cereals, applesauce, vegetables, bran, dietary lean meat.

Temporary exclusion from the diet of harmful foods will help restore the intestinal microflora.

It is better to give up spices, smoked meats, garlic, sour fruits, mushrooms, pickles, sparkling water.

Thus, the use of probiotics and a light diet can greatly help in cases where diarrhea has begun, and even prevent its occurrence when treating diseases with antibiotics.

Medications and folk remedies for diarrhea

Diarrhea after antibiotics eventually disappears. However, there are times when certain methods and medications are required to normalize the stool.

The most popular drug is probiotics, which have a beneficial effect on the colonization of the intestines with beneficial microflora.

These universal drugs are suitable for children and adults because they do not have side effects. They are available in different dosage forms.

With their use, a positive therapeutic effect occurs quite quickly. In addition to these drugs, the drugs "Imodium", "Loperamide" are used, which effectively stop diarrhea.

Indigestion after taking antibiotics can be treated with products that contain pectin and clay. They are very good at compacting feces.

The attending physician can sometimes prescribe several drugs that optimize the processes of strengthening the stool. These drugs include Phosphalugel, Smecta, Attapulgite.

It is possible to restore the full functioning of the intestines after prolonged treatment with antibiotics with the help of folk remedies.

These methods are time-tested and have no side effects.

Among them, the most popular are the following recipes:

• dried pomegranate skins should be poured with boiling water and boiled over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Ready broth should be taken in half a glass 4 times a day;
• to prepare this remedy for diarrhea, you will need 300 ml of vodka and a couple of tablespoons of dried wormwood. Dry grass is poured with vodka and infused for 12 hours. It is necessary to take the infusion 20 drops 6 times a day;
• pieces of rye bread are soaked for half an hour in warm water and eaten in small pieces throughout the day;
• tinctures and decoctions of bird cherry, walnut peel, oak bark, St. John's wort and alder cones will help to effectively get rid of diarrhea after taking antibiotics.

The use of folk remedies is suitable for the treatment of any age group of patients, since they have no contraindications and side effects.

In addition to stopping diarrhea, folk remedies help prevent dehydration and strengthen the immune system. In some cases, such drugs may be indispensable.

Violations of the functioning of the stomach and intestines due to the use of antibiotics are quite common.

To get rid of diarrhea, folk remedies, diet food and special medicines that restore the intestinal microflora are used.

With the correct use of antibiotics against the background of dietary nutrition, with a high probability, the problem of diarrhea can be avoided.

The health of the smallest citizens of the country is strongly influenced by poor environmental conditions, various chemical additives in food, electromagnetic radiation, and mutating viruses. Often the child's immune system is weakened and cannot cope with pathogens, and he gets sick. Antibiotics are often prescribed for treatment. Potent drugs kill not only pathogenic microbes, but also all the beneficial intestinal microflora. The child has: diarrhea, intestinal colic, vomiting, flatulence. My child has diarrhea on antibiotics, what should I do? This is a question parents often ask. Let's try to answer it.

The effect of antibiotics on the baby's body

Violation of the digestive tract in a child does not begin immediately, but after the accumulation of an antibiotic in the body. For example, in the case when the baby is often sick and every time he is prescribed antibacterial drugs for treatment. Or parents self-medicate and without the knowledge of the doctor give the baby potent drugs. The fact is that antibiotics cannot distinguish harmful microorganisms from beneficial ones and kill both at once.

The small and large intestines, left without useful microflora, cannot cope with the digestion of food. As a result, the child develops diarrhea while taking antibiotics. He loses his appetite, suffers from pain, flatulence and bloating.

Causes of diarrhea

When taking antibiotics, the occurrence of diarrhea may be due to the following factors:

• Strong intestinal motility prevents the absorption of nutrients. Diarrhea occurs due to the high activity of the intestinal muscles. Such diarrhea is asymptomatic. It will stop within a day after the drug is discontinued. If this does not happen, then the cause of diarrhea is completely different, consultation with a doctor is necessary.
• The death of beneficial intestinal microflora. Diarrhea in a child against the background of antibiotics will stop if the drug is canceled and probiotics are started: Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform, Lactobacterin, Linex.
• Intestinal infection. It can begin against the background of reduced immunity and the death of beneficial bacteria.
• Individual intolerance to individual components of the drug. In this case, in addition to diarrhea, the child develops a rash, itching, and possibly a slight increase in temperature.

Symptoms of diarrhea from antibiotics

Loose stools when taking antibiotics are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• stomach ache;
• a feeling of bloating;
• vomiting reflex;
• deterioration in general well-being belching;
• flatulence;
• characteristic changes in fecal matter: foamy with an unpleasant odor;
• diarrhea from antibiotics in a child may release the intestines up to eight times a day or more.

Forms of diarrhea

When taking antibiotics, there can be several forms of diarrhea:

1. Light - loose stools are observed no more than five times a day, while there are mild painful sensations that disappear after defecation. Fecal masses do not contain any impurities and pungent odor, have a watery consistency.
2. Medium - loose stools occur up to fifteen times a day, body temperature rises, pain increases, vomiting occurs. There is mucus in the feces, streaks of blood are possible.
3. Severe - severe diarrhea in a child after antibiotics, the intestines are emptied up to thirty times a day. The body temperature rises to the forty-degree mark, vomiting appears, and rapid dehydration occurs. The skin takes on a cyanotic appearance, dry mouth, cracks appear on the surface of the tongue and lips, and urination stops.
4. Lightning - the development of all symptoms occurs rapidly. The child suffers from severe pain in the abdomen, the frequency of defecation increases. Mucus and blood appear in the feces, vomiting begins. There is rapid dehydration of the body, urgent medical attention is needed.

Diagnosis of diarrhea in children

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to identify the cause of diarrhea. To do this, the doctor:

• conducts a conversation with the child's parents, finding out what preceded the deterioration of the patient's condition, what is the duration of diarrhea in the child on the background of antibiotics, the frequency of defecation, the presence of mucus and blood in the feces;
• examines the baby, palpates the abdominal cavity;
• prescribes a stool test for the presence of worm eggs;
• conducts a study of the biochemistry of feces and bile.

• sowing on the microflora of the intestinal contents is done;
• a blood test is taken for biochemistry;
• ultrasound indication of the abdominal cavity is performed;
• CT scan;
• endoscopy of the stomach and intestines;
• with functional diarrhea, a study of intestinal motility is prescribed. For this, peripheral electrogastroenterography and manometry are used;
• radiography.

If necessary, other types of studies are prescribed. It all depends on the severity and duration of diarrhea. In addition, consultations of specialists are appointed. When dysbacteriosis is detected, treatment is prescribed depending on the severity of the disease.

Restoration of water-salt balance

With vomiting and diarrhea while taking antibiotics, the child has a large loss of fluid, and drinking plenty of fluids is required to restore it. To do this, first use simple drinking water, then you can give tea, for example, herbal tea based on chamomile or sage, various jelly, dried fruit compotes. In no case should you use carbonated water, juices and milk. Useful pharmacy powders for the preparation of registration solutions:

• "Regidron" - restores the balance of salts and fluids in the child's body, removes toxins. One sachet of the product is dissolved in a liter of cold boiled water.

Store the composition in the refrigerator for no more than a day. Give to drink often, but in small doses, so as not to cause vomiting. With diarrhea in a child from antibiotics, they begin to use the solution from the beginning of the appearance of loose stools and end after its recovery.

• "Humana Electrolyte" - a bag of the mixture is diluted in a glass of boiled water. The solution is taken in a cold and warm form. Babies under three years old use fennel powder, older than three years old - banana flavored. The solution has a pleasant taste and does not cause problems with its use. The required amount that you need to drink per day is calculated according to the instructions per kilogram of weight and is drunk in small portions.

How to stop diarrhea from antibiotics in a child?

Fixing the stool is the main stage of treatment. It begins simultaneously with the restoration of water-salt balance. The most popular and optimal antidiarrheal drugs for children are:

• "Smecta" - powder for the preparation of a suspension at home. It has vanilla or orange flavor.

