Loose Bowel Movement (LBM)

Loose Bowel Movement (LBM) is the passage of loose or watery stools at frequent intervals along the digestive tract making complete digestion and effective absoption of food and liquid less possible - a common symptom of a distorted digestive system.

Probable Causes
   • Functional diarrhea:
     a) overeating or eating spoiled, putrefied foods
     b) incomplete digestion
     c) habitual use of cathartics
     d) nervous tension
     e) endocrine disturbance
     f) diarrhea associated with disease such as sprue and pellagra

   • Organic diarrhea:
     a) external poison
     b) bacterial or protozoan invasion
     c) may accompany certain diseases such as tuberculosis, amoebic dysentery, typhoid fever, viral hepatitis, chronic ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis (gastrointestinal tract malignancy/tumor) and enteritis or enzyme deficiencies which result in poor digestion and absoption of carbohydrated.

Probable Symptoms
   • Sudden onset of frequent stools of watery consistency
   • Abdominal pain
   • Cramping
   • Weakness
   • Fever
   • Vomiting

Helpful Dietary Management
   • Liberally drink clear liquid to replace fluid lost in vomiting and defecating.  This is done to prevent dehydration.
   • Give Oral Rehydration  Solution (ORESOL) to prevent water as well as electrolyte imbalance.
   • Progress from clear liquid to constipating diet as stool consistency improves.
   • Eat food rich in pectin such as banana and apple.  They aid in stool formation.
   • See your physician immediately if diarrhea does not improve within 24 hours.

Reference:
STAGES OF DEHYDRATION