3 Ways to Make Diarrhea Go Away Fast Without Drugs

Most diarrhea is caused by a virus or bacteria and will go away on its own within two to three days. While many people will reach for the Imodium the moment a loose stool appears, the drugs are really more appropriate for frequent or severe diarrhea than an incidental bout.

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Treating Mild Diarrhea Without Medication

In some cases, taking an antidiarrheal drug will slingshot you from water stools straight to constipation, an equally unpleasant event. To this end, try these helpful home remedies to treat a mild bout of diarrhea without the use of pills.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

One of the biggest problems with diarrhea, and what leads many people to the emergency room, is dehydration. Diarrhea causes the body to lose a lot of water and electrolytes (like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) it needs to function normally. If not treated appropriately, dehydration can become dangerous, especially in young children.

To manage a mild bout of diarrhea, you will need to replenish fluids and electrolytes (salts) lost. Drink plenty of water, clear juices, clear broths, or an electrolyte-rich sports drink.

There are also things you should avoid when you have a bout of diarrhea. Avoid coffee, caffeinated drinks, prune juice, sugary drinks, sodas, and alcohol, all of which have a laxative effect. It is also a good idea to avoid dairy products.

Young children and babies with diarrhea should be given pediatric rehydration drinks, marketed under such brand names as Pedialyte, Enfalyte, or Gastrolyte. Breastfed infants should continue to breastfeed. Children should continue with their regular diet, plus rehydrating fluids, rather than be put on a restrictive diet.

If you want to avoid the artificial colorings or flavorings used in some commercial rehydration drinks, you can make a homemade rehydration drink using only salt, sugar, and water. You can also purchase oral rehydration salts over the counter at most drugstores. Follow the preparation instructions as too much salt can be harmful, especially to children.

Eat a Bland Diet 

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that research shows it doesn’t help to follow a restrictive diet to treat diarrhea, although there are foods to avoid and foods that are better tolerated.

The BRAT diet was a commonly-recommended food plan for easing digestive distress. It is comprised of four bland, low-fiber foods that will help to firm up stools: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Bananas are especially useful as they help restore any potassium lost through diarrhea.

Other bland, easy-to-digest foods can be added to as the diarrhea symptoms begin to resolve, including baked skinless chicken breasts, oatmeal, baked potatoes, and chicken soup with saltines. Avoid foods and beverages that cause gas, such as carbonated drinks, beans, cucumbers, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables. 

If diarrhea lasts more than a couple of days, check the foods that you are eating. Diarrhea can be exacerbated by foods high in fiber (such as bran, whole grains, and brown rice) as well as greasy foods or those sweetened with sorbitol.

Use Probiotics

Taking probiotics in food or supplement form might help shorten a mild bout of diarrhea. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that are beneficial to your digestive system.

Diarrhea can cause you to lose a lot of the healthy bacteria in your stomach and intestines. Probiotics (which include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria and Saccharomyces boulardii yeast) can quickly replace these protective microorganisms and help restore normal bowel function. This is especially true with S. boulardii which exerts powerful antidiarrheal effects.

While dairy products should be avoided during diarrhea, yogurt or kefir with live probiotic bacteria are extremely beneficial. Other natural probiotic sources include fermented foods like miso, kombucha, sauerkraut, aged soft cheeses, cottage cheese, green olives, sourdough bread, and tempeh.

While kimchi is often cited as a “super-probiotic,” it contains hot spices that may worsen diarrhea.

Side effects of probiotics, whether in food or supplement form, tend to be mild and may include an upset stomach, bloating, and gas. 

When to Seek Medical Help

Diarrhea should never be ignored. If you have tried the above-listed home remedies and still have loose stools, call your healthcare provider or speak with your pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that may help.

