Diseases that affect the bowels such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), diverticulitis (inflammation of the pouches found along the digestive tract) have diarrhea as a common symptom. Diverticulitis is more likely to present with diarrhea in elderly people.
Full Answer
What diseases cause diarrhea in the elderly?
Viral and bacterial gastroenteritis cause the majority of diarrheal outbreaks in NHs. Older adults are known to have a decreased production of gastric acid, and therefore, are at a higher risk for developing infectious gastroenteritis. The clinical course of gastroenteritis is usually self-limited.
When to seek medical care for an elderly person with diarrhea?
Oct 02, 2019 · Causes of diarrhea in seniors. The most common causes of diarrhea are: Viral infections – Viruses that cause diarrhea include rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus. The highly contagious norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea epidemics, such as those that occur on cruise ships, and at nursing homes, schools, and daycare facilities.
What causes diarrhea in a nursing home?
Noroviruses, infectious viral conditions, cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach and intestines, often resulting in diarrhea and vomiting. They are the most common type of diarrhea-causing illnesses in the elderly. Other names for norovirus include stomach flu, viral gastroenteritis, Norwalk-like virus and food poisoning.
What does it mean when you have chronic diarrhea for years?
Dec 04, 2019 · It is today the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Yersinia is a species of bacteria that can cause a number of different diseases in humans. Yersinia enterocollitica is a common cause of infectious diarrhea. In contrast, Yersinia pestis has been isololated as a primary cause of the bubonic plague.
What causes diarrhea in nursing homes?
Diarrheal Diseases Bacterial and viral gastroenteritis is the cause of the majority of attacks of diarrhea in the nursing home. Older adults do not produce enough gastric acid and are at a greater risk of developing infectious gastroenteritis.Sep 29, 2021
How does an elderly person get C. diff?
difficile typically occurs after use of antibiotic medications. It most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities. In the United States, about 200,000 people are infected annually with C. difficile in a hospital or care setting.Aug 27, 2021
What causes Diarrhoea in the elderly?
Common Causes in Older Adults A wide variety of conditions can cause diarrhea in older adults. They range from common causes, like infection, to less common causes, like autoimmune and endocrine disorders. Infectious Diarrhea typically has an abrupt onset. The etiology can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic.
What is the most common infection in nursing homes?
Given the high prevalence of functional disability, dementia, incontinence, poor oral hygiene, and swallowing difficulties, the most common infections in nursing home residents are pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), and skin and soft tissue infection.
How serious is C. diff in elderly?
In severe cases, C diff may cause sepsis, multiorgan failure, intestinal perforation, or death. It's a disease that traditionally affects adults over the age of 65, perhaps due to a weakened immune system.
What color is stool with C. diff?
Greenish stools were more common among the control cases. Another study correlated nurses' response as to whether a stool was positive or not for C. difficile based on stool odor.
How do you stop diarrhea in the elderly?
Treatment for Chronic Diarrhea in ElderlyDrink only bottled water.Avoid ice made from tap water.Avoid food from street vendors.Avoid raw or undercooked meat or seafood.Avoid unpeeled or uncooked fruits and vegetables.Sep 17, 2020
How long can an elderly person have diarrhea?
Diarrhea, while not always severe, may be quite uncomfortable and can occur at any age. Acute diarrhea is a typical issue that lasts only a few days but might continue for longer. Chronic diarrhea is defined as diarrhea that persists for at least four weeks.Oct 1, 2021
What does having frequent diarrhea mean?
But when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days into weeks, it usually indicates that there's another problem — such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a more serious disorder, including persistent infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Aug 18, 2021
What is the most common bacterial infection in elderly?
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are the most common bacterial infection in older adults, reports the AAFP.Mar 21, 2019
What is the average stay in a nursing home before death?
The average length of stay before death was 13.7 months, while the median was five months. Fifty-three percent of nursing home residents in the study died within six months. Men died after a median stay of three months, while women died after a median stay of eight months.Aug 24, 2010
What are the 2 most common types of bacteria in a care home?
The most common pathogens are Group A Streptococcus (GAS) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). GAS and MRSA can lead to severe and invasive infections involving multiple internal organs.
