People die in all sorts of ways. In this article, we’ll focus on one of the top ten causes of death. That’s because the majority of deaths in the world (>50%) are attributed to the top ten causes. By understanding the top ten causes of death and how to avoid them, you can stack the odds in your favor for living a longer than average life.
Heads up: This article was commissioned as a part of the Adam Rush Project. It was an experiment I did a few years ago to see if having books written by ghostwriters would be commercially viable. It wasn't. That said, the following article was written by someone else and not yet edited to my standards. I hope to find time to rewrite it myself in the future, but for now, read with caution.
Disclaimer: I wish I could tell you that I’m a doctor, but I can’t. I’m just an inquisitive author with a background in science and a love for practical research. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. If you want medical advice, ask a real doctor.
What Are Diarrheal Diseases?
The medical definition of diarrhea is the passage of three or more liquid stools in a day. It should not be confused with the frequent passing of formed stool or the pasty liquid stool that breastfed babies pass. In most cases, diarrhea is a symptom of an intestinal tract infection caused by a parasitic, bacterial, or viral infection. The infection usually spreads through contaminated food or water. It can also spread from one individual to another as a result of poor hygiene.
There are three main categories of diarrhea:
- Persistent diarrhea which lasts for more than two weeks
- Acute bloody diarrhea which is also called dysentery
- Severe watery diarrhea which can last for a few hours or days and can include cholera
Diarrheal disease is the leading cause of child mortality in the world. Though it is easily preventable, it kills more than half a million children a year. The most severe threat from diarrhea is dehydration. During a diarrheal episode, you lose water and electrolytes through stool, breathing, vomit, sweat, and urine. Dehydration occurs if the lost water is not replaced. Common causes of diarrheal disease include viral, parasitic, and bacterial infections, malnutrition, contaminated water or food, and seafood from polluted waters.
How to Avoid Dying from a Diarrheal Infection
Prevention of diarrhea is simple and revolves around hygiene. You can prevent diarrhea in the following ways:
Hand washing
Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent diarrhea. It reduces the spread of the bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Wash your hands after changing diapers, after using the toilet, and before eating.
Hygienic food preparation
Follow these simple rules when preparing food to avoid the occurrence of diarrhea
- Always store any perishable food in the refrigerator.
- Keep stored foods inside clean containers
- Cook meats thoroughly
- Avoid eating raw shellfish, fish, and meats unless you are confident that they are fresh and from a reliable source
- Avoid placing food on unsanitized surfaces
- Regularly disinfect stovetops, chopping boards, and table tops
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
Drink clean water
Only use clean water for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. When in doubt about the water, boil it first before using it.
Treatment of diarrheal infections
Since most diarrheal infections resolve themselves within a few days, the best form of treatment is taking care of the discomfort.
- Avoid dairy products, sugary foods, and caffeine
- Take paracetamol
- Place a hot water bottle on your stomach to relieve the tension and discomfort
- If you develop a rash from diarrhea, apply castor oil and zinc ointment
- Avoid anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs like diclofenac, aspirin, and ibuprofen because they can aggravate the diarrhea
- Avoid anti-diarrheal medications such as Imodium because they will hinder your body from purging the virus or bacteria causing the infection
- To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of liquids by taking small and frequent sips. Ideal fluids to rehydrate include soups, broths, and non-caffeinated sports drinks.
- Another effective treatment is consuming oral rehydration solutions (ORS). You can find them at your local pharmacy. Alternatively, you can make your own by mixing clean water, salt, and sugar.
Ask about the rotavirus vaccine
The rotavirus vaccine is routinely given to infants to reduce the mortality rate from diarrheal infections in children. If you have young children, ask your doctor about this vaccine.
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