Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. 1 Informa-

tion Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3560. (800) 860-8747.

[email protected].<http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

health/diabetes/ndic.htm.>

OTHER

Centers for Disease Control.<http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/

ddt/ddthome.htm.>

‘‘Insulin-Dependent Diabetes.’’ National Institute of

Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

National Institutes of Health, NIH Publication

No.94-2098.

‘‘Noninsulin-Dependent Diabetes.’’ National Institute of

Diabetesand Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National

Institutes of Health, NIH Publication No.92-241.

Altha Roberts Edgren

Teresa G. Odle

DiarrheaseeTraveler’s diarrhea

Diarrhea diet

Definition

A diarrhea diet is used to help alleviate diarrhea, a

condition characterized by unusually frequent bowel

movements and excessive evacuations of watery

stools.

Origins

Diarrhea is a symptom that is not only uncom-

fortable, but also dangerous to health, as it is usually

indicative of an underlying infection. Some causes of

diarrhea include:

Taking antibiotics. Some antibiotics have diarrhea as

a side effect.

Celiac disease. Disease that damages the small intes-

tine in people who cannot tolerate gluten, a protein

found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Crohn’s disease. Inflammatory disease that usually

occurs in the last section of the small intestine

(ileum), causing swelling in the intestines. It can

also occur in the large intestine.

Diverticulitis. Inflammation of the small pouches

(diverticula) that can form in the weakened muscular

wall of the large intestine.

Dysentery. Inflammation of the intestine with severe

diarrhea and intestinal bleeding, resulting from

drinking water containing a parasite calledEnta-

moeba histolytica.

Food poisoning. Eating foods that are spoiled or

tainted because they either contain harmful micro-

organisms, or toxic substances that make them unfit

for consumption.

Gardiasis. Infection of the intestine by the parasite

Giardia intestinalis. The parasite is one of the most

common causes of waterborne disease in the United

States and can be found in both drinking and recrea-

tional water.

Infectious diarrhea. Diarrhea resulting from bacte-

rial or viral infections. Bacterial diarrhea is most

commonly caused byCampylobacter jejuni,Salmo-

nella,Shigella,Escherichia coliO157:H7. Rotavirus

is the commonest cause of viral diarrhea in the

United States. Other viruses causing diarrhea include

Norwalk virus, and cytomegalovirus.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS, also called

spastic colon, or irritable colon, is a condition in

which the colon muscle contracts more readily than

it should.

Lactose intolerance. The inability to digest signifi-

cant amounts of lactose, the major sugar found in

milk, due to a shortage of lactase, the enzyme pro-

duced by the cells lining the small intestine. Lactase

breaks down milk sugar into two simpler forms of

sugar that are then absorbed into the bloodstream. If

not present, lactose is not broken down.

Malabsorption. Poor absorption of nutrients by the

small intestine.

Traveler’s diarrhea. Diarrhea resulting from eating

or drinking food or water contaminated by infected

human bowel waste. Travelers to developing

Causes of diarrhea

Causes Examples

Viral infections

Bacterial infections

Parasites

Helminths (intestinal worms)

Allergic

Autoimmune

Malabsorptive

Nutritional

Functional

Rotavirus, Norwalk virus

E. coli, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter,

Shigella

Giardia, Entamoeba

Strongyloides

Lactose intolerance, celiac sprue,

medication side effects

Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease

Pancreatic deficiency, biliary disease

Zinc deficiency, vitamin A deficiency,

enteral feedings consisting of liquid

nutritional formulas delivered straight

to the bowels

Irritable bowel syndrome, short bowel

syndrome, cancer

(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

Diarrhea diet