More than half of all AIDS patients experience some sort of gastrointestinal disease that results in diarrhea, according to the National Medical Society Library website. Although diarrhea may be intermittent in both frequency and intensity, it can lead to serious health problems. For this reason, it is important for patients with AIDS and their caretakers to be knowledgeable about treatment options and self-management techniques.
Dangers
Untreated and unmanaged diarrhea can lead to dehydration that is potentially life threatening. According AIDS Info Net website, up to a gallon of water, along with vital nutrients and minerals, can be lost each day with diarrhea. Dehydration poses the greatest risk to infants and young children with AIDS, who are most likely to go into shock and die as a result.
Causes
There are several possible causes of AIDS-related diarrhea, according to AIDS Info Net. Many patients experience diarrhea following an infection caused by bacteria, parasites, fungus or a virus. Others develop lactose intolerance through the course of the disease and discover that diarrhea results after eating dairy products. Emotional stress, as well as pancreatic functioning impairment, also can cause diarrhea in AIDS patients.
Pinpointing a Culprit
Doctors often work to pinpoint the exact cause of diarrhea in order to treat it. In order to identify a cause, doctors will test blood and stool samples. Medical history questions will focus on topics such as recent travel and eating and drinking habits. If these do not yield any definitive results, an endoscopy or colonoscopy may be necessary to examine the digestive tract or colon. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics based on the results of these findings.
Antiretroviral medications have greatly reduced the likelihood of AIDS-related infections, although many also cause diarrhea. AIDS Info Net states that diarrhea is a side effect of nelfinavir, or Viracept; ritonavir, or Norvir; Kaletra; ddI, or Videx; tipranavir or Aptivus; foscarnet, or Foscavir; and interferon alfa, or Roferon or Intron. Unfortunately, the cause of diarrhea cannot be determined in almost a third of all cases, according to the National Medical Society Library.
Dietary Modifications
Several dietary modifications help to prevent or mitigate diarrhea in AIDS patients. AIDS patients should avoid foods that can exacerbate diarrhea, such as dairy products, and foods that are spicy, fatty or greasy. Patients should also avoid foods high in insoluble fiber such as raw fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread, and fruits or vegetables with skins or seeds.
When diarrhea is becoming more frequent, doctors advise patients to eat foods that can help to slow it down. The list of these foods includes bananas, plain white rice, white bread, crackers or pastas, oatmeal, boiled eggs and even plain mashed or boiled potatoes.
The Johns Hopkins Point-of-Care Information Technology Center website advises doctors to recommend a diet that matches stool consistency. If stools are watery, then patients should drink clear fluids. If the stools are semi-solid then patients should eat semi solid foods, such as boiled potatoes. Feedings should be frequent, but small.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Over-the-counter medications may suffice when a doctor does not recommend an antibiotic. Brand name diarrhea products such as Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate and Imodium AD can help with mild cases. In addition, AIDS InfoNet recommends that patients try products made with the soluble fiber psyllium, such as Metamucil or Citrusel. These products can help with diarrhea by adding bulk to the stool that absorbs water.
