Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose watery stools more than 3 times a day.

Classification of diarrhea:
1.According to duration diarrhea have two types :
(i)Acute diarrhea (<2weeks)
(ii)Chronic diarrhea (>2weeks)

2. Clinical classification :
(i)Acute watery diarrhea (lasting for hours or days)
(ii)Invasive diarrhea (characterized by visible blood in the stools)
(iii)Persistent diarrhea (<2weeks or longer)

3.According to causative agents:
(i)Infective
(ii)Non-infective

Causes of diarrhea :
There are many kinds of causes of diarrhea. If any microorganism (e.g.Viruses,Bacteria, Protozoa,Helminth etc.) enter into the human body,Diarrhea will occur.There are many kind of viruses bacteria,protozoa, helminth and other intestinal factors that causes diarrhea.

Viruses:
i.Rotaviruses
ii.Astroviruses
iii.Adenoviruses
iv.Calciviruses
v.Enteriviruses

Bacteria:
i.Enterotoxigenic E.coli
ii.Vibrio cholera
iii.Campylobacter jejuni
iv.Vibrio parahaemolyticus
v.Shigellah
vi.Salmonella
vii.Enteropathogenic E.coli

Protozoal:
i.Entamoeba histolytica
ii.Giardia intestinalis

Helminthic:
i.Trichuriasis
ii.Ascariasis

Other intestinal factors 
Lactose intolerance
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Amyloidosis etc.

Prevention of diarrhea :
We can prevent this disease by following ways: 
i.Safe water supply and appropriate disposal of excreta
ii.Control of communicable disease lie measles associated with diarrhea
iii.Adequate supply of basic sanitation during diarrhea epidemics
iv.Maternal and child nutrition
-Promotion of breast feeding
-Appropriate weaning practice
-Supplementary feeding
v.Immunization against measles
vi.Provision of chemoprophylactic drugs such as tetracycline in cholera
vii.Provision of ORS, educate the people to make hand made ORS;