Everyone experiences diarrhea at some point in their lives. The health condition is characterized by loose and watery bowel movements requiring frequent restroom trips. But this common problem tends to improve within a few days. However, it may indicate an underlying health issue if your symptoms persist for weeks or longer than expected. These issues include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), infection, celiac disease, or even inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Recognizing that long-lasting or severe diarrhea can lead to malnutrition and severe dehydration is critical. Without medical intervention, the outcome of dehydration can be life-threatening. Similarly, if people experience burning diarrhea for more than two or three days, they should consult with a doctor immediately. They will then ask, “why does diarrhea burn?”
What is Diarrhea?
No matter what you call it – going to the toilet, pooping, or having a bowel movement – waste being released from your body is a natural occurrence. But when this process changes and stools become looser or waterier, medical professionals term it as ‘diarrhea.’ It’s quite widespread and often resolves on its own without any medical help.
Diarrhea can be triggered for many reasons but gets resolved within three days. Despite this common timeline, you may experience sudden urges to run to the restroom more frequently than usual when enduring diarrhea. In addition, you may feel bloated with abdominal cramps and nausea as additional symptoms.
Burning Diarrhea
Burning diarrhea is another story. Burning diarrhea is an immensely uncomfortable experience, but it’s rarely a sign of something more serious. In most cases, this digestive disturbance will settle in just a few hours or days with no treatment needed. However, if you are looking for relief from symptoms faster, then some simple home remedies may be helpful to ease stomach pain and discomfort.
When the intestines don’t absorb enough liquid from waste, diarrhea can occur. The condition causes loose and watery stools to pass more frequently than usual – three or more times daily in some cases. Additionally, severe or persistent diarrhea may cause a burning sensation around the rectum and anus, which can be painful for those affected.
Causes Of Burning Diarrhea
Experiencing burning diarrhea can cause considerable discomfort, so it’s best to visit your doctor for a diagnosis. Nonetheless, simple home remedies can address several of the most common causes. No matter what you choose, though – whether it’s seeking medical attention or attempting self-care methods – staying informed on potential triggers is critical in ensuring your digestive system remains healthy and balanced.
Here are some causes of burning diarrhea:
Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS is an increasingly common affliction in the Western world, occurring in 15 percent of the population. It affects more women than men Symptoms can emerge at any age but most commonly appear before 40 years old, with many patients recalling their first episode during childhood or young adulthood.
There appears to be a familial component for IBS too. Many people report having family members who have experienced similar symptoms. Post-Infectious IBS is less frequent yet still occurs after a severe intestinal infection occurs.
Hemorrhoids
It’s not surprising for people to suffer from hemorrhoids. Swollen veins around the anus or lower rectum can become quite uncomfortable. When episodes of diarrhea occur, it only magnifies the situation — irritation and swelling increase along with burning sensations.
Constipation and diarrhea can be intertwined. As time goes by, chronic constipation and other conditions could lead to hemorrhoids – swollen veins around the anus or rectum – which might give rise to burning sensations and pain when having bowel movements.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a severe and potentially life-threatening disease that can result in burning diarrhea, pain, discomfort in the rectum, and other symptoms like rectal bleeding. Unfortunately, these signs are usually mistaken for benign conditions such as hemorrhoids or IBD. It’s essential to be aware of the potential risks associated with colorectal cancer to ensure early diagnosis and medical treatment if needed.
Spicy Foods
Some spices contain compounds that trigger a burning sensation when they come in contact with bodily tissues. Capsaicin is the primary active component of most spicy foods. You can also find the chemical in some over-the-counter numbing products. This chemical can irritate digestive tissue and cause diarrhea. It accelerates digestion so quickly that capsaicin may leave your system without breaking down entirely, causing further irritation as stools pass through.
Stomach Acids and Digestive Enzymes
As food enters the stomach, it is quickly attached to acids and digestive enzymes that start breaking it down. Bile is added when this partially digested mass passes through the small intestine to help continue digestion. So by then, all initial acidic substances should no longer be present. Yet when diarrhea strikes, it speeds up the entire process of digestion. You can still find these potentially harmful elements in stool: stomach acidity levels may remain high, along with traces of digestive enzymes and bile, which could cause discomfort or even a burning sensation around your rectum after a bowel movement occurs.
