Be good to your stomach

Self-medication is common for gastrointestinal ailments like heartburn, heaviness of the stomach, indigestion, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. People think nothing of popping antacids or antibiotics for these ailments. Some even try stronger anti-diarrhoeal drugs for these symptoms without consulting a doctor. In emergency conditions, occasional use of antacids is okay, but regular use without consulting a medical practitioner is not good. Diarrhoea may be a result of a viral or bacterial infection, or of intestinal diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, parasitic infestation , food intolerance and reaction to different medicines. Different treatment strategies are required for different causes of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea caused by viral infection does not need medicine but only fluids as it resolves in a few days. However, diarrhoea caused by bacterial infections may require antibiotics. To treat diarrhoea by self-medication , a person must be able to differentiate various causes of diarrhoea on the basis of symptoms, and this is usually not possible for someone without a medical background. Let the infection out: Some drugs reduce diarrhoeal frequency by reducing the speed and frequency of gut contraction, but if the diarrhoea is caused by an infection, then it may aggravate and also lead to complications as the infectious agent remains inside the intestines as the stools are suppressed by medication . Hence, the infection keeps multiplying inside the gut and may even penetrate the gut wall to reach other areas, leading to serious infections . Generally, people do an antibiotic course for any type of diarrhea, but these should be taken only if the diarrhoea is caused by bacterial infections . Dosage and duration is important, so let the doctor decide this according to symptoms . Self-medication may even lead to resistance . Beware of antacids: Antacids are also used carelessly for treatment of heartburn, heaviness and indigestion. Some of these medicines neutralise the acid produced in the gut, while others decrease acid production. These medicines may temporarily control the primary disease responsible for the symptoms, but sometimes, the primary disease might be serious - such as oesophageal cancer. Antacids may decrease the abdominal pain, but won't cure it completely. So a thorough investigation of these should be done by a doctor to know the exact cause of the diarrhea so that the right treatment is give.