On the other hand, you should see a healthcare provider immediately if you or your child experience persistent or severe diarrhea and/or develop signs of dehydration, as follows:

Adults

• Diarrhea 3 days or more

• Severe abdominal pain

• Bloody or black stools

• Fever over 102 F (39 C)

• Little or no urination

• Extreme weakness

• Dry skin and mouth

• Excessive thirst

• Dark urine

Children

• Diarrhea for more than 24 hours

• No wet diapers in 3 hours

• Fever over 102 F (39 C)

• Dry mouth or tongue

• Crying without tears

• Unusual sleepiness

• Black or bloody stools

• Sunken cheeks or eyes

• Skin that doesn’t retract when pinched

Without exception, babies under 3 months of age with diarrhea should be taken to a healthcare provider or emergency room immediately. Do not wait or try to treat the condition at home.

How Diarrhea Is Treated

Diarrhea is a common condition characterized by extremely loose stools. It’s hardly a pleasant experience but as a health issue it usually isn’t serious. Diarrhea can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection or could be symptomatic of a more serious diseases or conditions. Most of the time, diarrhea goes away on its own after a few days, usually without any treatment. However, in some cases, treatment might be used to slow diarrhea down. 

For diarrhea that goes on for two or more days, it’s important to seek help from a physician to find out if there is an underlying cause such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or another disease or condition.

Diarrhea that goes on for several weeks may be considered chronic, and it’s important to work with a physician to get the underlying cause of diarrhea diagnosed and treated to avoid dehydration and malnutrition.

Julie Bang / Verywell

Home Remedies and Lifestyle

There is no shortage of advice on home remedies for diarrhea. Not every home remedy will work for every type of diarrhea or every person, however. It’s important to discuss dietary changes or other home remedies with a physician, especially if diarrhea is chronic.

Watery diarrhea can mean that the body is losing more fluids and electrolytes than it is taking in, which makes rehydration a priority. Some of the dietary changes that people often try at home to slow down or stop diarrhea include the BRAT diet, avoiding foods that may cause diarrhea, eating foods that may slow down diarrhea, and drinking more liquids.

BRAT Diet

The bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet has long been used as a treatment for diarrhea. The idea is that these foods are not likely to cause more diarrhea and also may help slow it down, all while keeping a person somewhat fed.

The foods in BRAT are low fiber and starchy, which may help firm up stools. They are also bland enough that they might not cause additional stomach upset. This diet is not meant to be used long-term because it is not nutritious enough, and getting back to a regular diet as soon as possible should be the goal.

However, recently experts have had concerns that the BRAT diet is not nutritious enough for children who are having diarrhea.

The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends the BRAT diet for use in children who have diarrhea from gastroenteritis (a common infection which causes diarrhea and vomiting that’s also sometimes called the “stomach flu”).

Some pediatricians may recommend feeding a child their regular diet or feeding them whatever foods are appetizing to them or can “stay down,” in the case of a child who is vomiting. Always check with a pediatrician to get guidance on what to feed a child with diarrhea and/or vomiting.

Hydration

Loose stools, and especially if there is also vomiting, can lead to a rapid loss of fluids in the body. Too much fluid loss in this way can lead to dehydration.

Most people, even when having both diarrhea and vomiting, don’t get seriously dehydrated. However, it’s important to keep drinking as tolerated. For someone who is vomiting too, that might mean only taking sips until more liquids are staying down.

For people who are otherwise considered healthy, drinking water can help prevent diarrhea. Water can get boring which may make it hard to keep up. Drinking other types of fluids such as broths, coconut water, or sports drinks can also help because they have some taste and may contain minerals and electrolytes (such as sodium).

One rule of thumb is that for every episode of diarrhea, drink an extra cup of water to replace those lost fluids.

For children and for people who have an underlying medical condition (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) or have had surgery to remove parts of the intestines, dehydration may be more of a concern. This is when oral rehydration therapy can be considered.

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a preparation that replaces not only fluid, but also electrolytes. ORS is often sold in drugstores as a powder that can be mixed with water, but it can also be made at home with common ingredients such as sugar, salt, water, and baby cereal. For those who can keep food down, other ideas include using a commercial sports drink and blending in some bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, yogurt, or spinach.

Check with a physician if dehydration is a concern, and for advice on which type of oral rehydration solution might be the most beneficial.

