As scorching summer arrives, many indulge in cold treats to cool down, while others consume contaminated food, leading to a rise in patients suffering from abdominal pain and diarrhea. After experiencing diarrhea, many patients often self-medicate based on personal experience, falling into common misconceptions. Caution is essential when using medications for diarrhea. Below is a detailed explanation.
Antidiarrheal Medications
Diarrhea is actually a protective mechanism of the body. It expels pathogenic bacteria and their toxins, as well as harmful substances entering the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing their toxic effects on the body. Immediately using antidiarrheal agents at this time is essentially "locking the door and keeping the enemy inside."In principle, antidiarrheal medications are only suitable for non-infectious diarrhea. They are generally not used for infectious diarrhea, especially during the acute phase when inflammation and toxic symptoms (such as high fever) are prominent and bloody stools are abundant. Their use is strictly prohibited in such cases.However, for frequent, prolonged diarrhea accompanied by dehydration, antidiarrheals may be considered judiciously under systemic antibiotic therapy and after correcting electrolyte imbalances.Pain relievers may mask or worsen the condition. For elderly glaucoma patients, they can even trigger or exacerbate glaucoma. For mild abdominal pain, applying a hot water bottle to the abdomen can provide relief. Those with severe abdominal pain should use pain relievers only under a doctor's guidance.
Antibiotics
Many patients immediately turn to antibiotics like co-trimoxazole or norfloxacin at the first sign of diarrhea. This practice is incorrect. Diarrhea falls into two categories: infectious and non-infectious. Antibiotics are ineffective for non-infectious diarrhea; instead, digestive aids or dietary therapy should be employed.Even for infectious diarrhea (often caused by E. coli, Shigella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Proteus species), antibiotics should not be overused. While antibiotics can eliminate pathogens, they also disrupt the body's normal bacterial flora, leading to dysbiosis and bacterial resistance. This may transform acute diarrhea into chronic diarrhea, making treatment more challenging.Therefore, when selecting antibiotics, it is best to first perform a stool bacterial culture to identify the specific pathogen, then choose the antibiotic most sensitive to that bacteria for treatment.
Probiotics
Probiotics, such as Peifekang, Lizhu Changle, Zhengchangsheng, Letuoer, and Lactobacillus tablets, restore intestinal microecological balance by supplementing beneficial gut bacteria. They help regulate gastrointestinal function and alleviate diarrhea. These are primarily effective for diarrhea caused by intestinal dysbiosis and may not work for all types of diarrhea.
That concludes our overview of cautious approaches to diarrhea medication. We hope this information has provided valuable insights. Wishing you good health and happiness.