Causes in the child
Among many other causes, consumption of increased amounts of alcohol is in many cases responsible for the development of diarrhoea. Usually, liquid stool caused by alcohol is involved, but not classic diarrhoea, as this is only mentioned after more than three events. The change in stool consistency caused by alcohol is mainly related to an inhibition of sodium and water absorption in the intestine.
As more sodium remains in the intestine for this reason, this sodium “pulls” additional water into the intestine. Together with the inhibition of water absorption, this can lead to sometimes severe diarrhea. Usually, however, the diarrhea caused by alcohol consumption improves relatively quickly and the stool consistency returns to normal after a few hours. In case of persistent diarrhea after consumption of considerable amounts of alcohol, other alcohol-induced diseases should be considered and a doctor should be consulted for clarification.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays a significant role in the individual composition of the stool. For example, an unbalanced diet and the consumption of certain foods can lead to an increased incidence of diarrhea. This is particularly the case if there are so-called food intolerances or food allergies.
When taking food and an existing intolerance, the body produces an increased amount of certain antibodies. Among other things, these antibodies cause an increased secretion of water into the intestines, which results in liquid stool and diarrhoea. However, the diet can also be responsible for the development of diarrhoea even if there are no intolerances.
Alcohol in particular is known to promote the development of diarrhoea. Also a malnutrition can contribute to a liquid stool consistency. Likewise, a sudden change in diet should be considered as a cause of diarrhoea.
Stress
Stress can be blamed in many cases as the cause for the occurrence of diarrhea. Whether stress leads to digestive disorders or other symptoms are the main cause varies from individual to individual. For example, stress leads to diarrhea in some people, while others complain of constipation when they are under stress.
The consequences of stress in the body are manifold. Some of these consequences can have an influence on the intestines and digestion and are suspected to be responsible for the development of the symptoms. Acute stress initially leads to reduced intestinal activity and thus to impaired digestion.
In a stressful situation, the body often tries to transport the food left in the intestine out as quickly as possible, which is often accompanied by diarrhoea or vomiting. The amount of lactic acid bacteria in the intestine, which play an important role in digestion, also decreases. Particularly in the case of diarrhea, which is accompanied by no other typical signs of illness and occurs in a stressful situation, certain stress-reducing therapies can often lead to an improvement in digestion. In these cases, a conscious diet can also help to improve the diarrhoea.