Food and Drink to Avoid

In some cases, stopping diarrhea also includes avoiding foods that can cause stomach upset. It’s important to remember that getting back to a regular, healthful diet as soon as possible when the diarrhea stops should be the goal.

Foods that some people may not be able to tolerate when experiencing diarrhea include:

• Artificial sweeteners (acesulfame potassium or Ace-K, Advantame, aspartame, saccharin, stevia, sucralose) 
• Caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, cola)
• Carbonated beverages
• Cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli)
• Fatty foods
• Fibrous foods (whole grains, nuts, and seeds)
• Fried foods
• Foods with added sugar
• Milk products
• Spicy foods (including those that contain onions or garlic)

Rest

Having diarrhea means that something has gone wrong in the digestive system and it’s worth resting in order to help oneself recover quicker. Taking a few days off from work and school for self-care can be an important part of treating diarrhea. In addition, if diarrhea is from an infectious cause, such as a virus, staying at home in order to avoid spreading the virus to others is also a good idea.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Therapies for Short-Term Diarrhea

There is no shortage of anti-diarrhea medications at every drugstore. However, they should be used with caution because they are not appropriate for every case of diarrhea.

Check with a doctor before trying anti-diarrheal drugs to stop diarrhea, especially if the loose stools have gone on for more than a few days. Chronic diarrhea that is caused by a disease or condition may need more long-term treatment.

Imodium (loperamide)

Imodium works by slowing down the contractions of the muscles in the digestive tract. It is available to buy over the counter but may also be prescribed for people who have certain health conditions that cause diarrhea. Imodium can have adverse effects, including abdominal pain, dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness. In some cases it could also cause nausea, vomiting, and even work too well and lead to constipation. People who take this medication infrequently should wait to see how it makes them feel before driving or doing physical activities because of the risk of dizziness and drowsiness.

Pepto-Bismol (Kaopectate, Bismuth Subsalicylate)

This medication can be bought over the counter. It works by slowing down the amount of water that enters the bowel. This has the effect of firming up loose stools. Some of the adverse effects can include constipation, black stools, or a black tongue. It’s important to follow directions closely with bismuth subsalicylate because it can be dangerous to take too much. It is also not appropriate for use in children.

Probiotics

Probiotics are strains of “friendly” bacteria that naturally occur in the body—particularly in the gut—but also can be found in foods such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and other fermented foods. Probiotic supplements can be bought over the counter.

An imbalance of bad bacteria in the gut often underlies diarrhea. There is an increasing amount of evidence showing probiotics can be effective for managing digestive health symptoms. The American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) recognizes certain probiotic strains as a viable adjunct treatment for managing certain gastrointestinal conditions.

The AGA 2020 Clinical Practice Guidelines suggest the use of S boulardii; or the 2-strain combination of L acidophilus CL1285 and Lactobacillus casei LBC80R; or the 3-strain combination of L acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum; or the 4-strain combination of L acidophilus, L delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus, B bifidum, and Streptococcus salivarius subsp thermophilus over no or other probiotics for prevention of C difficile infection for adults and children on antibiotic treatment.

Of note, the AGA recommendations for probiotics are largely conditional given the quantity and quality of clinical evidence linking probiotic use directly to improved digestive health outcomes is scant. For certain conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, AGA recommends probiotic use only in clinical trials. It also states it’s reasonable for people who are concerned with either the cost or potential side effects of probiotics to choose not to take them.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are fibers found in plants that encourage friendly bacteria in the digestive system to grow. Prebiotics can be found in fruits and vegetables such as asparagus, yams, bananas, leafy greens, and in foods with whole grains. There are also supplements available over the counter.

There’s also not much evidence for the use of prebiotics in treating diarrhea. Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy diet, however. While it may be necessary to avoid any that might cause digestive upset for a bit while diarrhea is a concern, adding them back into meals as soon as possible is important.

Prescriptions for Infectious and Chronic Diarrhea

For uncomplicated diarrhea that goes away on its own, home remedies or over-the-counter medications will often be enough. However, there are some causes of diarrhea that may need treatment with a prescription from a physician.

