Why does eating sea cucumber cause diarrhea?
Apr 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Chao
Introduction
Diarrhea after eating sea cucumber may be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, allergic gastroenteritis, or acute gastroenteritis. It could result from consuming excessive amounts of sea cucumber or using too many spicy seasonings during cooking, leading to irritable bowel syndrome. Sea cucumber is prone to cause allergies; when allergic gastroenteritis occurs, diarrhea may develop. Additionally, spoiled or unhygienically prepared sea cucumber may lead to acute gastroenteritis.
Diarrhea generally refers to loose or frequent bowel movements. Diarrhea after consuming sea cucumber may be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, allergic gastroenteritis, acute gastroenteritis, or other reasons. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Consuming a large amount of sea cucumber at once, or using excessive spicy seasonings such as chili peppers and Sichuan pepper during cooking, may disrupt intestinal motility and impair brain-gut axis regulation, leading to irritable bowel syndrome and resulting in loose stools. Following medical advice, probiotics such as Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablets, Bacillus licheniformis viable capsules, and Clostridium butyricum viable capsules can help alleviate symptoms.
2. Allergic Gastroenteritis
Sea cucumber is a type of seafood, which is relatively likely to cause food allergies. Individuals with weak constitutions or allergic predispositions may easily develop allergic reactions to ingested substances, leading to allergic gastroenteritis and resulting in diarrhea. As directed by a physician, medications such as cetirizine hydrochloride tablets, loratadine tablets, or ebastine tablets can help improve symptoms.
3. Acute Gastroenteritis
Diarrhea could also result from consuming expired sea cucumber or from unhygienic preparation practices, leading to infection with pathogens such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus or Salmonella. This causes acute gastroenteritis and abnormal intestinal digestive function, resulting in loose stools. According to medical guidance, antidiarrheal medications such as loperamide hydrochloride capsules, compound diphenoxylate tablets, or smectite powder may help promote recovery.
In addition, chronic enteritis or other conditions may also be responsible. Receiving standardized treatment under a doctor's supervision can help improve the condition.