Babies up to a year old drink two sachets daily for the first three days, then the dosage is reduced to one. Children a year and older use four packets for the first three days, then the dosage is reduced to two.

• "Enterosgel" - a fixing agent used for diarrhea from antibiotics in a child. It not only has antidiarrheal properties, but also binds and removes toxic substances from the body. This helps to improve the functioning of the intestines, kidneys and liver, restores the immune system. Release form: paste for oral administration and gel for solution preparation. Instructions for use are attached.

Before using these drugs, you should consult with your doctor, non-compliance with the dosage can harm the child. It should be noted that drugs should not be used for stomach ulcers and bloody discharge from the anus.

Normalization of microflora

What to give a child after antibiotics for diarrhea? Using special preparations, beneficial microorganisms are artificially introduced into the baby's intestines, which were destroyed by antibiotics. The drugs are prescribed by the attending physician. Frequently used are:

• "Bifidumbacterin" - a probiotic, contains live, active bifidobacteria. Available in the form of tablets, dry powder and rectal suppositories. The dosage and form is prescribed by the doctor depending on the age of the child.
• "Hilak Forte" - contains substrates of metabolic products. Release form - oral drops.

They are dissolved in a small amount of water and drunk before or during meals. The drug is recommended for children from the age of two.

• "Bifiform" - contains lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and vitamins of group B. It is produced in the form of chewable tablets that the child uses as a candy, an oil solution for preparing a suspension, capsules and sachets. The duration of treatment and dosage is determined by the doctor.
• "Rotabiotic" - restores the intestinal microflora and improves the digestion of food, promotes the absorption of nutrients. Capsule release form.

Restoring the intestinal microflora after diarrhea from antibiotics in a child requires a long period, up to several months.

diet

Diet for diarrhea is important. Feed the child in small portions, but often. It is advisable to exclude all foods that injure and irritate the intestines: fresh vegetables and fruits, canned foods, semi-finished products, sweet carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, freshly squeezed juices, sweets and pastries. From meat, you can eat lean chicken. Suitable porridge cooked on water: oatmeal, rice, wheat, boiled or baked fish, steamed cutlets. You can eat light soups, dried white bread, biscuits, crackers, baked potatoes, apples, bananas.

From drinks it is better to use jelly, dried fruit compotes, teas, herbal infusions.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

Diarrhea from antibiotics in a child, how to treat? In addition to medications, you can use the advice of traditional medicine. For the treatment of diarrhea, the following recipes are suitable:

• Blueberry. Pour two tablespoons of dried berries with a glass of boiling water, insist. Drink a tablespoon every hour.
• St. John's wort. Pour 10 g of dry raw materials with a liter of boiling water, insist, strain and give children 50 ml three times a day.
• Chamomile flowers. Prepare an infusion of 20 g of dry raw materials per glass of water. Give the child a teaspoon four times a day.
• Mint and chamomile. Pour a teaspoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, insist and drink in small sips throughout the day.

Before applying these prescriptions, you should consult your doctor.

The main antibacterial drugs that provoke diarrhea

Several groups of antibiotics should be noted, after taking which diarrhea most often occurs:

• Preparations of the penicillin series: Flemoklav, Amoxicillin, Flemoxin. These drugs cause not only loose stools, but also an allergic reaction.
• Antibacterial drugs tetracyclines: "Doxycycline", "Metacycline", "Tetracycline". Very often there is diarrhea in a child when taking antibiotics of this series.
• Macrolides - "Erythromycin", "Azithromycin", "Sumamed". These drugs are more gentle, but diarrhea can also occur.

To minimize the side effects of antibiotics in children, doctors prescribe them in combination with pre- and probiotics.

Prevention of diarrhea from antibiotics

In order to prevent diarrhea in a child when taking antibiotics, it is necessary:

• do not give medicine on an empty stomach;
• for the duration of treatment, include in the diet products that have a binding effect;
• discuss with your doctor the appointment of probiotics at the same time as antibacterial agents.

It is not necessary to resist the appointment of antibiotics in the form of intramuscular injections. They have a more effective effect on pathogens than suspensions and tablets. In addition, with this method of administration, the antibiotic bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and saves the child from unpleasant consequences.

Very often, a person who is treated with antibiotics may experience diarrhea. Alas, this problem concerns many, but not everyone knows exactly how to treat and stop it.

Most often, diarrhea from antibiotics occurs due to their improper intake. But one should not exclude the negative impact on the human body of the chemical composition of the drugs in question.

Modern medicine cannot do without antibiotics.

This is due to the fact that such funds reduce complications after surgery, relieve adults from purulent and bacterial diseases, and prevent the spread of various infections throughout the body.

For example, botulism, tetanus or anthrax. Due to the fact that pharmacies have a large selection of antibiotics, their use has become irrational - many people began to treat themselves, not knowing how to do it right.

Such actions have led to the fact that the most common infections have ceased to be "afraid" of the drugs in question.

And this, in turn, provoked the low effectiveness of simple and cheap antibiotics.

The most common problem that many patients face when taking medication is diarrhea that develops while taking antibiotics.

This phenomenon is called antibiotic-associated diarrhea, which can be caused by treatment with penicillin and cephalosporin.

It is worth considering that taking several groups of antibiotics at the same time increases the risk that diarrhea will appear.

It is noteworthy that loose stools can occur if antibiotics are taken in the form of tablets or capsules - preparations for oral use.

Intravenous or intramuscular administration of the medications in question is much less likely to cause diarrhea.

How antibiotics affect a person

Everyone should know that antibiotic treatment requires strict adherence to the instructions or recommendations of the attending physician.

Such actions will prevent possible side effects that are associated with an overdose of the drug, and minimize its negative impact on the patient's body.

The word "antibiotic" in translation means "against the living." This suggests that the drug, when it enters the body, harms the intestinal microflora.

But, by the way, it also brings considerable benefits: it destroys the infection, prevents the reproduction of bacteria, affects tumor cells, inhibiting their growth.

But, alas, the harm from antibiotics for adults is much greater. It is worth considering in more detail their negative impact on the patient:

1. With long-term treatment with the drugs in question, the bacteria that provoked the disease become immune to antibiotics, so the treatment does not bring the desired effect.
2. Broad-spectrum antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria. A similar phenomenon provokes the activation of the fungal flora, which leads to intestinal dysbacteriosis.
3. Almost all medications adversely affect the patient's liver. The fact is that taking antibiotics provokes the normal functioning of the liver, and it does not completely remove harmful substances from the body, becoming a source of intoxication.
4. When taking the drugs in question, a person makes it difficult for cells to breathe, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the body.
5. Many drugs kill the immune system, so the body of an adult cannot cope with various infections on its own. This suggests that in subsequent diseases, a person cannot do without antibiotics.
6. Due to the fact that microbes constantly mutate, they become resistant to available antibiotics. Therefore, specialists have to constantly develop new drugs that harm humans even more.

In any case, self-medication is prohibited. Only a specialist is able to prescribe a suitable group of drugs that will help to cope with a specific pathology.

It should be noted that doctors prescribe the medications in question only when it is really impossible to do without them.

Causes of diarrhea

Most often, diarrhea after taking antibiotics develops in the presence of certain factors. They are:

1. The drugs were given to young children or the elderly.
2. Patients undergoing antibiotic treatment have somatic pathologies of the nervous system.
3. Antibiotics are prescribed for acute or chronic inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Treatment is based on the use of large doses of the drugs in question.
5. Treatment continues for a long time.
6. Patients violate the instructions and take medications incorrectly.

Diarrhea, provoked by taking antibiotics, makes itself felt a few days after the start of therapy, and after a few hours.

Dysbacteriosis has one characteristic symptom - frequent stools of a liquid consistency.

Often diarrhea in an adult is accompanied by abdominal pain caused by excessive bowel activity.

This problem causes a lot of discomfort and is quite dangerous for pregnant women. This suggests that the imbalance of microflora must be treated in a timely manner.

How to deal with frustration

In order to cure diarrhea in adults, you need to approach the problem comprehensively. This includes following a diet and taking narrowly targeted medicines.

In addition, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids, as diarrhea often causes dehydration in patients.