Red flag symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool (stool appearing red or black), high fever, or dehydration may prompt more investigating (such as a stool culture) and treatment with prescription medications.

Travelers’ Diarrhea

After recent travel, diarrhea is common. In some cases, this will go away on its own in a few days. Even so, seeing a doctor when there is diarrhea after travel is important as it may need treatment. This is especially true if there is blood in the diarrhea, because that can mean a bacterial infection. Use of antibiotics in travelers’ diarrhea will depend on a number of factors that a doctor will take into account.

Clostridium Difficile Infection

Clostridium difficile (C. difficle) is a bacteria that can cause significant amounts of watery diarrhea. It is becoming increasingly common and spreads easily, making it a difficult problem to eradicate.

C. difficile infections are often treated with antibiotics, most commonly Flagyl (metronidazole) and Vancomycin (vancomycin hydrochloride), though other antibiotics may also be used. Another treatment that is being used in some places is fecal microbiota transplant. In this treatment, stool from a donor is taken and processed and then transplanted in one of several different ways into the colon of a person who has a C. difficile infection. 

Parasitic Infections

Infections with parasites are less common in the Western world but they can occur anywhere, especially after traveling to places with less access to modern sanitation. In the United States, Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most common protozoa that are responsible for infections. The most common types of parasitic worms in the United States are pinworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms.

Parasitic infections can cause diarrhea but often also cause other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, bloating/gas, and weight loss. In the case of parasitic worms, some types might pass in the stool, so worms, eggs, or worm parts might be seen with the visible eye.

No one medication is effective against all types of parasites, so the drug prescribed will depend on which parasite is found. Antibiotics (such as Flagyl or Tindamax [tinidazole]), antiparasitics (such as Alinia [nitazoxanide]), or drugs that kill worms, called anthelminthic medications (such as Albenza [albendazole] and Emverm [mebendazole]) may be used to treat parasitic infections.

Chronic Diarrhea

When diarrhea goes on for several weeks, it may be chronic. Treating chronic diarrhea will mean treating the underlying cause. Some medications may cause diarrhea as an adverse effect. If this is determined to be the cause, talking to a physician about making a change in the medication or in the dosage may be the way to find a solution.

There are several conditions that may cause chronic diarrhea, including IBS, IBD, and celiac disease. These conditions are complex and, with the exception of celiac disease which is treated by removing gluten from the diet, may be treated with a variety of diet and lifestyle changes as well as medications.  

IBS-D: IBS that causes diarrhea (which is often referred to as IBS-D) is often treated with diet and lifestyle modifications, including adding more soluble fiber to the diet. A few medications have been developed specifically to treat IBD-D but, in most cases, medications that are in use for other conditions have been found to also help treat IBS.

Medications that might be used to treat IBS-D include:

• Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levbid, Levsin (hyoscyamine): anti-spasmodics
• Bentyl (dicyclomine): an anti-spasmodic 
• Buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide): an antispasmodic
• Imodium (loperamide): an anti-diarrheal
• Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine): an anti-diarrheal 
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): anti-anxiety medications
• Tricyclic antidepressants (such as Elavil [amitriptyline]): medications for treating depression
• Viberzi (Eluxadoline): an anti-diarrheal specifically for IBS-D
• Xifaxan (Rifaximin): an antibiotic

IBD (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis): Diarrhea associated with IBD may be a result of inflammation in the digestive tract. Therefore, treating the diarrhea will mean controlling the inflammation.

People with IBD are usually not prescribed anti-diarrheal drugs that are meant to treat uncomplicated diarrhea, as those types of medications may not have any effect. Instead, medications that block inflammatory pathways to work directly to treat inflamed tissues are often prescribed. Keep in mind, some of these therapies can take weeks or months to have an effect.

