Diarrhoea

What is Diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea ranks higher in being one of the most prevalent health issues. Diarrhoea ranges from a mild condition to a life-endangering one. Around the world, an estimated 2 billion diarrhoea cases occur annually. In that, over 1.9 million infants are well under five years of age. 

Abnormal watery or loose stools characterize diarrhoea in a patient's body. Some patients pass stools frequently but in a normal consistency. However, this is not considered under diarrhoea. In the same way, breastfed infants pass loose stools often. However, even this is normal. It is not considered under diarrhoea either. To sum it all up and to give you a fair idea, Diarrhea is passing of loose, watery stools. You can confirm Diarrhea if you pass loose stools three or more times a day. A type of diarrhoea is acute diarrhoea. This condition lasts for a short time. This is the most common type of diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea Diagnosis:

During the diagnosis of Diarrhoea, your medical practitioner will inquire about the symptoms, past medical history, current medications if any, and other prevailing medical conditions.

Health practitioner or doctor might also ask:

• when the issue started
• frequency of the stools
• presence of blood in the stool
• whether a patient is vomiting or not
• whether the passing stools are watery and pasty

The doctor will also check for any signs of dehydration.

Overbearing dehydration can be life-endangering if treatment is not given urgently.

Several cases of Diarrhoea settle without treatment, and a doctor will often be able to diagnose the problem without tests.

Diarrhoea Treatment and Cost in India

Mild cases of acute diarrhoea usually settle without any treatment. On the other hand, chronic or persistently severe diarrhoea shall be diagnosed, and the causes will be treated along with the symptoms.

In the case of dehydration, quick and efficient rehydration is vital. The fluids can be substituted by consuming more liquids or can be taken intravenously in extreme cases of dehydration. Please note that children and old-aged people are more exposed to dehydration.

(ORS) Oral rehydration solution or salts: ORS means water that comprises of salt and glucose. The small intestine absorbs this solution to replace the lost water and electrolytes in the stools. In India, ORS costs are low so that they can be easily accessible for all. According to the World Health Organization, Oral rehydration solution can efficiently treat over 90% of non-severe diarrhoea cases around the world. The packet of ORS costs around 20 Rs. and the severe diarrhoea costs can go over Rs. 50,000/- in case of hospitalization.

Health Insurance in India

As the cost of private hospitalization has soared up tremendously, buying a suitable health insurance policy for covering yourself and your family has become crucial. The expense of the overall medical care has risen, especially in the private sector.

In times of illness and disease, hospitalization can dig a hole in your pockets and shift your finances for worse. When an earning person of the home falls sick, the condition becomes all the more worse. Well, all of this can be quickly taken care of by purchasing a health insurance policy by paying a small amount of annual premium. The meagre valuation of a policy will further aid in saving money of a buyer.

A decent health insurance policy shall cover expenditures made towards consultation fees of the doctor, expenses towards expensive medical tests, ambulance charges, pre and post hospitalization recovery costs to an extent. You can also avail cashless treatment at a wide range of hospitals across India.

Other Diseases

Improper work-life balance, fast-paced life, and unorganized diet - Today's life in a nutshell. The restless and unsettled lives in India has made India a host to various diseases. The rate at which the conditions are spreading in India is disturbing.

Some of those diseases are:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Mental stress
• Tumour
• Gastro-intestinal disorders
• Digestive issues
• Respiratory problems