Diarrhea occurs when there is
an increase in the number of bowel movements or bowel movements are more watery
and loose than normal. When the intestines push stools through the bowel before
the water in the stool can be reabsorbed, diarrhea occurs. It can also occur
when inflammation of the bowel lining causes excess fluid to leak into the
stool. Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, or a fever may occur along with the
diarrhea.
Diarrhea is one of the most commonly occurring health
problems affecting all ages. Most adults will have 4 episodes of diarrhea each
year. Diarrhea that comes on suddenly may last up to 14 days.
Diarrhea has many causes.
Diarrhea is often caused by stomach flu (gastroenteritis) or
food poisoning. Diarrhea is your body's way of quickly
clearing viruses, bacteria, or toxins from the digestive tract. Since most
cases of diarrhea are viral, they will clear up in a few days with good home
treatment.
E. coli is a common bacteria that causes diarrhea.
E. coli infection is related to improper food
preparation.
Drinking
untreated water or unpasteurized dairy products can
cause viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, such as
Giardia lamblia. Giardia lamblia parasite can cause diarrhea that develops 1 to 4 weeks later.
These infections can also occur when you use untreated water to brush your
teeth, wash your dishes or vegetables, or make ice for drinks.
Many
prescription and nonprescription
medicines can cause diarrhea.
Antibiotics may cause mild diarrhea that
usually clears up without treatment. A more serious type of diarrhea caused by
the bacteria Clostridium difficile (sometimes called
C-diff) may occur while taking an antibiotic or shortly after finishing the
antibiotic.
Laxatives, such as Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, or
Feen-a-Mint, may cause diarrhea.
Using too much of products that contain sorbitol
(such as chewing gum) or fructose can cause diarrhea.
Diarrhea may develop after stomach, bowel, or gallbladder
surgery, or after bariatric surgery for
obesity.
Many times the exact cause of diarrhea is difficult to
determine. Almost everyone has an occasional bout of diarrhea. Although
diarrhea is annoying, most cases are not serious and will clear up with home
treatment.
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to decide if and
when you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
Home treatment can help you treat
your diarrhea and avoid other related problems, such as
dehydration.
Take frequent, small sips of water or a
rehydration drink and small bites of salty crackers.
Try to increase your fluid intake to at least
1 qt (1 L) per hour for 1 to 2
hours or until diarrhea symptoms disappear.
Begin eating mild foods the next day or sooner,
depending on how you feel.
Avoid spicy foods, fruits, alcohol, and
caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms have disappeared.
Avoid
chewing gum that contains sorbitol.
Avoid
dairy products for 3 days after symptoms disappear.
Milk products may be harder for your body to digest when you have
diarrhea.
Nonprescription medicines for diarrhea
If you are
pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking any medicines for
diarrhea.
Nonprescription medicines may be helpful in treating your
diarrhea. Follow these tips when taking a nonprescription medicine for
diarrhea:
Use nonprescription antidiarrheal medicine if
you have diarrhea for longer than 6 hours. Do not use nonprescription
antidiarrheal medicines if you have bloody diarrhea, a high fever, or other
signs of serious illness.
Read and follow
all label directions on the nonprescription medicine bottle or box. Be sure to
take the recommended dose.
Long-term use of nonprescription
antidiarrheal medicine is not recommended. To avoid constipation, stop taking
antidiarrheal medicines as soon as stools thicken.
If your child or
teen gets
chickenpox or
flu, do not treat the symptoms with over-the-counter
medicines that contain bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol and
Kaopectate). Subsalicylate has been linked to
Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness. If your
child has taken this kind of medicine and he or she has changes in behavior
with nausea and vomiting, call your doctor. These symptoms could be an early
sign of Reye syndrome.
There are several types of antidiarrheal medicines: those
that absorb water and thicken the stool, and those that slow intestinal
spasms.
Thickening mixtures (such as psyllium) absorb water. This helps bulk up the stool and make it more firm.
Antispasmodic antidiarrheals, such as Imodium A-D and Pepto
Diarrhea Control, slow intestinal spasms. Some products contain both thickening
and antispasmodic ingredients.
Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, are available in either pills or powder. This
bacteria occurs naturally in the intestine and may help with digestion. When
diarrhea is present, the number of these bacteria is reduced.
General tips
Follow these tips to clean up diarrhea. Protect your hands with gloves while cleaning up. Wash your hands after you are done cleaning up.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to
evaluate your symptoms if any of the following develop during home
treatment:
Severe diarrhea (10 or more loose watery stools in 24 hours) develops.
Black or bloody stools develop.
A fever
develops.
Your symptoms become
more severe or more frequent.
Prevention
Food poisoning
is a common cause of diarrhea in children and adults. Most cases of food
poisoning may be prevented by taking a few precautions when preparing and
storing food at home. Perishable foods, such as eggs, meats, poultry, fish,
shellfish, milk, and milk products, should be treated with extra care. Also,
precautions should be taken if you are pregnant, have an
impaired immune system or a chronic illness, or you
are preparing foods for other high-risk groups, such as young children or older
adults. For more information, see the topic
Food Poisoning and Safe Food Handling.
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) recommends the following steps to prevent food poisoning:
Many counties in the United States have extension services
listed in the phone book. These services can answer your question about safe
home canning and food preparation.
For information on how to prevent traveler's diarrhea, see the topic
Traveler's Diarrhea.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the Magnet designation, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Association.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the Magnet designation, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Association.