Types of medications that are used to treat IBD include:

• Sulfa drugs (sulfasalazine) – for ulcerative colitis
• Corticosteroids (budesonide, prednisone) 
• 5-Aminosalicylates (Asacol, Apriso, Pentasa, Rowasa, or 5-ASA) – for ulcerative colitis 
• Immunosuppressives (Imuran, 6-MP, and Methotrexate)
• JAK inhibitors (Xeljanz)
• Biologics (Cimzia, Entyvio, Humira, Remicade, Simponi, Stelara)

A Word From Verywell

Most cases of diarrhea will resolve on their own without us ever knowing what caused them. Waiting it out until it passes might be the only treatment that’s needed, but care should be taken to ensure that there’s not too much water being lost from the body and that some nutrition is being taken in. Reaching for an anti-diarrhea medication might seem like the best course of action, but it might not always be the best idea, and so checking with a doctor first is important.

Resting and eating bland foods may help slow down loose stools and avoid other complications. Especially in children, the biggest concern is often becoming dehydrated, which means that taking in fluids in the form of water, broth, or oral rehydration preparations is a big priority. Taking time to rest and recover is a big part of treating diarrhea, as is trying not to spread it to other people when the diarrhea is thought to be caused by an infection.

Chronic diarrhea, which goes on for more than a few weeks, may have a more serious underlying cause. Often, in these cases, the over-the-counter drugs and home remedies will not have much of an effect. Some people may get used to having loose stools all the time or on an intermittent basis, but it’s not normal to have constant diarrhea. Seeing a physician to find out why the diarrhea is happening is the beginning to getting the right treatment. Chronic diarrhea can not only lead to complications such as sore skin on the bottom and hemorrhoids, but also dehydration and malnutrition. This is why diarrhea that has gone on for more than a few days is a reason to talk to a doctor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What can you eat to stop diarrhea?

  Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, known as the BRAT diet, are bland, low-fiber foods that can help to firm up stools to stop diarrhea without causing additional stomach upset.

• What can you drink to settle diarrhea?

  If you have diarrhea, drink water and other clear fluids to prevent dehydration and ease diarrhea. Sports drinks or Pedialyte contain minerals and electrolytes that can also help.

Diarrhea: Causes and Risk Factors

Diarrhea is a common problem that can come on suddenly or be a chronic complaint. Some possible causes of diarrhea include food poisoning, infections, food allergies or intolerances, and medication. There are also some conditions that cause chronic diarrhea that run in families or, rarely, have a genetic basis.

You can reduce your risk of acute diarrhea by learning good food safety and cleanliness habits, whether at home or while traveling.

Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell 

Common Causes of Acute Diarrhea

The most common cause of diarrhea, especially that which starts suddenly (acute diarrhea), is an infection. This can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic and include:

• Food poisoning
• Traveler’s diarrhea
• Stomach flu

Children are especially at risk for diarrhea as they tend to put objects in their mouths and may not have developed good handwashing habits.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when you eat food that is contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria build up toxins in the food that make you sick.

Causes of food poisoning are poor sanitation, improper food handling, and food being stored at the wrong temperature.

• How long diarrhea lasts: Usually less than two days
• Triggered by: Toxins in food
• When symptoms appear: Within two to six hours of ingesting the food
• Appearance: Explosive, watery
• Other symptoms: Abdominal cramps, fever, vomiting, weakness

Traveler’s Diarrhea

Traveler’s diarrhea is caused by eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria or parasites. If you have diarrhea and recently traveled or drank untreated water from a stream, river, or pond (in the U.S. or elsewhere), call your healthcare provider.

• How long diarrhea lasts: Usually less than one week
• Triggered by: Food or water that is contaminated by bacteria, viruses, or parasites
• When symptoms appear: Within 12 to 24 hours
• Appearance: Explosive, watery, sometimes contains mucus or blood
• Other symptoms: Possible vomiting and/or fever

Stomach Flu

Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, is caused by a virus, but not the same that causes seasonal flu (influenza). Examples of viruses that can cause stomach flu are rotavirus and norovirus. Gastroenteritis also can be caused by a bacterium or a parasite.

• How long diarrhea lasts: Usually three to eight days
• Triggered by: A virus, bacterium, or parasite
• When symptoms appear: Within two days of exposure
• Appearance: Watery
• Other symptoms: Vomiting, fever, achiness

Common Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea that goes on for weeks or months may be caused by an infection, or it may be caused by an underlying medical condition or one of many other potential causes, some of which include the following:

Celiac Disease

If you have untreated celiac disease, you may have a hard time linking your symptoms with a specific food because your gut is damaged and you may experience symptoms all the time.