Why do seniors get diarrhea?
Other Diseases. There are other factors that can contribute to diarrhea in the seniors which are not directly related to the bowels. Stress can cause diarrhea which may be acute during the first 24 hours of the stressful period.
Why is it important to treat diarrhea in elderly people?
When dealing with diarrhea in the elderly, it is imperative to address it immediately to avoid severe dehydration and malnutrition. Usually, diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying disease which should be treated first. If the elderly person is unable to take oral rehydration, then a visit to the doctor is needed.
What diseases affect the bowels?
Diseases that affect the bowels such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), diverticulitis (inflammation of the pouches found along the digestive tract) have diarrhea as a common symptom. Diverticulitis is more likely to present with diarrhea in elderly people.
What is the most common disease in the elderly?
Diarrhea is a common condition that affects many people including children and the elderly. If not well managed, diarrhea can lead to serious health issues. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House reports that an American adult can experience an average of one acute diarrhea episode every year. The organization has described diarrhea as a loose watery stool. Diarrhea affects seniors due to various reasons. Acute diarrhea in the elderly can be indicative of a serious underlying condition or chronic illness.
Why does my stool get bloody?
Most senior people rarely eat healthy meals to provide them with the nutrition they need. A bloody stool may be an indication of bacteria such as salmonella.
What causes diarrhea in the body?
The main cause of diarrhea is usually pathogens that attack the body such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses. These pathogens can enter the body through ingestion of contaminated food and water. Sometimes the contamination is airborne or through fomites (particles of inanimate objects)
What is the best diet for diarrhoea?
The BRAT diet is a popular diet recommended for diarrhea. It can help treat diarrhea in the elderly. The name stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These are foods that are low in fiber and help to make the stool firm. Bananas are high in potassium and will help restore lost nutrients.
How many people live in nursing homes in the USA?
Executive summary. Over 1.5 million people live in 16,000 nursing homes (NHs) in the USA. More than 88% of NH residents are 65 years of age and older and 45% are 85 years of age and older. An average of 2 million infections occur in NHs in the USA per year.
How many hospitals have C. difficile027?
This new C. difficile027 strain has been identified in outbreaks in both the USA and Europe (75 hospitals in England , 16 hospitals in The Netherlands, 13 healthcare facilities in Belgium and nine healthcare facilities in France [43]).
How to diagnose scabies?
The most common method to diagnose scabies is by skin scraping with a scalpel covered with oil, followed by direct microscopic visualization. The recommended topical treatment for classical scabies includes 5% permethrin, 1% lindane, 0.05% malathion, 10% crotamiton or 25% benzylbenzoate cream or solution.
How many people will need NH care in the USA by 2030?
It is estimated that the number of people who will require NH care in the USA will reach 5.3 million by 2030 [2].
Is Clostridium difficile an infectious disease?
All outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis must be reported to state health departments. Clostridium difficileis an emerging cause of infectious diarrhea in NHs. The incidence of asymptomatic colonization with C. difficilein NHs varies from 4 to 20%.
Does deep tissue biopsy help with antibiotics?
Clinical examination does, however, underestimate the degree of deep tissue involvement. Deep tissue biopsy may help in directing antibiotic therapy. Osteomyelitis from an infected pressure ulcer does occur in this setting, largely in immobile older adults with compromised nutrition.
Can antibiotics be used for surface swab culture?
Therefore, antibiotic therapy is not appropriate for positive surface-swab culture without signs or symptoms of infection. Pressure ulcer sites should be examined daily for typical signs of infection such as an increase in temperature, erythema, tenderness, discharge and presence of foul smell.
What causes diarrhea in nursing homes?
The most common causes of diarrhea are: Viral infections – Viruses that cause diarrhea include rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus. The highly contagious norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea epidemics, such as those that occur on cruise ships, and at nursing homes, schools, and daycare facilities.
How to prevent viral diarrhea in elderly?
Fortunately, viral diarrhea can be prevented by handwashing. Your elderly loved one can follow these simple steps to ensure adequate protection: Wash frequently – Wash hands after using the toilet, sneezing, coughing, blowing one’s nose, before and after preparing food, and after handling uncooked meat.