Proper nutrition for diarrhea

If a person develops diarrhea after taking antibiotics, it is recommended to start treating it immediately. One of the points of therapy is the correct diet, which is based on the following recommendations:

1. For a week, you should give up milk, dairy products and wheat flour dishes: pasta, bread or muffins. This limitation is due to the fact that the gastrointestinal tract reacts sharply to these stimuli, so diarrhea can only get worse.
2. During this period, it is necessary to exclude from the diet the intake of bran and fruits that are rich in fiber.
3. It is allowed to eat only soup that is cooked on a decoction of rice, steamed scrambled eggs, semolina and buckwheat porridge. It is these dishes that normalize bowel movements, restore bowel function and relieve the patient of diarrhea.
4. Instead of bread, experts recommend eating homemade crackers.
5. Kissel made from fruits and berries of sweet varieties can eliminate diarrhea in an adult. It has a wonderful astringent property.

When the situation returns to normal, and the diarrhea subsides after taking antibiotics, doctors are allowed to include meat or fish cutlets, vegetable broth soups, and crumbly cereals in the diet.

In addition, it is beneficial for the body to consume yogurt, which contains live bacteria necessary to restore the intestinal microflora.

You can eat rye bread only 1.5 weeks after the diarrhea stops. Bakery products made from white flour are allowed a few days after the diarrhea has completely passed.

Medicines for diarrhea

Modern medicine is at the highest level, therefore it has in its stock a large number of drugs that are appropriate in the treatment of diarrhea.

The most common of them can be called the drug Imodium, which positively affects the functioning of the intestines.

The drug in question quickly relieves a person of diarrhea after taking antibiotics, does not provoke dehydration of the body and restores the level of minerals and trace elements.

In the event that the diarrhea is very intense, the doctor may prescribe Loperamide. But here it should be noted that this remedy is forbidden to be taken by pregnant women and children under 2 years of age.

Drugs from the group of probiotics and prebiotics are recognized as very effective in the treatment of diarrhea after the use of drugs.

Probiotics are needed in order to quickly saturate the digestive tract with microflora. Medicines can be introduced into the patient's body in various ways, including oral.

This group of medicines includes Linex, Hilak Forte, Bifiform or Bifidumbacterin. To achieve maximum efficiency, you need to know the features of the use of the funds in question.

For example, Bifidumbacterin should be taken with fermented milk drinks: kefir or yogurt. The therapeutic effect will appear after 2-3 doses. You can treat the problem with such substances for no longer than 2 weeks.

If we talk about prebiotics, then you should know that these are peculiar carbohydrates that provoke the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, normalizing its microflora.

Similar substances are found in food: garlic, onions, tomatoes, bananas and chicory. This indicates that you should not immediately run to the pharmacy and buy medicines.

The increased effectiveness of the treatment of diarrhea after taking antibiotics is achieved by using both pro- and prebiotics at the same time, in combination.

But how exactly to do this, a qualified specialist should suggest.

Preventive measures

To be sure that defecation disorders after drug treatment will not happen, you need to follow a few basic rules of conduct.

They are:

1. Observe personal hygiene.
2. Avoid intense physical activity.
3. Eliminate possible emotional overload and stressful situations.
4. Do not ignore alarming symptoms and contact medical institutions in a timely manner.
5. Carefully read the instructions for antibiotics and strictly follow them.

What to do if diarrhea could not be avoided after medication and why did this happen? In this case, you should immediately seek qualified help from specialists, because the situation can worsen at any time.

Pathological phenomena should not be triggered, because they can cause serious and life-threatening complications.

Useful video

Diarrhea after taking medications from the group of antibiotics develops due to a number of factors that provoke the disorder:

1. Imbalance of intestinal microflora;
2. Acute intestinal infection;
3. The peculiarity of the composition of the drug, which has a laxative effect during treatment;
4. Intolerance to a specific antibiotic.

Most often, the first two causes are diagnosed at once. Some bacteria living in the intestinal cavity can only be activated after the start of medication. This immediately changes the microflora in the intestine and enhances its motility. Antibiotics further disrupt the normal state, which leads to the development of diarrhea.

There is a significant reduction in the number of beneficial bacteria and the rapid reproduction of pathogens. The fact is that antibacterial drugs destroy not only harmful, but also beneficial bacteria. The list of useful ones includes lacto and bifidobacteria. There are two groups of drugs that prevent the restoration of normal balance. These include aminoglycosides and tetracyclines. The list of drugs that cause diarrhea includes:

An antibiotic is a drug designed to slow down the growth of microbial flora. The drug has a bactericidal effect, which determines the ability to create conditions where the existence of microbial cells is impossible. The bactericidal action is the reason that the antibiotic is used in the treatment of these diseases:

• gastrointestinal tract;
• skin;
• urinary organs;
• ENT organs;
• respiratory organs.

Antibiotics are effective for treating infectious diseases. However, like many drugs, antibiotics have side effects (starting with mild nausea, ending with kidney and liver failure). The most unpleasant secondary effect when taking antibiotics is that the drugs cause severe diarrhea.

pageDiarrhea

Diarrhea after antibiotics occurs due to a significant decrease in the number of microbes that affect the optimal functioning of the digestive tract. As a result of the imbalance, individual strains are formed. In most cases, the pathological condition develops as a result of taking titramycin and erythromycin substances. Diarrheal manifestations last in most cases 3-7 days.

Antibacterial therapy can lead to many side effects, one of which is diarrhea. It is important to make sure that the antibiotic treatment was the cause of the disorder. Diarrhea can be cured, but it is better to try to avoid such a nuisance with the help of preventive measures.

The disorder of loose stools after taking the medicine can be explained by various mechanisms.

1. The most common cause is the use of antibiotics from the macrolide group. Such drugs are considered the safest, since their action is aimed at preventing bacteria from multiplying (bacteriostatic). However, doctors believe that taking them increases gastrointestinal motility and provokes diarrhea.
2. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs, such as cephalosporins, help kill good bacteria and disrupt the intestinal microflora (have a bactericidal effect).
3. After potent antibacterial agents, the rate of development of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract slows down.
4. With a weakened immune system and prolonged use of antibiotics, fertile ground is created for the attachment of a re-infection. Diarrhea will be the result. The characteristic clinical signs of this condition are pain, the presence of bloody impurities in the stool, and high fever.

Doctors assess the condition as stable when the patient manages to restrain the urge for 1 - 1.5 hours. If there are no blood cells and purulent impurities in the feces, the patient does not have a temperature, the situation is also considered stable.

How to treat correctly - they can only tell in a medical institution. The drug should be prescribed by a doctor after diagnostic procedures and tests. The doctor needs to choose the optimal method of therapy for diarrhea after antibacterial drugs. To do this, it is necessary to establish the type of pathogen and determine the methodology for dealing with it with a minimum likelihood of complications.

If you notice diarrhea after antibiotics, the disorder can be for three reasons:

• stimulation of the activity of the gastrointestinal tract due to side effects of antibiotic therapy;
• violation of the intestinal microflora;
• accession of a bacterial infection.

And sometimes the reason is taking drugs belonging to the group of antibacterial drugs.

Why does diarrhea begin after antibiotics in an adult? What can be done to alleviate suffering and get rid of the disease?

The development of diarrhea, or diarrhea, due to the use of antibiotics is a common phenomenon. Even in the pharmacy instructions for the use of certain antibiotics, diarrhea is listed as a side effect.

The thing is that when antibiotics are taken orally in the form of capsules or tablets, not only pathogenic bacteria are destroyed, but also beneficial ones responsible for the normal functioning of the intestines. As a result, the intestinal microflora changes, new strains of bacteria appear that provoke bouts of diarrhea.

In medicine, this side effect of antibiotics is called antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).

Antibiotics should always be taken with extreme caution.

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The likelihood of developing a side effect in the form of diarrhea increases if:

• antibiotics were taken by older people;
• antibiotics are taken for existing acute and chronic diseases of the digestive system, as well as for other somatic diseases that lower immunity;
• treatment requires higher doses of antibiotics;
• the regimen of taking the drug is violated (the terms of admission are not observed, the drug is changed).