• How long diarrhea lasts: More than four weeks
• Triggered by: Gluten
• Appearance: Large, bad-smelling stools that float and may appear greasy
• Other symptoms: Unintended weight loss, lack of energy, lack of growth in children, as well as many other possible symptoms

Food Allergy

Symptoms of classic Ig-E mediated food allergy begin within minutes to hours of eating a trigger food. It is possible to be allergic to any food, but a few foods cause the most common food allergies.

• How long diarrhea lasts: Usually less than 24 hours
• Triggered by: A specific food
• When symptoms appear: Within two hours
• Appearance: Watery, may contain blood
• Other symptoms: Hives; vomiting; swelling of face, tongue or throat; eczema

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzymes needed to digest a specific food. Lactose intolerance, the inability to digest the sugars in milk, is the most common, but it’s possible to be intolerant of other foods as well.

• How long diarrhea lasts: More than four weeks
• Triggered by: A specific food
• When symptoms appear: Two to 12 hours
• Appearance: Watery, sometimes contains mucous
• Other symptoms: Gassiness, abdominal cramps or pain

Infants usually show signs of protein intolerance within a few months of birth. Some infants may react to food proteins present in breastmilk while others may react to formulas based on either cow’s milk or soy.

• How long diarrhea lasts: More than two weeks
• Triggered by: Dairy or soy products, sometimes by egg or other proteins
• When symptoms appear: Two hours or more
• Appearance: Streaks of mucous or blood
• Other symptoms: Distended belly, crying, failure to thrive

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which have chronic diarrhea as a symptom. Both are incurable chronic diseases of the digestive tract that may be treated with surgery or managed with medication.

• How long diarrhea lasts: More than four weeks
• Triggered by: Not related to a specific food
• Appearance: Blood or mucous in stool
• Other symptoms: Abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, delayed growth in children

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) describes chronic diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain that does not have a known disease as a cause.

• How long diarrhea lasts: At least six months
• Triggered by: Not related to a specific food, though certain foods may aggravate symptoms
• Appearance: Small, frequent stools
• Other symptoms: Chronic abdominal bloating or distention; constipation; pain relieved by bowel movement

The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that anyone diagnosed with IBS and diarrhea be tested for celiac disease.

Medication

Some medications, in particular antibiotics and chemotherapy, can cause diarrhea, as well as laxatives containing magnesium. You may have a reaction to the medication itself or an additive, such as a flavoring.

A medication may also alter the balance of bacteria in your gut, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. Sometimes the cause of diarrhea is taking too many laxatives or longer-term abuse of laxatives.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea after starting a new medication.

Genetics

There are congenital diarrheal disorders linked to specific genes. These disorders usually come on in the first few months of a child’s life. They are often most common in certain populations, although congenital chloride diarrhea is one that appears worldwide.

Some other conditions that may cause chronic diarrhea also tend to run in families, including celiac disease, some forms of lactose intolerance, and food allergies.

Lifestyle Risk Factors

A change to your diet, such as going on a mostly liquid diet, eating too much fiber, or eating spicy foods may lead to diarrhea.

Beyond examining and, perhaps, adjusting what you eat and rink, other habits and exposures can put you at greater risk for diarrhea:

Personal Hygiene

The bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause traveler’s diarrhea and stomach flu are spread by contact with contaminated surfaces, food, and water. In the medical world, this is called the fecal-oral route. To reduce your risks, wash your hands well after using the bathroom, changing your child’s diapers, and before eating. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand gel.

Never drink untreated water from a natural source, such as a stream. Even in developed countries, they can be contaminated with diarrhea-causing parasites spread by wildlife, such as Giardia.

When traveling to areas that have a higher risk of contaminated water and food, drink only bottled water and don’t use ice unless it is from bottled or purified water. Avoid uncooked vegetables and fruits (unless they can be peeled), raw shellfish, undercooked meat, and dairy products.