How long does diarrhea last?
It can affect people of all ages. An episode usually lasts about one or two days, and, typically, goes away on its own. Seniors are no more susceptible to diarrhea than others, but may sometimes require medical care when afflicted.
What are the complications of a syringe?
Difficulty speaking. Other complications are severe abdominal or rectal pain, a fever of 102 degrees or higher, black, tarry stools, or stools that contain blood or pus. If you notice any of these complications or any sign of dehydration, seek medical care immediately.
How to make your hands lather?
Lather with soap – Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds to develop a good lather. This about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Use a hand sanitizer – When washing isn’t possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Make sure to cover the front and back of both hands.
What to eat if you have diarrhea?
In most cases, diarrhea can be treated at home with plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. The BRAT diet — bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast — can also help ease symptoms. Potatoes, peanut butter, and skinless chicken or turkey are also other good food choices.
What causes diarrhea and fever?
Abdominal cramps. Abdominal pain. The urgent need to have a bowel movement. Mucus in the stool. Bloating. Nausea. If a virus or bacteria is the cause of diarrhea, it can also be accompanied by: Fever. Chills.
What is the most common cause of diarrhea in elderly people?
Norovirus. Noroviruses, infectious viral conditions, cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach and intestines, often resulting in diarrhea and vomiting. They are the most common type of diarrhea-causing illnesses in the elderly. Other names for norovirus include stomach flu, viral gastroenteritis, Norwalk-like virus and food poisoning.
How do nursing homes get salmonella?
People in nursing homes generally acquire salmonella through contact with contaminated food. In the May 2009 "Journal of the American Medical Directors Association," Dr. Karl E. Steinberg and colleagues say, "Salmonella gastroenteritis accounts for just under 20 percent of institutionalized cases of gastroenteritis.".
Why is C diff so contagious?
Because it is highly contagious, C. diff presents a problem in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria that causes infection resulting in severe, watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.cause: * Clostridium difficile. * or C diff.
What is MRSA in nursing homes?
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacteria resistant to or not affected by the types of antibiotics normally used to treat staph infections. While most MRSA infections affect the skin, persons with weakened immune systems such as those in nursing homes can acquire MRSA in the intestinal tract.
How does norovirus spread?
Norovirus spreads through contact with infected persons or contaminated food. Noroviruses, infectious viral conditions, cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach and intestines, often resulting in diarrhea and vomiting.
How do you get Shigella?
As with salmonella, people acquire shigella through contact with contaminated food. Infected persons can easily transmit the infection to others. Symptoms of infection with shigella include bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. The shigella bacteria can lead to diarrheal infection.
What are the long term effects of giardiasis?
Learn More. Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria that causes infection resulting in severe, watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. cause: Clostridium difficile. or C. diff. is a bacteria that causes infection resulting in severe. water y diarrhea.
Who is at risk for severe diarrhea?
The elderly, young children, and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable and are at an increased risk of complications related to severe diarrhea including dehydration, the need for hospitalization and fluid management, and rarely even death. 2 . DR KARI LOUNATMAA / Getty Images.
What causes diarrhea in the body?
Viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections are the most common cause of diarrhea, and they are typically spread through the fecal-oral route. 3 This occurs when an individual comes into contact with a contaminated surface (doorkob, button, counter top, or handshake) or by ingesting contaminated food or beverages.
What is the most common cause of diarrhea in children?
Norovirus, also known as the "cruise ship virus," is the most common cause of food-borne gastroenteritis in the U.S. Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in American children and a leading cause of death of children in the developing world. Adenoviruses include a family of more than 50 subtypes.
Why is diarrhea a major contributor to disease?
than viral diarrhea, bacterial diarrhea disorders more often lead to dysenteric disease due to the development of ulcers and inflammation in the intestines. Among the most common causes: 3
What type of virus causes diarrhea?
Types 40 and 41 are primarily responsible for causing diarrhea in humans. (Other adenoviral subtypes include cold viruses). Astroviruses are common causes of diarrhea in the elderly, children, and people with compromised immune systems.
What is the second leading cause of death in children in the developing world?
