Treating Diarrhea

" Hi and welcome to our web cast on doctor David marks. They were talking about the treatment of diarrhea. There are almost as many treatments as there are cause of diarrhea and -- can albeit little confusing but we have two experts to help us sort it all out. First we have doctor Lucy Harris -- neurologist at Cornell Medical Center welcome. And her colleagues from Cornell Medical Center is doctor mark put shape and he's also against her neurologist welcome thanks. Well there are a lot of options out there how does someone know which one to choose."

" I think it depends upon the cause of their diarrhea. To start with -- having an acute infectious diarrhea. It might. Not be unreasonable to try something like pepto dismal. I'm from the other things out there around. They not be helpful. And certainly. And he went he's somebody agents that Italy stopped intestine. Like a million and a metal with --"

" Cause. It's a difficult question because it's very often. Diary that occurs. From the start that it is new and not something that a patient generally has. If they take medications or it could actually make this symptoms of cramping -- worse. All of might stop the diary and I make -- actually feel worse so they're not doing too badly having -- diary it's better for them just to drink plenty of fluids especially fluids that should going to elect relate to keep them hydrated. Like Gatorade. And I'm not trying to stop things up so much to somebody called brat on what is."

" To attract -- something that pediatricians. And teach their patients and that is to have. Stands for bananas rice apples. Applesauce tea and toast. So those are the things that are tired and this safe to eat when you have an acute diarrhea and actually help your symptoms. -- a lot of."

" Others are things people should avoid at all costs -- in the entire area definitely they're. Without a doubt milk and milk products from you know one and -- gets diarrhea most. People who take care of little intense. Children their own will -- not to give that baby dot com milk you know change the formula some -- containing formula but as adults we forget that milk is very poorly absorbed when the intestine is inflamed or infected. So milk products I'm also fatty greasy foods and foods that contain a lot of sugar. Usually -- informant for toasts are sort of call."

" There're there are some Mal absorption conditions. They can also resultant diarrhea. -- tell us what they are what most columns are and then penetrated."

" I think the -- common symptoms. Aren't needed lactose intolerance that can be announced section there's a disease called silly acts through patient has a problem with. Wheat and meat products. Inflammatory bowel disease can especially else to -- can appear to be somewhat ever -- absorption. Symptoms particularly -- having cookies watery diarrhea so lots of other rare causes of diarrhea. -- such as and to pensioners and disease that occurs primarily in men called to whipple's disease. These are things that will probably have to be worked out fine tradition."

" But they're very rare and in the most common things that people are going to however usually infections or -- related. And -- I think it's important just to try and let it pass on its own prom and not. I'm not trying treated them think people should not trying to treat themselves thinking that they know what's causing the diarrhea because it can make things worse. And that it doesn't resolve within a day cartoonish to seek medical help. What are some of the medications. That people can -- doctors can prescribe forget about the particular curriculum about prescription drugs. It's so varied depending on the type of diarrhea and he mentioned for example some inflammatory conditions like crohn's disease and also -- as to drugs that you would give patients with inflammation. Would be anti inflammatory medications things that contains something called -- sound mean and -- on the fantastic piece of call that and consult us housing. These are specific related exactly person that you would use those and diarrhea conditions that are infectious and nature of those who get antibiotics. So the treatment is so very based on what you think the causes and that usually breaks down to something that's occurring knew that acute. -- something that's been longstanding chronic. On the medications over the counter to stop everything up and that's why can be dangerous if you don't really understand the cause of it put -- of us. The most common one is ammonium. That was really -- very powerful medication just basically paralyzes the intestine and sure it will clearly slowdown you know bowel movements but it could cause bloating. Cramping and sometimes even very severe dispensed and after this balls and no one uses business which I'm actually and people don't quite understand why that works well in May actually have an anti. I out of anti microbial action to it and that also turns to black. So you have to understand that if you take that -- changing color my alarm physicians because blacks who might also be indicated indicative of blood in the summit."

" In imminent and that kept of his welcome even turn the tongue black people take enough but it so they are taking it they should know that it turning the storm black and turning their tongue black -- kinds of taking the medication. And not signs of bleeding. On the other point that I I think that I would meet kids that there is medication called camp -- tape and for most people. That has very minimal factions -- is not going to help me. -- take just -- so little fiber networks. If having -- if they have. It is somewhat take up some of the water in the -- but -- I'll send you it's not thought to be an effective treatment for diarrhea predominant durable thousands of them more for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome."

" Knowing when people talk about irritable bowel syndrome. A lot of people think it's stress related psychological. Is that the case number one I -- and then if you will stress reduction methods work first."

" Stress can cause you're able Palestinian that they can make his symptoms worse. We now understand a little bit more about it about thousand -- and it actually probably a natural substance of the body produces called serotonin. That actually causes your -- I'll send him."

" there's a brain ambient tests and that's very complex and we're just beginning to understand it and I so look at your will -- as hey this regulation almost a depression. In certain cases of these tests until the end of of the frame the intestine just and you treat that just like you might treated depression of the armed of the minor central nervous system."

" Right there -- new medications that are part of available and there are companies working on new drugs and as well as for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome as I was going to be coming on the market he calls Selma -- out --"

" It's not that the tensions crazy it's not that there are reacting I'm inappropriately and erotic. I think that's a label that gets put on these patients especially because many of them are women. And they get labeled I'm in a very I think detrimental way. The patient has a real problem it's a real disease -- just you don't understand it well now but with police who studies and I'm medications coming out it's really a very exciting time. To try and treat this disorder."

" Is there a time when it's not appropriate to take. Medications over the counter medications retirees. I believe so yes -- patient has hiking very severe abdominal pain in -- having bloody diarrhea they really need to consult their physician. Yeah -- have an abdominal pain nausea and vomiting absolutely should not take any medication. Back to question -- stress management. Does that ever help people with diarrhea. I think that if you hadn't -- an exacerbation. Of your symptoms. Biased but stressed and certainly yet exercised. Maybe cognitive therapy. Short term therapy those things may be helpful in managing mistrust and therefore they're going to help the diarrhea. That is related to stress to -- again maybe they just helped overall good health and dealing with. The situation to situation that a patient finds themselves and with their symptoms. We'll thank you both are very non stressful I didn't think it can thank you for joining our webcast I'm doctor David marks and I'll see you next time."