Improper Food Handling

Since food poisoning is often caused by improper food handling, it’s wise to follow these tips outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Clean: Keep your kitchen clean; wash utensils and cutting boards with hot, soapy water.
• Separate: Raw meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs should be kept separate from other food. Use a separate cutting board for these items.
• Cook: Use a food thermometer to ensure meat is cooked to an internal temperature that will kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
• Chill: Be sure your refrigerator is kept below 40 degrees. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, not out on the counter.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Diarrhea in adults typically goes away on its own, but if it lingers it can lead to dehydration (and related consequences like organ failure, seizures, or even death) or be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

Seek medical care if you have any of the following:

• Diarrhea lasting more than two days
• Fever of 102 degrees F or higher
• Frequent vomiting
• Six or more loose stools in 24 hours
• Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
• Stools that are black and tarry or contain blood or pus
• Symptoms of dehydration

Infants

Diarrhea can be particularly dangerous for infants and young children because dehydration can happen quickly. It’s important to make sure your infant is feeding frequently if they have diarrhea and that you seek medical care immediately if your baby or young child has any of the following:

• Diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours
• Fever of 102 degrees For higher
• Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
• Stools containing blood or pus
• Stools that are black and tarry
• Symptoms of dehydration which, in young children, can differ from those in adults

Do not give over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications to infants or toddlers unless advised by your healthcare provider. These medications can quickly accumulate in young children’s bodies and become dangerous.

A Word From Verywell

Diarrhea may be an inconvenience that is soon gone, or it can be a serious or long-lasting illness. When you have a bout, be sure you are drinking enough fluids and see your healthcare provider if it persists.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why did I get diarrhea out of nowhere?

  Diarrhea that comes on suddenly is typically caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection. Common sources of infection are food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, and viral gastritis, also known as the stomach flu.

• What does chronic diarrhea indicate?

  Diarrhea that goes on for weeks or months can be caused by an infection, underlying medical condition, or certain foods. Celiac disease, food allergies or intolerances, medications, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease can all cause chronic diarrhea and should be evaluated by your healthcare provider.

• How long should you wait to see a healthcare provider for diarrhea?

  Diarrhea that lasts more than two days for an adult or more than 24 hours in children should be seen by a healthcare provider. Other symptoms that warrant medical care when accompanying diarrhea include signs of dehydration, a fever of 102 degrees F or higher, frequent vomiting, six or more episodes of loose stools in 24 hours, severe abdominal or rectal pain, stools that are black and tarry, or blood or pus in the stools.

When Diarrhea Is More Serious Than You Think

Traveler’s Diarrhea

If you are traveling in a different part of the world and come down with diarrhea, there’s a pretty good chance that you have traveler’s diarrhea. As with most types of severe diarrhea, you should see your doctor if the symptoms stick around once you’re home. “If the diarrhea persists after the patient is back from a trip, the stool should be tested for parasites, and the patient should be evaluated for an underlying condition that has been unmasked by an infection — for example, inflammatory bowel disease,” said Dr. Charabaty. “After an episode of infectious diarrhea, the diarrhea can persist for several months to years because the gut flora and motility has been altered — that’s what we call post-infectious diarrhea or post-infectious IBS.”

Diarrhea and Medications

Medications to treat certain conditions are very common causes of diarrhea. Hundreds, in fact, may be to blame, said Dr. Kussin. Luckily, when it comes to medicine and diarrhea the advice is fairly straightforward. “If a new medication is started and diarrhea follows within a few days to weeks, your doctor may want to stop the agent and see what happens,” said Kussin. “There are so many therapies for so many conditions that if a medication causes diarrhea, there are alternatives that can take its place.”

Diarrhea and Digestive Disorders

Medical conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease can also cause of diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis can lead to sores or ulcers on the internal lining of the colon, resulting in frequent bouts of diarrhea and abdominal cramps. “Crohn’s is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that often manifests with diarrhea as well as abdominal pain, blood in the stool, anemia, and sometimes weight loss and fever,” said Charabaty. “Celiac disease is a disease caused by an allergy to gluten, which is a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley. In patients with celiac disease, gluten is toxic to their small bowel, destroying its normal lining. This in turn prevents the absorption of water and nutrients, causing not only diarrhea, but also weight loss, anemia, osteoporosis, and other intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms.”