Diagnosis and Treatment. Prevention. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children in the developing world and a major contributor to work absenteeism and loss of productivity in the American workforce. 1 . The elderly, young children, and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable and are at an increased risk ...
What is gastroenteritis bacterial?
The term gastroenteritis typically refers to bacterial of viral infections the affect both the stomach and small/large intestines. These patients present with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, as well as diarrhea.
How to care for a person with diarrhea?
Lactose intolerance and celiac disease are examples. How to Care for Diarrhea at Home. If your loved one has diarrhea, give them plenty of fluids to drink. If they can keep liquids down, give them sports drinks, juice, or soda without caffeine, even if they don’t feel thirsty.
What foods can you give to a person with diarrhea?
Offer them low-fiber, easy-to-digest foods like saltine crackers, toast, eggs, chicken, yogurt, or rice. Diarrhea is how the body gets rid of a bacterial or viral infection. If you give medicine to stop it, the infection will stay in the body longer and cause more pain.
What is the term for a person who has three or more unformed or watery stools in a 24-
Articles On Digestive Problems With Dementia and Alzheimer's. Diarrhea is when a person has three or more unformed or watery stools in a 24-hour period. It often affects older people and those with Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the symptoms of a syringe?
Call their doctor if your loved one has: 1 More than six unformed or watery stools in a 24-hour period 2 Greasy, pale, foul-smelling stools 3 Constipation followed by diarrhea 4 Diarrhea that lasts longer than a week 5 Slow weight loss even though they’re eating 6 Nausea or belly pain for more than 2 days 7 A low-grade fever (99-101 F) that lasts for more than 2 days
Why is my stomach so raw?
Inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD): This happens when the body attacks the intestines and makes them raw and irritated.
What to do if you have fever above 101?
Call 911 or take your loved one to the emergency room or doctor’s office right away if they have any of these: Fever above 101 F. Blood in the stool. Check their anus and buttocks for any cuts or irritation first. But get to a doctor if there’s a lot of blood, or the stools are black and tarry or cranberry-colored.
How many unformed stools in 24 hours?
Call their doctor if your loved one has: More than six unformed or watery stools in a 24-hour period.
How long does diarrhea last?
Diarrhea that lasts less than 2 weeks is termed acute diarrhea. Persistent diarrhea lasts between 2 and 4 weeks. Chronic diarrhea lasts longer than 4 weeks.
Why does diarrhea cause bloody diarrhea?
Chronic bloody diarrhea may be due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Other less common causes include ischemia of the gut, infections, radiation therapy and colon cancer or polyps. Infections leading to chronic diarrhea are uncommon, with the exception of parasites.
How long does diarrhea last without antibiotics?
See a doctor if you feel ill, have bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain or diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours.
What are the symptoms of organic disease?
Clues for organic disease are weight loss, diarrhea that wakes you up at night, or blood in the stools.
Why does alcohol damage the pancreas?
Alcohol damage to the pancreas is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis in the United States. Other causes of chronic pancreatitis include cystic fibrosis, hereditary pancreatitis, trauma to the pancreas and pancreatic cancer.
Why does my stomach feel watery?
Symptoms of abdominal bloating and excessive gas after consuming dairy products suggests lactose intolerance. This condition is more common in African-Americans and Asian-Americans.
Why is hand washing important for diarrhea?
Exposure to infectious agents is the major risk factor for acute diarrhea. Bacteria and viruses are often transmitted by the fecal-oral route, so hand washing and hygiene are important to prevent infection. Soap and water are better because alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not kill viruses.
Why do elderly people get diarrhea in nursing homes?
Older adults do not produce enough gastric acid and are at a greater risk of developing infectious gastroenteritis. Usually, the clinical course of these infections is self-limited and no treatment is recommended. Gastroenteritis can be associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality, mainly because these are people who have a greater risk of dehydration.
What are the risk factors for infections in the elderly?
Risk factors for infections in the elderly include having indwelling devices, a recent hospital admission, impairments in function and multiple other illnesses. As an example, residents with feeding tubes are at risk for aspiration pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and other mechanical complications.
What is the incidence of norovirus in nursing homes?
