Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Cause for INTERMITTENT DIARRHEA, gas and itchy anus.

Resolved Question:

For the past couple months I've been having intermittent diarrhea, gas and discomfort. For the last couple of days my anus has also been itching. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about parasites. If so, I live in a city with a severe shortage of doctors so I'm wondering if there's any way I can go about treating it without seeing the doctor.

I haven't noticed anything obvious in my stool. Usually when I have diarrhea I see pink, thin, translucent, rice sized shapes or long stringy fibres (like grass) but I always thought this was just food.

Category: Family Physician-GP

Ask Your Own Question

Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
 25 Doctors Online

Hello. Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Yes your symptoms point more towards worm infection, more specifically pinworm infection which also causes itching in the anus, more towards the night time. This happens because of the irritation in the skin and the surrounding areas, since the worm normally lodges there. Other signs of this worm infection are excessive flatulence, foul smelling stools, diarrhea, feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, e.t.c
I will suggest the following medicines and once you take thm you will feel a lot better in a couple of days time
1) Tab. Mebendazole 150 mg one tablet at bed time, followed by another dose taken after 3 days.
2) Tab. Rifaximin one tablet twice daily after food, for 7 days.
3) Tab. Lactobacillus one tablet at bed time for 7 days.
Let me know if there is improvement after taking the medicine for the first 2 days.
Hope this is helpful,
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards


Patient replied :

Thank you for the help. I was told that the Mebendazole and Rifaximin are only available through a prescription so I may have to visit a doctor here anyways.
Brett


Hello.
Yes. Those are prescription medications and unfortunately there are no OTCs to treat parasitic infestation.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Take care.


Patient replied :

Thanks. I've been seeing more and more of the translucent rice things I described above, today I saw 25+. Do you mind telling me if they look like anything I should be concerned about? Usually they are firmer and less shrivelled, these ones are an hour old.
Brett


Hello.
They look like pinworms but only a stool analysis will provide a definitive answer. They could be undigested food as well but unlikely.
Its best that you see a doctor even though it is difficult and get your stool tested.
Let me know if I can assist you any further.
Thank you.


Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy
Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
Experience: 
MBBS from Sri Ramachandra University in December 2011
M.Med (Family Medicine) - TNMGR University, Chennai
MBA-MPH in Public Health in March 2016, SRM University
Finished AFIH in March 2016, SRM University
MRCP ( UK ), Internal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, June 2016
Fellowship in Diabetology from Martin Luther University in January 2017

Currently Resident Physician, in MD Radiodiagnosis - Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, Chennai
Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news