Diarrhea may begin on the first day of antibiotic treatment, as well as in the following days. When loose stools appear, you should not panic, as there are treatments that alleviate the symptoms and bring the body back to normal.

Is it possible to prevent diarrhea after antibiotics in adults, what to do in order to avoid negative consequences?

The possibility of developing diarrhea can be foreseen immediately, as soon as a course of treatment with antibacterial drugs is prescribed.

Note! Most often, diarrhea begins after taking antibiotics such as tetracyclines and aminoglycosides. The wider the spectrum of action of antibiotics, the more likely diarrhea is.

To reduce the likelihood of disturbances in the intestinal flora, it is necessary to start taking probiotics belonging to the group of symbiotics (Laminolact) simultaneously with antibiotics.

Such complex therapy will help maintain the intestinal microflora in a healthy state.

You might be interested to know about: Fast acting laxative tablets

An equally important rule is strict adherence to the dose of prescribed antibiotics. Compliance with the medication regimen will eliminate overdose and reduce the risk of unpleasant consequences.

Diarrhea from antibiotics can be a consequence of a violation of the intestinal microflora. Taking antibacterial drugs has a negative effect on the liver and intestines. Against the background of taking antibiotics, dysbacteriosis often begins with diarrhea.

Antibacterial therapy can provoke diarrhea for several reasons:

• Some antibiotics have a laxative effect by increasing intestinal motility. This effect is inherent in some drugs of the macrolide series. Diarrhea in this case proceeds in a mild form and stops at the end of the antibiotic.
• The main cause of diarrhea after antibiotic therapy is intestinal dysbacteriosis. Antibiotics have a strong effect, but they destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also lacto- and bifidobacteria necessary for the intestines. As a result, an imbalance of the intestinal microflora develops, to which the body reacts with diarrhea.
• Antibacterial therapy can lead to inhibition of the growth of normal intestinal microflora or cause the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in certain parts of the body. Such an undesirable effect can be caused by tetracycline drugs or aminoglycosides.
• Pseudomembranous colitis. Such a pathology can develop during antibiotic therapy due to the death of beneficial bacteria. It is caused by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium. In this case, a person suffers from severe diarrhea, accompanied by weakness, pain in the abdomen and fever.

Diarrhea is usually caused by oral antibiotics, although this side effect can also be observed after parenteral or transvaginal use.

The likelihood of diarrhea with antibiotic therapy increases with age. The risk group also includes the presence of the following factors:

• taking antibiotics in high dosage;
• the presence of acute or chronic pathology of the digestive system;
• somatic diseases that reduce immunity;
• violation of the regimen of taking the medication (substitution of the drug, non-compliance with the terms of admission).

Help with diarrhea

A consultation with a doctor is required. He will determine the cause of the ailment and adjust the prescribed treatment. If diarrhea is caused by the unauthorized use of antibiotics, they must be stopped and contact the clinic.

A doctor's call should be urgent if:

• the patient is at risk of developing pseudomembranous colitis - a pregnant woman or an elderly person fell ill, the treatment took place in a hospital, it was long and difficult;
• diarrhea began to intensify;
• mucus, blood, white flakes appeared in the feces;
• intestinal contents are green or black;
• there was severe weakness and pain in the abdomen;
• the body temperature has risen;
• the patient had had pseudomembranous colitis before.

Self-treatment of diarrhea caused by the use of antibiotics is not recommended. If you stop diarrhea, which is a clinical manifestation of an intestinal infection, this will lead to severe intoxication of the body. With further examination, it will be more difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

Without fear, before visiting a doctor, you can use two groups of drugs:

• oral rehydrants;
• enterosorbents.

If there is no diarrhea after antibiotics, then you should not worry. This means that the entire amount of the antibacterial agent has been spent on the destruction of pathogenic bacteria, and the composition of the microflora has not changed. However, you must adhere to the time frame indicated by WHO - diarrhea after antibiotics should not be within two months.

Only an experienced specialist will tell you how to quickly and effectively stop diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult and in a child. Basically, complex therapy is used to solve the problem:

• Power correction.
• The use of medicines.
• Compliance with preventive measures.

If a child is taking antibiotics and has diarrhea, it is necessary to consult with a pediatrician: tell how long the diarrhea lasts, name the drug, clarify the time to start therapy.

The human intestinal microflora is capable of self-recovery over time. But it is known that with diarrhea, bacteria are also washed out of the body along with the excreted fluid, so the natural restoration of the flora can proceed slowly.

How to treat diarrhea after taking antibiotics in an adult? What should be done to restore intestinal balance?

Treatment must be comprehensive, the only way to achieve recovery.

Although diarrhea can often go away on its own and not cause serious consequences, in some cases, its manifestation requires the urgent attention of a doctor.

If diarrhea begins while taking antibiotics, then a doctor's consultation is required for everyone, but especially for pregnant women, patients with kidney or heart failure, cancer patients, and HIV-infected people.

A doctor's call is necessary if:

• bowel disorder worsens over time;
• cramps and spasms occur in the abdomen;
• the temperature rises against the background of general weakness of the body;
• feces is a green liquid with traces of mucus and blood.

It is important to know! Self-medication in the above cases is dangerous. Lack of qualified assistance can lead to irreversible consequences.

With an increase in temperature and general weakness, a doctor's call is necessary

Only the correct dose of medication selected by the doctor will help to avoid such consequences as diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult. What to do in such cases, only a specialist can advise.

In most cases, diarrhea can stop quickly with proper treatment. In some cases, it can turn into pseudomembranous colitis, a serious infectious disease that, if left untreated, can be fatal.

A mild form of diarrhea resolves on its own after the abolition of antibacterial drugs. This type is called "moderate malaise" and is characterized by the following symptoms:

• stool frequency 5-10 episodes per day;
• feces mushy, frothy, liquid;
• spasms and pain in the abdomen, passing after bowel movements;
• slight weakness;
• nausea;
• flatulence.

If the patient has signs of severe or fulminant diarrhea, you should immediately seek medical help. The symptoms are as follows:

• stool frequency 10-20 r / d;
• the abolition of antibiotics does not lead to an improvement in the condition;
• pain and cramps in the abdomen, not passing after the stool and aggravated by pressure;
• general weakness and lethargy;
• increase in body temperature;
• the presence in the feces of blood, purulent inclusions;
• nausea accompanied by vomiting.

Diarrhea after antibiotics: quick treatment, causes

Diarrhea while taking antibiotics should excite the patient and stimulate to take urgent measures to prevent serious complications. Complex therapy will help get rid of intestinal upset, which includes:

• first aid for diarrhea;
• a strict diet designed to relieve the load from the intestines during dysbacteriosis;
• drug treatment aimed at stabilizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and restoring normal microflora in the digestive organs;
• the use of traditional medicine to speed up the patient's recovery process;
• the use of preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of dysbacteriosis.

Hospitalization of the patient is necessary in severe diarrhea, when the abolition of antibacterial agents does not work, dehydration is observed and the frequency of stool is more than 10-15 times. Surgery may be required to remove part of the affected intestine. If the patient's condition is mild to moderate, you can be treated at home. Therapy for diarrhea after antibiotics is aimed at:

• prevention of dehydration;
• cancellation of antibiotic therapy;
• dieting;
• implementation of detoxification measures;
• specific treatment for the attachment of a secondary infection;
• restoration of intestinal microflora;
• prevention of recurrent diarrhea.

An important question that worries patients in this situation is: if diarrhea occurs after antibiotics, what should be done with the treatment - cancel or not? Only a doctor can accept this. He will determine the cause of development and the danger of diarrhea. If the harm from discontinuing antibiotic therapy is higher, the use will be continued.

Sometimes it is possible to replace antibiotics with alternative means. Antibiotics can be prescribed that act against the causative agents of the underlying disease and Clostridium difficile at the same time. Vancomycin and Metronidazole are commonly used for this purpose.

If diarrhea begins after antibiotics, the doctor must also decide how to treat it.

Without a prescription, only antibiotics of two groups are used:

• enterosorbents (activated carbon, Smecta, Polysorb) - to remove toxic substances from the body;
• probiotics and prebiotics (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Rioflora Balance Neo) - to restore the intestinal microflora.

