how loose motion occurs - #20767

Loose motion, or diarrhea, can occur due to a variety of reasons, encompassing infections, dietary choices, stress, or even chronic conditions. Given your situation, the onset after consuming street food suggests it might be infectious. Diarrhea often springs from viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections—common ones include norovirus, E. coli, and giardia, which can easily be picked up from contaminated food or water. The body’s response to these invaders is to rid itself of the pathogens as quickly as possible, hence the frequent bowel movements. Apart from infections, food intolerance or allergies can also lead to loose motions, as can changes in diet or consuming foods that your body isn’t used to. It’s possible your recent consumption of unusual foods during your trip has triggered this. Stress, while often blamed, usually does not cause diarrhea on its own but can exacerbate symptoms if there’s another underlying cause. Your concern about dehydration is valid—frequent diarrhea can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss. That’s why it’s crucial to stay hydrated, not just with water, but with solutions that contain electrolytes, like oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks, but avoid sugary drinks or those with caffeine as they can worsen dehydration. Since over-the-counter remedies haven’t helped, it may indicate that there’s a persistent infection, possibly bacterial, that might need prescription antibiotics. In any case, it’s important to watch for red-flag symptoms like fever, blood in the stools, persistent vomiting, or signs of severe dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, or dizziness. These symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention. If things don’t improve shortly, or symptoms worsen, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable for potential lab tests like stool cultures, which can guide specific treatment. In terms of prevention, ensure you’re eating from clean and reliable sources, and consider travel vaccines or prophylactic medications if you frequently visit areas with high infectious risk. While waiting to see a doctor, focus on a bland diet like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet), which might help reduce symptoms and give your digestive system a bit of a rest. Cut out dairy, fatty, or spicy foods meanwhile, as they could exacerbate diarrhea. Patient safety in potential severe cases remains a priority, such that seeking a doctor’s evaluation sooner rather than later is always wise if self-management isn’t leading to improvements.