Treating Diarrhea

Diarrhea happens when you have loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements. It's a common problem with many causes. Most cases of diarrhea clear up on their own. But certain cases may need treatment. Be sure to see your health care provider if your symptoms don't get better in a few days.

Getting relief

Treatment of diarrhea depends on its cause. If it's caused by bacterial or parasite infection, it's often treated with antibiotics. Diarrhea from other causes, such as a stomach virus, often improves with simple home treatment. The tips below may help ease your symptoms.

• Drink plenty of fluids. This helps prevent too much fluid loss (dehydration). The fluids should contain water, salt, and sugar. Oral rehydration solution (ORS), a mixture of glucose and sodium, works best. You can buy it without a prescription.

• Don't have drinks with caffeine. Don't drink alcohol, coffee, tea, or milk. These can irritate your intestines and make symptoms worse.

• Avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas. These include broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn.

• Don't drink fruit juices or liquids that are high in sugar.

• Suck on ice chips first if drinking fluids makes you queasy.

• Eat more starchy foods like rice, cereal, and crackers. Don't eat red foods. They might look like blood in diarrhea.

• Return to your normal diet slowly. You may want to eat bland foods at first, such as rice and toast. You may need to stay away from certain foods for a while, such as dairy products. These can make symptoms worse. Ask your health care provider if there are any other foods you should stay away from.

• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Don't stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

• Don't take anti-diarrhea medicines without asking your provider first.

• Keep in mind that you may be infectious. Wash your hands often with soap and clean, running water. Or use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Call your health care provider 

Call your provider right away if: 

• You have chills or a fever of 100.4°F ( 38.0°C) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

• You have severe pain.

• You have worsening diarrhea or diarrhea for more than 2 days.

• Your vomit or stool has blood in it.

• You have symptoms of dehydration (dizziness, dry mouth and tongue, rapid pulse, dark urine).