Despite the relative harmlessness of these drugs, their intake must also be agreed with the attending physician. Enterosorbents may reduce the effectiveness of primary therapy due to the ability to absorb chemicals. The interval between taking medications should be at least an hour.

If an unpleasant symptom is caused by pseudomembranous ulcerative colitis, treatment is carried out strictly under medical supervision. The basis of therapy is, paradoxically, antibiotics. In addition to them, antiprotozoal drugs are used that reduce pathogenic bacteria.

To normalize the stool in the first days after the onset of diarrhea, viscous liquid porridge is recommended - semolina and buckwheat (from crushed cereals). Soups on rice broth and steam omelettes are useful. Fruit and berry kissels are also introduced into the diet menu - they have an astringent effect.

Boiled eggs, baked apples are allowed. Bananas are acceptable for fresh fruits. The remaining plant foods contain coarse dietary fiber, which will irritate the already inflamed intestinal mucosa. It is better to exclude milk and dairy products, bread and other pastries - they create an environment in the gastrointestinal tract that is favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora.

Gradually, steamed meat and fish are introduced into the diet for diarrhea. After a week, you can use all crumbly cereals, except barley and millet, vegetable soups. Dairy products, especially those enriched with lactobacilli, are allowed from the first day.

To speed up recovery, you need to observe the drinking regimen. The amount of pure non-carbonated water drunk during the day is increased to 3 liters. We need compotes, diluted fruit juices, decoctions of medicinal herbs.

The basic principles of treating diarrhea in a child are the same as in adult patients. But the risk of dehydration in one-year-old babies and infants is higher. If the child is breastfed, it should be applied to the mother's breast as often as possible. Breast milk performs several functions at once: restores moisture reserves in the body, provides it with nutrients and strengthens the immune system.

In case of acute diarrhea in a child, the doctor may prescribe StopDiar (from 7 years old), Klacid and Acipol. It is forbidden to treat diarrhea on your own with pills, syrups or folk methods.

and limit some foods. During the diet period, food should be consumed 5 to 6 times daily. Over time, when the stool returns to normal, it is recommended to start introducing 1-2 products per day and monitor the body's reaction.

With diarrhea caused by antibiotic therapy, medical treatment is resorted to. Usually prefer to use the following drugs:

• Linex. Results when taking such a medication are achieved in 3-5 days. Linex is a probiotic, that is, its composition is represented by lacto- and bifidobacteria, which are part of the natural intestinal microflora. This drug is included in the treatment of both adults and children.
• Hillak Forte. This antidiarrheal remedy can be taken at any age, even infancy.
• Bifidumbacterin. This drug normalizes the intestinal microflora, is an immunomodulatory agent.
• Loperamide. This drug should only be used as directed by a physician. With pseudomembranous colitis and gastrointestinal infections, it is contraindicated. Loperamide can be taken at the same time as probiotics.
• Ercefuril. This drug is prescribed if there is an intestinal infection. The drug provides anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect.

Due to dehydration of the body against the background of diarrhea, it is necessary to restore the water-salt balance. For this, they usually resort to Regidron. Its dosage depends on the characteristics of the patient's condition, as well as his age and weight (important for children).

If diarrhea is caused by pseudomembranous colitis, then it is necessary to cancel the drug that led to the development of this pathology. Be sure to prescribe another antibiotic and antiprotozoal agent in order to reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria and stop its further growth.

With pseudomembranous colitis, it is necessary to remove the waste products of the pathogen and toxins from the body. For this, enterosorbents are used. The most popular group of such drugs consists of activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb. When taken internally, these drugs absorb harmful substances, and then remove them along with the feces.

pageDiarrhea

If severe diarrhea is observed after antibiotics, then treatment should be started. Preparations are used to restore microflora. Probiotics are prescribed, Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Hilak Forte, Imodium, Smekta. It is necessary to follow a diet. If a child has an illness, then medical assistance is required.

You can get rid of diarrhea after antibiotics in a short time only thanks to a diet and medicines that restore microflora. For high-quality and proper treatment, it is required to seek help from a qualified specialist from the first days of the onset of the disease.

Diarrhea is accompanied not only by discomfort, but also by pain in the intestines and stomach. Frequent visits to the toilet over a long period lead to weight loss, provoke a lack of vitamins in the body, weaken the immune system and increase the process of dehydration.

This situation is extremely dangerous for patients of childhood from birth to 5 years, since fluid loss of 10% or more poses a threat to the life of the child. Due to the fact that it is sometimes difficult for parents to get the child to drink the right amount of liquid, the only way to eliminate dehydration is a dropper. In the case of progression of diarrhea in an infant, it is required to call an ambulance team.

One of the primary goals for diarrhea and vomiting caused by antibiotics is adherence to the regimen.

With these symptoms, it is prescribed

). Food should be consumed every 3 hours, 5-6 times a day in small portions. As symptoms improve, gradually introduce new foods into the diet.

During diet No. 4 with diarrhea and vomiting, the following should be excluded: 1. fermentation foods:

• sweets and sugar ice cream, cakes, chocolate, etc.);
• spices and spices vinegar, pepper, cumin, etc.);
• fruits ( plums, pears, etc.);
• vegetables ( cabbage, turnip, radish, etc.);
• legumes (beans, peas);
• grape;

products with a choleretic effect:

• foods rich in cholesterol butter, sunflower oil, etc.);

dairy (

coffee, alcohol and carbonated drinks;

pasta and flour products.

During diet No. 4 with diarrhea and vomiting, you should use: 1. porridge cooked in water:

• oatmeal;
• rice porrige;
• semolina;

soups cooked with cereals (

) and finely chopped meat (

meat and fish of low-fat varieties, preferably in the form of meatballs or meatballs;

The use of probiotics.

To stop diarrhea caused by antibiotics, it is necessary to take probiotics in parallel, which will help restore the disturbed

It is advisable to take them an hour after taking the antibiotic.

If after two to three days after the methods used, the diarrhea has not stopped, you should seek the advice of a doctor.

Pharmacies offer a wide range of drugs that are successfully used in the treatment of diarrhea.

According to the composition and mechanism of action, drugs are divided into the following groups:

• enterosorbents - drugs with a sorbent effect;
• probiotics - they contain beneficial bacteria necessary for the functioning of the intestines.

Preparations from among enterosorbents delay and remove waste products of bacteria and other toxins from the body. This group includes activated carbon, Smecta powders, Polysorb, produced in the form of a suspension Enterosgel. They absorb decay products, toxins, effectively cleansing the intestinal flora from pathogens.

Linex, a well-known and widely used drug, belongs to the group of probiotics. He is able to quickly get rid of the effects of antibiotic therapy. The new generation drug Rioflora Balance Neo also deserves attention.

Unlike Linex, it contains 9 strains of live beneficial bacteria. Among other things, it has a healing effect, so it relieves the intestinal wall from wounds and ulcers that form during diarrhea. Also in a pharmacy without a prescription you can buy probiotics Bifiform, Hilak forte, Bifidumbacterin.

The course of treatment with probiotics lasts 2 weeks after the end of antibiotics.

Loperamide is widely used to treat diarrhea. But it can only be used for mild or moderate disease. The effectiveness of this drug will increase if taken along with probiotics.

With a strong degree of diarrhea in adults after antibiotic treatment, Loperamide can exacerbate the disease, as it reduces intestinal motility and slows down the elimination of toxins. There may be intoxication of the body.

Diarrhea can be caused by a violation of the intestinal microflora after taking antibiotics.

What happens if you don't treat

The discovery of antibacterial agents in the last century opened up new horizons in the treatment of a large number of diseases that were previously not amenable to therapy. Therefore, great hopes were placed on this group of medicines.

However, as is known, the bacterial flora has powerful adaptive mechanisms that allow them to survive such external influences. That is, not all antibiotics can help treat the disease. Moreover, there is a possibility of the emergence of a new pathological condition associated precisely with the intake of funds from this group.

Diarrhea after antibiotics, in other words, called antibiotic-associated diarrhea, brings a lot of trouble and is dangerous in its consequences. This topic is the subject of the article.