Physical Trauma
There are instances when foods don’t completely disintegrate once they leave the body, and those with large seeds, shells, or pods may cause minor cuts on the rectum. Furthermore, cleaning oneself too vigorously after a bowel movement might worsen, leading to burning diarrhea.
Burning Diarrhea Symptoms
Burning diarrhea is a type of diarrhea that is often accompanied by a feeling of burning or pain in the lower abdomen or rectum. The common symptoms of digestive disorders may include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Burning sensation in the rectum or anal area
- Diarrhea that is yellow, green, bloody, or watery
- Frequent urges to have a bowel movement
- Feeling of urgency to have a bowel movement
- Fever
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness and fatigue
Vomiting is also associated with diarrhea. In many cases, vomiting and diarrhea indicate a stomach bug or food poisoning. You should also note that food infection causes frequent vomiting. And food infection can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea. Fortunately, these symptoms commonly subside within a few days. The best remedy is to get some much-needed rest while hydrating with plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
How To Cure Diarrhea Burn?
If you’re struggling with burning diarrhea, it’s important to make lifestyle changes and utilize simple treatments. Here are a few techniques that can help:
OTC Pain Medication
You can use over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medications to treat acute diarrhea. These medications include Pepto-Bismol and Imodium.
Pepto-Bismol can be a helpful weapon in preventing and alleviating diarrhea. It can also deal with other troublesome discomforts, such as nausea or an upset stomach. This product targets the root cause of these issues to reduce their severity effectively.
On the other hand, Imodium is an antidiarrheal medication that works through the opiate receptors of your intestines. By decreasing intestinal contractions and speeding up water reabsorption from stool, this drug lessens the discomfort of diarrhea and allows for more controlled bowel movements.
Restore Fluids and Electrolytes
Dehydration can be a serious consequence of diarrhea, so it is essential to replenish lost salt and sugar with oral rehydration solutions that contain electrolytes. Restoring fluids and electrolytes will help the body maintain hydration and prevent further complications.
Avoid Certain Foods
If you have diarrhea, it’s important to avoid certain foods that could worsen the condition. These include high-fat or fried foods, dairy products, spicy foods, and caffeine. Additionally, avoid high-fiber foods such as beans, nuts, and raw fruits and vegetables.
These types of food can be challenging for the digestive system to process and can often cause cramping, gas, and bloating. Eating bland foods such as rice, toast, bananas, applesauce, or crackers may be easier on your stomach.
Change Medication
If you’re taking any medication that may be causing diarrhea, it is essential to consult with your doctor about switching medications. Certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and antacids are known to cause digestive upset in some people.
Research indicates that one in every five people taking antibiotics suffers from antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This condition is usually mild and temporary, vanishing a few days after the person stops using antibiotics. However, if it’s more severe, suspension or altering their current medication must be done promptly. You can also take other precautionary steps to ward off further issues with this affliction swiftly.
Take Probiotic Supplements
You should consider taking probiotic supplements to deal with digestive discomfort. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and yeast that can restore balance to your gut flora, which may be thrown off by diarrhea. You can find them as an additive in yogurt or other foods but also as supplements. Not all probiotic varieties will aid with diarrhea, though- so it is best to research which strains of probiotics could help treat the type of stomach issues you have before consuming them.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Although most cases of burning diarrhea will eventually disappear, it is always important to watch for more severe health issues that may cause longer or more intense episodes. If your diarrhea persists for more than a few days, contact your doctor immediately.
Additionally, you should contact your healthcare provider if the following symptoms manifest:
- Rapid loss of weight.
- Unceasing bleeding from the rectum
- Worsening abdominal discomfort that primarily occurs at night
- Blood in your stool
- Severe dehydration and exhaustion
Burning diarrhea is an uncomfortable experience that can be triggered for various reasons, including infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colorectal cancer, spicy foods, or digestive enzymes. It’s essential to recognize the potential risks associated with severe and persistent burning diarrhea to ensure early diagnosis and medical treatment. If you experience any signs of dehydration, such as fatigue or loss of appetite along with bouts of burning diarrhea lasting longer than two days – contact your healthcare provider immediately for further assistance.