Clostridium difficile infections are an emerging cause of infectious diarrhea among nursing home residents. The incidence of colonization in nursing homes varies from 4 to 20 percent.
What is the leading cause of death in nursing homes?
Pneumonia. Pneumonia and related lower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of death among nursing home residents. This is also a big reason behind transfers to the hospital. The incidence of nursing home pneumonia is about 0.3-2.3 episodes per 1,000 resident care days.
What is the most common infection in nursing homes?
The UTI is perhaps the most common infection in the nursing home and is the most over-diagnosed infection among nursing home residents. The presence of an indwelling catheter increases the risk of bladder infections and bacterial sepsis from urinary tract organisms.
What are the risks of a nursing home?
Risk factors include immobility, impaired mental capacity, incontinence, impaired nutrition and a greater degree of other illnesses.
How many cases of norovirus are there in the US?
It has been estimated that about 21 million cases of norovirus occur each year in the US alone. Norovirus is a very contagious virus and can be transmitted from person to person, and through food and water as well. Nursing homes are frequent sites for outbreaks of these kinds of viruses.
What causes diarrhea in seniors?
Several other bowel disorders that affect adults of all ages can cause diarrhea in seniors. Examples include: Lactose intolerance. Crohn disease. Ulcerative colitis. Celiac disease. Gastric bypass surgery. Colon cancer. Radiation enteritis after radiation therapy for abdominal or pelvic cancer.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
New, severe or worsening abdominal pain. Confusion or another mental change. Fever or chills. Don't ignore the development of diarrhea even if it is not interfering with your daily life because some causes might pose a serious threat to your health.
What are the symptoms of a bowel obstruction?
Other possible symptoms with a bowel obstruction include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloating. Large bowel obstruction caused by a fecal impaction -- hardened stool lodged in the colon -- also frequently leads to watery diarrhea as bowel fluid leaks around the impaction.
Why do seniors have a small bowel obstruction?
Obstruction of the small or large bowel tends to disproportionately affect seniors largely due to age-related risk factors, including prior abdominal or pelvic surgery and digestive system tumors. Diarrhea is particularly prominent with a small bowel obstruction.
How to know if you have diarrhea?
Call your doctor right away if you're a senior and experience 3 or more watery stools in a 24-hour period. Seek urgent medical care if you have diarrhea and experience any accompanying warning signs or symptoms, including: Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting. Bloody stool or passing blood from your rectum.
What is the term for inflammation of the colon?
Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis describes inflammation of outpouchings of the colon called diverticula, which are present in 50 percent of adults 60 or older and 70 percent of those 80 or older, according to an August 2016 "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" review article.
What is the term for a colon injury caused by decreased or interupted blood supply?
Ischemic Colitis. Ischemic colitis refers to colon injury caused by decreased or interupted blood supply. This condition most frequently occurs in people older than 65 and is characterized by sudden abdominal pain followed by bloody diarrhea possibly accompanied by nausea, vomiting and bloating.
Causes
- Diarrhea can affect any person from any age. It is one of the common ailments that we all suffer with from infancy until the senior years. Many of the causes of diarrhea across all ages are usually similar. However, there may be certain reasons why diarrhea is more likely to occur in a specific age group. Some of these age-specific causes of diarrhea should be considered for the …
Epidemiology
- Chronic diarrhea is a common ailment that some seniors suffer with and the elderly may also be more prone to acute diarrhea than younger adults. However, some elderly people are more prone to the other extreme of bowel habit constipation. When diarrhea does arise, it has to be established whether it is acute or chronic. The causes of both acute and chronic diarrhea can dif…
Definition
- Acute diarrhea refers to diarrhea that arises suddenly, is intense but for a short period of time and resolves thereafter. It may require medical treatment or resolve on its own without ay treatment. Chronic diarrhea persists for long periods of time. Usually this is defined as diarrhea that persist for more than 4 weeks. However, recurrent diarrhea (diarrhea that comes and goes) may also b…
Diagnosis
- It is important to understand what diarrhea is and how it can occur. Diarrhea is a symptom of various conditions. It is defined as having three or more bowel movements within a 24 hour period where the stool is typically watery.