The use of pharmaceuticals, especially with a powerful effect, often affects the activity of the digestive system.

Such a side effect as diarrhea after taking antibiotics is experienced by many patients after the treatment of various pathologies.

Diarrhea is the result of an imbalance in the microflora in the intestinal system and a significant decrease in the amount of plant fibers in the feces.

stool disorder

Antibiotic treatment never passes without certain consequences for human health, since, by ridding the body of one disease, these drugs adversely affect other systems and organs. It is often the gastrointestinal tract that is exposed to painful effects, since the drugs pass through the esophagus.

There are several reasons why diarrhea occurs after a course of antibacterial drugs. First of all, the risk of diarrhea increases if you combine several types of antibiotics in one treatment course or do not follow the recommended dosage.

Usually diarrhea is not the only side effect of the action of these drugs, other phenomena are often observed in patients: gagging, loss of appetite, bloating, vomiting.

Antibiotics

Diarrhea after antibiotics is a common and even familiar phenomenon. Indigestion can occur after taking any medication. But antibiotics are more likely than other drugs to cause problems with the stool.

The fact is that taking these drugs has an extremely negative effect on the work of the intestines, disrupts the microflora and leads to the death of beneficial microorganisms.

So, why does diarrhea still occur and how can it be dealt with?

Diarrhea, including after taking antibiotics in an adult, is dangerous because it leads to dehydration and leaching of minerals. If nothing is done, the consequences can be irreversible.

Pseudomembranous colitis

The use of drugs from the group of antibiotics, a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria, can be aggravated by the ingestion of a microorganism called Clostridium difficile in the intestines. As a result, pseudomembranous colitis develops. In this case, resistance of pathogenic microflora to many antibacterial drugs is observed. As a result, ulcerative colitis develops, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. After antibiotics severe diarrhea;
2. The need to empty the intestines up to 30 times a day;
3. Increased body temperature;
4. feeling of weakness;
5. Pain in the abdomen.

Pseudomembranous colitis is a severe intestinal disorder associated with antibiotics. This fatal disease for humans is caused by the multiplication of microbes of the Clostridium difficile species.

During the normal functioning of the intestine, the reproduction of these microorganisms is blocked by other bacteria living in the intestine. When the intestinal microflora is inhibited by antibiotics, beneficial bacteria die, which leads to the growth of a pathogenic environment.

Reproduction of Clostridium reaches a critical level, and their waste products poison the intestines.

Pseudomembranous colitis can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• increased diarrhea, the frequency of attacks increases up to 20 times a day;
• initially liquid stool becomes watery with the inclusion of clots of mucus, and sometimes blood, changes color to greenish, acquires an unpleasant odor;
• body temperature rises;
• cuts the stomach;
• there are attacks of vomiting and nausea;
• the body becomes weak.

Diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis is carried out using biochemical analysis. If the disease is confirmed, then antibiotics are prescribed that can kill pathogenic microorganisms.

Possible Consequences of Diarrhea After Antibiotics

Diarrhea after antibiotics is not only unpleasant, but also a dangerous condition. In the absence of timely treatment, there is a risk of developing:

• segmental hemorrhagic colitis - inflammation of a separate section of the colon mucosa. The process may be accompanied by bleeding;
• perforation (rupture) of the intestine;
• dehydration (dehydration) - leads to a violation of the water and electrolyte balance, which threatens with intoxication;
• intestinal obstruction;
• pseudomembranous colitis is an acute inflammation of the intestine caused by the harmful effects of clostridia.

The main danger posed by diarrhea is dehydration. Therefore, to restore the electrolyte balance, you need to take water-salt solutions - Regidron, Humana Electrolyte and their analogues. During the day, it is supposed to drink as much liquid as possible, but divide the entire daily volume into small portions so as not to overload the kidneys.

Pseudomembranous colitis without proper treatment leads to intestinal perforation, renal failure and the development of superinfection. In severe cases, it ends in sepsis and death.

Loose stools after antibiotics may indicate the development of a serious complication caused by treatment with antibacterial drugs - pseudomembranous colitis. Diarrhea from antibiotics is very dangerous if accompanied by the following symptoms:

• frequency of defecation - 10-20 times per day;
• foul-smelling watery stool becomes green, mucus and blood are observed in it;
• cramps in the abdomen;
• high body temperature;
• nausea, vomiting;
• severe weakness from dehydration.

Pseudomembranous colitis is caused by microbes of the genus Clostridium (lat. Clostridium difficile), which rapidly multiply in the gastrointestinal tract, poisoning the entire body with waste products. This severe form of bowel disorder is fatal for the patient, so when the first signs of the disease appear, immediate hospitalization is required.

Who is at risk

The development of consequences is most likely in the following cases:

• elderly age;
• if there is a chronic or acute disease that reduces immunity;
• if laxatives were taken simultaneously with antibiotics;
• if a person cannot eat on his own, he eats through a tube;
• if antibiotics are taken during pregnancy or lactation;
• if antibiotics are taken with anti-cancer drugs;
• if the patient is HIV-infected.

How to avoid diarrhea after antibiotic therapy

Probiotics and prebiotics are usually recommended to prevent diarrhea during a course of antibiotic therapy. These drugs have not been studied enough. The intestinal microflora, disturbed by the use of antibiotics, is restored independently. There is no reliable information about the reliability of this "method of transportation" of beneficial bacteria and its benefits.

If, however, a decision is made to take probiotics after diarrhea, products containing Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria and yeast-like fungi should be used. But there is no evidence that they reduce the risk of developing pseudomembranous colitis.

How to protect your family and friends from infection

Pseudomembranous colitis is an infectious disease, so people around you need to take measures to protect themselves from infection.

The infection is transmitted through the use of shared items, so they should not be made available to the patient. If an adult develops diarrhea in a family after taking antibiotics, preventive measures should be taken immediately, which will minimize infection of other family members.

Personal hygiene items must be individual

It is necessary to allocate items for the patient for personal use and limit him to the use of common items.

Bed linen, towels, dishes, personal hygiene items must be individual. Patients need to wash the dishes after use in hot water, and then additionally pour boiling water over them. The room requires constant ventilation and wet cleaning.

Recovery occurs if vomiting and diarrhea do not appear even once in 2 days.

When is it not necessary to take measures to restore the microflora?

The usual schedule of affairs can be suddenly disrupted by such an unpleasant ailment as diarrhea. Sometimes a complex bacteriological analysis is required to find out the cause of the disease.

This should be done on the recommendation of the attending physician, while simultaneously passing a stool test for dysbiosis. You need to start the course only after the end of antibiotics, otherwise it is useless. When the response of the analysis comes, preparations for restoring microflora can be adjusted.

The pharmacy chain sells 3 groups of drugs for this: pro-, pre- and synbiotics. The purpose and effect of drugs is different.

Antibiotics or antibacterial drugs are a group of medicinal pharmacological agents that have a detrimental effect on bacterial microorganisms.

There are two main groups of antibiotics:

• Bacteriostatic.

They block the reproduction of bacteria by destroying their genetic information.

• Bactericidal.

Cause a damaging effect on the cell wall, thereby destroying the bacteria themselves.

Our body normally contains beneficial and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms that contribute to the normal functioning of organs and systems.

With a decrease in the amount of normal intestinal microflora, its protective role decreases, local immunity weakens, and pathogenic microflora joins all this. The body reacts to its impact with a reaction in the form of a violation of the stool - diarrhea.

Beneficial bacteria: Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are considered to be the main ones.

They inhabit the skin, intestines, genitals, protecting against negative environmental factors and contributing to the normal functioning of organs and systems.

Antibiotics are intended for the treatment of acute and chronic infectious processes that occur with severe inflammatory symptoms, their spectrum of action is very diverse.

They are used for the treatment of respiratory diseases, ENT organs, skin, intestinal disorders, respiratory, genitourinary system, for the prevention of bacterial complications in immunodeficiency states.

In addition to the positive therapeutic effect, this group of drugs has undesirable side effects, so all antibacterial drugs should be sold strictly on prescription.

These include diarrhea after antibiotics. The drugs do not have a selective nature of action, they destroy both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria, in connection with this, intestinal dysbacteriosis and diarrheal syndrome develop.

