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How to stop chronic diarrhea in elderly adults

Lisa Height • Sep 18, 2020
Diarrhea can be quite irksome, especially for older adults. When it comes to chronic diarrhea, you can also experience other debilitating symptoms, such as fever and nausea. However, there are things you can keep in mind to prevent and treat it. In this post, we will take a look at the symptoms and causes of frequent diarrhea in the elderly and what to do for diarrhea in the elderly.

Symptoms of Diarrhea in the Elderly
The symptoms of chronic diarrhea in the elderly include:

Abdominal cramps
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Blood and mucus in the stool
Loose, watery stools
Fever
Nausea
Urgent need to have a bowel movement
One serious symptom of prolonged diarrhea in the elderly is dehydration, which can be dangerous if the individual does not receive medical attention or rehydrates. These side effects include:

Dark urine
Dizziness/shakiness
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Fever

Causes of Diarrhea in the Elderly
The causes of frequent diarrhea in the elderly include:

Appendicitis
Food poisoning/traveler’s diarrhea
Clostridium difficile bacteria (usually caused by antibiotics or stomach-suppressing medications)
Bowel disorders
Bowel Obstruction/fecal impaction (hardened stool lodged in the colon; develops in people with severe constipation)
Celiac disease (when eating gluten damages your small intestine)
Colon cancer (cancer in the large intestine)
Crohn disease (inflammation of digestive tract)
Diverticulitis (inflammation of outpouchings of the colon)
Gastric bypass surgery (eating more than you should after this surgery)
Ischemic colitis (causes colon injury from decreased or interrupted blood supply)
Lactose intolerance (a digestive disorder causing an inability to digest lactose)
Radiation enteritis (irritation of the intestines after radiation therapy for cancer)
Ulcerative colitis (inflammation/ulcers in the digestive tract)
Carcinoid tumors
Cirrhosis of the liver
Diabetes
Excessive alcohol consumption
Pancreatitis
Pancreatic cancer
Pelvic abscess
Now that we know more about the symptoms and causes, let’s take a closer look at how to stop chronic diarrhea in the elderly.

Treatment for Chronic Diarrhea in Elderly
You can prevent diarrhea by practicing the following:

Wash hands frequently
Manage related conditions, such as IBD
Take anti-diarrheal medications, or switch out medications that may cause your diarrhea
Stay hydrated (water; non-caffeinated teas; low sodium broths)
Make changes to your diet (see the next section for more information)
Try natural remedies (i.e. fiber supplements)
When traveling to developing countries, take the following precautions:
Drink 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
Best Foods for Diarrhea in the Elderly
Practicing portion control and limiting alcohol or caffeine can have wonderful benefits for preventing diarrhea. However, you still need food and beverages to keep healthy and it may be difficult to choose the proper diet. Here are some foods to prevent diarrhea after eating in the elderly:

BRAT foods can alleviate diarrheal symptoms

Bananas
Rice (white)
Applesauce
Toast
Other bland foods you can eat include:

Boiled potatoes
Hot cereals (i.e. oatmeal, cream of wheat)
Unseasoned crackers
Probiotics (i.e. yogurt, miso, or sauerkraut)
Water (especially those with electrolytes and minerals to restore the ones you lost)
By all means, you should AVOID these foods:

Fried foods
High-fiber foods
Spicy foods
Sugary foods and artificial sweeteners
Caffeinated beverages and carbonated drinks

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