Diarrhea Health Article

Prevention

Handwashing and personal hygiene are critical methods for preventing diarrhea. Adequate handwashing alone will prevent a majority of diarrhea cases.

Adequate sanitation and attention to cleanliness are the best ways to prevent outbreaks of diarrhea disease. Persons handling food must always wash their hands before touching any food. Food, especially poultry and shellfish, must be stored at appropriate temperatures and thoroughly washed before being prepared for consumption.

Food must be properly prepared and held or stored at proper temperatures. Prior to cooking, foods should be kept at temperatures below 40°F (4.4°C). During cooking, the internal temperature of foods should exceed 160°F (71°C) to ensure the destruction of pathogens. While being served, food should be held at temperatures between 40 and 140°F (4.4 and 60°C). The total time that food should be allowed to remain within these temperatures is four hours. After four hours total time, including original serving and subsequent reheating, the food should be discarded. Foods that contain eggs such as mayonnaise and salads should be kept cold and protected from heat and sunlight.

Day care facilities must be constantly cleaned and disinfected. Employees who change diapers must wash their hands before returning to work.

Persons should drink only potable water. Water that is used for washing dishes or personal uses such as tooth brushing should also be boiled before use if the source of the water is not assured to be potable and safe.

KEY TERMS

Diaphoresis—An alternative for sweating.

Incontinence—The inability to voluntarily control elimination of bodily wastes.

Inflammation—A physiological response to stress on the body that is characterized by redness, tenderness, increased temperature, swelling and decrease or loss of function.

Ova—Eggs.

Sigmoidoscopy—Procedure to visualize the interior of the colon. A flexible tube is inserted in the anus. An operator looks into the colon that is illuminated by a light at the end of the tube.

Stool—An alternative name for feces.

Tenesmus—A feeling that a bowel movement is imminent.

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