Causes of diarrhea from antibiotics:

• Changes in the intestinal microflora towards pathogenic.
• The development of inflammation in the intestinal process against the background of the addition of dysbacteriosis.
• Laxative effect of antibiotics themselves.
• Removal of excessive amounts of fluid through the gastrointestinal tract.

Groups of antibacterial drugs that can cause diarrhea:

• Penicillin series: Amoxiclav, Benzylpenicillin, Penicillin, Bicillin-5.
• Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin.
• Cephalosporins of various generations: Ceftrixone, Cefotaxime, Cefipime.
• Aminoglycosides: Gentamicin, Amikacin.
• Macrolides: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin.
• Carbapinems: Meronem.
• Tetracyclines: Doxycilin.
• Bacteriostatics: Levomecithin.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is characterized by the appearance of signs on the 3rd-4th day of taking the funds, this condition necessarily requires correction and treatment, the symptoms increase when using a combination of drugs from several antibiotics.

What conditions require mandatory therapy:

• The increase in allergic reactions to the introduction of funds.
• Against the background of diarrhea, high fever.
• Pronounced symptom of intoxication.
• Severe pain accompanied by diarrhea.
• development of pseudomembranous colitis.

Pseudomembranous colitis is a formidable complication of taking antibacterial agents from the gastrointestinal tract, which develops against the background of dysbacteriosis and the addition of such a bacillus as Clostridium difficile.

It is possible to confirm the diagnosis only on a stationary basis using laboratory and instrumental research methods.

How the disease manifests itself:

• Frequent loose stools after taking antibiotics, more than 20 times a day.
• High fever, chills, headache.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Impurities of mucus and blood in the stool.
• The duration of the state is more than 7 days.
• Not amenable to treatment with antidiarrheal drugs.

The pathology is treated comprehensively, in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor, vancomycin serves as an etiotropic drug for treatment.

Diarrhea while taking antibiotics: what to do and how to treat

If diarrhea occurs during or after taking antibiotics in adults, first of all, you should contact your doctor who prescribed the drugs.

Perhaps they are not suitable, then the doctor will individually select another group of drugs for the treatment of primary pathology.

• If possible, the antibacterial drug should be canceled or replaced with another, more gentle one.
• You should follow a diet.
• The appointment of drugs that will help normalize the intestinal microflora.

Treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

In order to avoid side effects, you need to follow the rules for taking antibacterial agents.

How to take antibiotics correctly:

• The use of drugs only as prescribed by the doctor in the right dosages and with the correct frequency of administration, all this is stipulated by the attending physician.
• Avoid stress during treatment.
• Observe the regime of work and rest.
• Eat properly.
• Do not use on an empty stomach, only after meals.
• Do not drink alcohol during the course of treatment.

Treatment comes down to basic rules and goals:

• Stop diarrhea.
• Restore the imbalance in the microflora.
• The use of a large amount of fluid to eliminate the syndrome of intoxication.

Medical therapy

There are main groups of drugs for the treatment of stool disorders and the restoration of microflora:

• Prebiotics.

These are enzyme preparations that contain the nutrients necessary for the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria, they are used to treat diarrhea after taking antibiotics, when the effect of the antibacterial drug is already over.

Preparations are: Oligosaccharides, Sorbitol, Sucrose, valine, Arginine and others.

• Probiotics.

Means that have ready-made live bacteria in their composition, they populate the digestive tract: Linex, Enterol, Hilak Forte, Acipol, Normobact and others.

They are produced in a wide variety of forms: tablets, capsules, powders, drops. The use of capsule probiotics is justified, the capsule component, when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, protects the active substance and beneficial bacteria from the aggressive effects of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Under the action of intestinal enzymes, the capsule dissolves, beneficial bacteria populate the environment unchanged. A true probiotic that can stop diarrhea during and after taking antibiotics is Linex, it is indicated from the first day of taking the drugs.

All other funds should be used after the end of the course of treatment:

• Metabiotics.

Combined preparations that contain probiotic and prebiotic in their composition: Normobact, Bifiform.

• Sorbents.

Substances that bind toxins and foreign substances, removing them from the intestinal lumen, the most effective sorbents include: Activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Filtrum.

In order to replenish the supply of fluid lost with loose stools, they resort to taking rehydration, prescribing saline solutions inside: Regidron, Trisol, Polysorb, the patient must take at least 2 liters of fluid per day.

Diet

List of products that are prohibited for consumption: canned food, sausages, smoked meats, semi-finished products, alcohol, tobacco, spicy food, marinades, fast food.

What is allowed:

Dietary poultry meat, boiled beef, fish, tea, vegetable soups, cereals without milk, boiled vegetables, dried fruits, crackers, jelly, fermented milk products.

Treatment of diarrhea during chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that have a detrimental effect on the cells of the body, killing them, this is one of the main methods of treating malignant tumors.

Like every drug, chemotherapy has its side effects, the disadvantage of treatment is that the substances affect and kill not only cancer cells, but also healthy elements of the body.

The functions of all major organs and systems suffer, the main manifestation of intestinal disorders during chemotherapy is diarrhea. Drugs that cause diarrheal syndrome are: topotecan, doxorubicin, teniposide, irinotecan, ftorafur and others that kill healthy epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract.

Patients with oncological diseases are treated in a hospital; if diarrhea occurs, patients require special attention and treatment. It is important to ensure that there are no impurities of mucus, blood, fever, dehydration in the feces.

If the patient notices such changes, it is necessary to immediately inform the doctor about his condition.

What needs to be observed for treatment:

• Rehydration

This is the process of replenishing fluid in the body, achieved by drinking the required amount of fluid by the patient or intravenous infusion of solutions.

If the patient is able to drink the liquid himself, then it is recommended to use solutions of Hydrovit, Regidron, the contents of the sachets are diluted with a certain volume of water.

The funds replenish the mineral, electrolyte, water balance of the body. Saline solution, Ringer's solution, Trisol, Kvadrosol and others are infused intravenously, all this is prescribed by the attending doctor.

• Proper nutrition

The diet should be observed fractionally, in small portions, often, it is recommended to use boiled poultry meat, chicken breast, fish, eggs, cereals without milk, boiled vegetables, potatoes, carrots, meatballs, goulash.

Dairy products, beans, cheeses, bread, products that may contain mold are completely excluded for such patients. In immunocompromised patients after chemotherapy, infection with a fungus can aggravate the course of the disease.

These funds affect and restore the normal intestinal microflora, create a favorable nutrient medium for the growth and reproduction of bacteria, as they contain beneficial bacteria themselves in the required amount.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, probiotics Linex, Probifor are indicated, they can be taken from the very first day of chemotherapy. Sorbifor contains bifidobacteria in its composition, their number is 500 million cells per single dose.

The therapeutic amount required to restore the flora, the frequency of a single dose is prescribed by the doctor. The standard scheme is 2 sachets 2 times a day, the course lasts 7-10 days.

Another effective drug is Bifidumbacterin, its distinctive feature is that in its composition it has a smaller number of bifidobacteria, therefore, the frequency and dosage of administration increases.

• Enterosorbents

They perform the function of removing toxic substances and metabolites of cell decay, these include Enterosgel, Polysorb, activated charcoal, Filtrum, Smecta. It is important to note that with prolonged treatment they can cause an irritating effect on the intestinal wall.

Smecta or Neosmectin protect the mucosa, prevent the development of toxic reactions, and increase local immunity. Reception is designed for 1 sachet 3 times a day, the term is set by the attending physician.

Treatment after chemotherapy

If diarrhea occurs after chemotherapy, you should consult a doctor with these complaints to prescribe the necessary therapy. Initially, the doctor will prescribe a strict diet.

The diet is prescribed the same as with chemotherapy, the next step is to take intestinal antiseptics that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria: Nifuroxazide, Stopdiar. The course of treatment lasts 5-7 days.

After intestinal antiseptics, prebiotics are prescribed, they normalize the enzymatic composition for beneficial bacteria. The next step is a course of probiotics, they can be taken together with prebiotics, the most effective are Normobact, Lineks, Enterol.