Symptoms
- Sometimes certain microorganisms may grow uncontrollably in the bowels like with the bacterium Clostridium difficile. This is more likely to occur after antibiotic use or some other distrbance to the normal good bowel bacteria. The elderly may be more prone to infections due to a weakened immune system.
Side effects
- A change in diet can cause gastrointestinal upset and may lead to acute diarrhea. This is usually short lived. However, with the elderly there may also be disturbances in normal digestion of food (maldigestion) and absorption of nutrients (malabsorption).
Effects
- As a result the undigested food and unabsorbed nutrients affects water reabsorption and leads to diarrhea. Lactose intolerance is one such example where the bodys ability to digest milk sugars is impaired. Gallbladder problems may also affect food digestion and absorption, especialy of fats.
Signs and symptoms
- Several bowel diseases may present with diarrhea. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are some examples. In the elderly, conditions such as diverticulitis are more likely to occur with advancing age. This is inflammation of the abnormal pouches that form in the colon.
Health
- One of the main concerns among the elderly is colorectal cancer. This is one of the more common cancers globally and can cause changes in bowel habit like diarrhea. Surgery to the small or large intestines may also cause diarrhea, particularly if digestion and absorption are significantly affected.
Clinical significance
- Some diseases that may cause diarrhea may not directly affect the bowel. Instead the activity of the bowel muscles or the nerves that control bowel movements are affected. This may be seen in conditions like diabetes where the nerves that control bowel muscles are damaged. Diseases of other organs like the pancreas (pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer) may also lead to diarrhea if th…
Risks
- The main complication of diarrhea is dehydration and this can be life threatening. There is a greater risk of dehydration in elderly diarrhea if seniors do not have proper care, cannot rehydrate properly or use drugs that may worsen the dehydration, like certain blood pressure medication.
Prevention
- The other danger with diarrhea is malnutrition. It is more likely to occur in seniors who are unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves, with reduced appetite that is common in older peopler and seniors who tend to have poor dietary habits, like living on a tea and toast diet.
Treatment
- It is important to seek medical attention, especially when seniors have other pre-existing diseases, when diarrhea is severe and oral rehydration is not possible. Diarrhea is a symptom and the most effective way to treat it is to treat the underlying cause. This may required various different medication depending on the causative condition. Bed rest, plenty of fluid intake and frequent s…
Contraindications
- Antidiarrheal drugs like loperamide should not be used to treat diarrhea. It can worsen certain causes of diarrhea like infections. These drugs should only be used if prescribed by a doctor.
Infections
Foods
- Eating contaminated food can cause diarrhea but that is not the only cause, a change in diet can cause a disturbance in the normal function of the digestive system (gastrointestinal disturbance) and thus lead to diarrhea. However, this situation does not last long. Diarrhea in seniors has a double threat of maldigestion (poor digestion) and malabsorption (poor absorption of nutrients)…
Drugs
- Use of certain medications may lead to diarrhea as a side-effect. As discussed above, antibiotics may cause an imbalance in the bowel bacteria and lead to destruction of friendly bacteria which can cause diarrhea. But it is not antibiotics only; other drugs such as anti-depressants, cancer medicines and antacids may cause an irritation in the bowel and cause poor absorption …
Bowel Diseases
- Diseases that affect the bowels such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), diverticulitis (inflammation of the pouches found along the digestive tract) have diarrhea as a common symptom. Diverticulitis is more likely to present with diarrhea in elderly people. Recent surgeries in the digestive region can also lead to diarrhea especially if digestion …
Other Diseases
- There are other factors that can contribute to diarrhea in the seniors which are not directly related to the bowels. Stress can cause diarrhea which may be acute during the first 24 hours of the stressful period. For the elderly, factors such as change of routine, environment or traveling may also cause tension and thus lead to diarrhea. In such cases, no medication is required because t…
Dangers of Elderly Diarrhea
- The major health risk presented by diarrhea is dehydration which can lead to serious health complications. In elderly people, diarrhea can be more severe if the patient is not properly taken care of. A person having bouts of diarrhea needs to rehydrate as often as possible. Another health risk posed by diarrhea is malnutrition. Most senior people rarely eat healthy meals to provide the…