The use of antibiotics in modern medicine makes it possible to recover from many dangerous diseases that were considered fatal a few decades ago. But, like any potent drugs, these drugs have a number of significant side effects that preclude their uncontrolled use.

First of all, if used improperly, the causative agent of the disease develops resistance: it does not die, but mutates and becomes resistant to therapy. As a result, over the years of antibiotic therapy, many strains of pathogenic bacteria have formed, and scientists have to look for new effective formulas.

In addition, antibiotics adversely affect the patient's condition even when used properly. First of all, the intestines and liver suffer. The cells of the latter die from the multiply increased load, and dangerous toxins accumulate in the body. At the same time, the intestinal microflora responsible for immunity and digestion is also destroyed. The first and most common sign of incipient dysbacteriosis is diarrhea. To competently get rid of an unpleasant symptom, you should know why loose stools appear after antibiotics.

Diarrhea is not only discomfort, household discomfort and abdominal pain. Frequent trips to the toilet are fraught with weight loss, beriberi and dehydration. The latter is especially dangerous for children of the first years of life, since it is almost impossible for them to restore the volume of fluid without going to the hospital. In the case when, against the background of antibiotic therapy, diarrhea has developed in the baby, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

emergency measures

As mentioned above, sick children require qualified medical care. The smallest shows immediate hospitalization, especially if there are signs of severe dehydration (weakness, lethargy, weight loss, dry skin, fainting). An older child must be shown to a pediatrician who will select a safe and effective treatment regimen.

Severe diarrhea after antibiotics in an adult: what to do, do I need to see a doctor and what drugs can I use? Since a mild stool disorder when taking antimicrobial agents is associated with dysbacteriosis, probiotics are prescribed as a preventive measure, as well as for a therapeutic purpose. However, if the frequency of stools is more than 5 times a day, you should consult your doctor to rule out antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

If the condition worsens and pseudomembranous colitis is suspected, the prescribed antibiotic is canceled and hospitalization is indicated. This is due to the fact that colitis against the background of taking antibiotics is a life-threatening condition. The frequency of loose stools in this diagnosis can exceed 20 times a day, which leads to severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and intoxication.

Treatment at home, as well as taking antidiarrheal drugs, is strictly contraindicated. The use of Loperamide ® in antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis increases intoxication and may lead to the development of toxic megacolon.

Diet

One of the most important methods of treatment of any digestive disorders is the correction of diet and diet. With dysbacteriosis, it is recommended to reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract by eating fractionally (in small portions and often) and excluding sweet, fatty and fried foods from the menu. In the case when you need to stop diarrhea, in the first 2-3 days you should more strictly limit the diet.

Allowed for use:

• Viscous cereals made from buckwheat or rice groats. Rice decoction is especially useful for irritable intestinal walls and is recommended for the treatment of diarrhea in children.
• Kissels from berries and fruits. Starch helps to restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and vitamins are necessary for the prevention of hypovitaminosis. The best option is blueberry, as these berries have a pronounced antidiarrheal effect.
• Crackers from lean dough. It is advisable to cook them yourself, with a minimum amount of sugar.

After a few days, when the activity of the intestines stabilizes, pureed vegetable soups, sour-milk products, baked lean meat, rye bread and steamed egg omelet can be introduced into the diet. Nutrition recommendations for children and adults are completely the same.

Medical therapy

The diet contributes to the normalization of the stool, but medications will also be required, since it is impossible to stop and cure diarrhea after antibiotics without pharmaceutical preparations. All of them can be used only with the permission of a doctor and in strictly recommended doses. Usually several are prescribed for a complex effect and a quick recovery.

It is forbidden to use any medicines for the treatment of children without medical prescription. Many of them are contraindicated for babies under a certain age. All medicines should be taken strictly according to the instructions, avoiding overdose.

Traditional medicine recipes

As an additional therapy, the use of alternative methods is acceptable (of course, in agreement with the therapist or pediatrician).

So, how can you treat diarrhea from antibiotics:

• A decoction of oak bark has an excellent astringent effect and quickly relieves all symptoms. To prepare it, a teaspoon of raw materials is taken for 2 glasses of water, then the mixture is boiled for 10 minutes and filtered. You need to take a tablespoon of decoction up to 3 times a day.
• Dried blueberries are one of the most effective remedies for diarrhea. You can cook jelly or make a decoction of a glass of water and a tablespoon of fruit.
• Pomegranate peels are also a proven way to stop diarrhea. You can use fresh or dried, making a healing decoction. A glass of water will require 2 tablespoons of crushed raw materials, which must be boiled for at least 20 minutes. Take a tablespoon half an hour before meals.

If none of the above is on hand, you can brew regular strong black tea. This drink, consumed without sugar, will quickly stop diarrhea and relieve discomfort.

Treatment in a hospital

Generally, antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults is treated at home. Hospitalization may be necessary if the frequency of bowel movements reaches 10 times a day and signs of dehydration are observed. These symptoms are characteristic of pseudomembranous colitis and other inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Seeking qualified medical care and placement in a hospital are mandatory for young children. In babies, the body dehydrates very quickly, which requires intravenous infusions of rehydrating solutions. Self-medication often ends in death.

Preventive measures

Responsible attitude to one's own health will help to avoid complications of antibiotic therapy, since diarrhea after antibiotics is much more difficult to treat than to prevent. In addition to general recommendations for strengthening immunity and proper nutrition, which reduce the risk of developing dysbacteriosis, you should pay attention to the treatment process itself.

Antibiotic choice

The basic rule of successful therapy without consequences is never to self-medicate.

Firstly, without proper education, you will not be able to correctly identify the pathogen and choose the right medicine with the least pronounced side effects.

Secondly, only a specialist is able to calculate the required dose and duration of the course. With the wrong dosage or interruptions in treatment, pathogenic bacteria mutate, forming strains resistant to this antibiotic. The result is an incurable chronic infection.

When the drug is prescribed by a doctor, you should purchase exactly the one indicated in the prescription.

The recently widespread practice of self-replacing expensive medicines with analogues is unacceptable here. If a particular medication is really beyond your means, ask your therapist to recommend another one. A professional will never refuse and will select the best option in terms of price and quality. In addition, when taking tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, it is necessary to take into account their negative effect on the intestines and, at the first signs of complications, seek qualified help.

Medical support

It is advisable to take probiotics and prebiotics from the very beginning of antibiotic therapy, without waiting for the appearance of signs of dysbacteriosis. After the end of antimicrobial therapy, the use of probiotics is recommended for another 10-14 days.

The attending physician will give detailed instructions, following which you will quickly get rid of the infection without negative consequences.

Causes and mechanism of development of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Stool disorders as a side effect of taking antibacterial drugs are observed in almost half of patients. Constipation is rarely diagnosed, but diarrhea is a common complaint. A symptom usually appears after 3-5 days from the start of antibiotic therapy or within 2-3 weeks after its completion. It is characterized by frequent bowel movements (from 3 times a day), dull cramping pains in the abdomen, bloating and flatulence. At the same time, the feces are liquid, containing particles of undigested food. Diarrhea occurs from antibiotics for the following reasons:

• The laxative effect of the drug itself. For example, the composition of macrolide preparations enhances intestinal motility. As a rule, the phenomenon is mild and passes rather quickly.
• The death of the natural intestinal microflora. The active substances of antibacterial drugs (especially broad-spectrum) do not divide bacteria into "good" and "bad". As a result, the beneficial flora is destroyed along with the pathogenic one, food ceases to be digested and assimilated properly, and dysbacteriosis develops.
• Reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. In a healthy gastrointestinal tract, not only beneficial, but also pathogenic microorganisms live, while the former control the number of the latter by producing special antibiotic-like substances. The intake of aminoglycosides and tetracyclines, along with the destruction of the necessary microflora, contributes to the development of one of the varieties of clostridia. These bacteria are the cause of pseudomembranous colitis (inflammation).

Additional factors causing dysbacteriosis are long-term therapy, large doses of drugs and their misuse. Whether there can be diarrhea after antibiotics depends on the state of health and the age of the patient. The risk group includes people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, some somatic ailments, as well as young children and the elderly.