Diarrhea After Surgery

A variety of surgeries in and around the digestive tract can cause short-term diarrhea as a potential side effect. In most cases, this should pass after a few days, but see your doctor if it continues unabated. “Resection of part of the small bowel or the large bowel can cause diarrhea because we are removing a portion of the gut responsible for absorbing water,” said Charabaty. “Certain types of surgeries also promote small bowel bacterial overgrowth, which in turn can cause diarrhea. Removal of the gallbladder can also cause diarrhea because of the bile salts irritating the colon and causing leakage of water into the colon lumen.”

Diarrhea and Allergies

It’s not a common symptom, but some people who experience the red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and wheezing of allergies in the spring may also have a case of diarrhea on top of it all. “Diarrhea as the sole symptom of seasonal allergies would be uncommon,” said Kussin. “As a part of a suite of symptoms that recurs yearly, then it is likely caused by a sensitivity to an environmental allergen.” In addition to other diarrhea medications, Kussin said that this symptom may respond to antihistamines just like your other allergy symptoms.

With any underlying disorder causing your diarrhea, your doctor will likely treat the diarrhea along with the other symptoms of the condition to get you feeling better.

Diarrhea After Antibiotics | Everyday Health

Protect Yourself

Some patients find they can take certain antibiotics and diarrhea won’t be a problem, but taking other drugs will cause diarrhea, Parkman says. If you have diarrhea from taking antibiotics, especially if symptoms persist or worsen, call your doctor. If it’s necessary for you to continue antibiotics treatment, your doctor may be able to switch you to another drug that won’t have this side effect.

If you’re taking an antibiotic, consider changing your diet for a few days to avoid foods that commonly trigger diarrhea, such as dairy products, fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods high in fiber like whole-grain breads, cereals, and beans. You should also sip water and skip caffeine and alcohol. If your symptoms of antibiotic-associated diarrhea are severe, your doctor may recommend bed rest, intravenous fluids to replace your electrolytes — sodium, potassium, and chloride — and another antibiotic to treat the bad intestinal bacteria that is causing diarrhea.

Probiotics May Relieve Diarrhea

Probiotics are friendly bacteria or yeast that help your digestive system function properly. A growing body of research shows that probiotics may help protect against antibiotic-associated diarrhea. In particular, some people have found that the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus, found in certain brands of yogurt, helps reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults. Probiotics are also found in miso and other fermented foods.

Probiotics occur naturally in some foods, are added to others, or can be taken as concentrated supplements. “There are hundreds of probiotics,” Parkman says. “Each one is a little different. You may need to experiment to determine which one, if any, works for you.”

Probiotics supplements are sold in drugstores, groceries, and health food stores in liquid, powder, and capsule forms. They are sometimes kept in a refrigerated section because they need to be protected from heat. You should talk to your doctor before taking probiotics, to make sure they’re safe to use with your other treatment plans.

A Prescription for Caution

To avoid antibiotic-associated diarrhea, it’s best to take antibiotics only when your healthcare provider believes they are absolutely necessary. Antibiotics do not combat viral infections such as the cold and flu; they are effective only against bacterial infections.

Adjusting your diet may help you avoid or ease diarrhea symptoms until you finish your antibiotics regimen. Drink water to stay hydrated and replace any fluids lost to diarrhea. Most important, if your symptoms worsen or don’t clear up after you take your medication, talk to your doctor.

25 Ways to Alleviate Your Symptoms and Get
– Stellar Biotics

Most people suffer from diarrhea at some point throughout their lives. Whether it’s a bout of acute diarrhea resulting from illness, a side effect of medications like antibiotics, or chronic diarrhea from a condition such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhea is an unpleasant experience, often accompanied by abdominal cramping, pain, and other symptoms.

When you do experience diarrhea, you want to alleviate it as soon as possible. While acute diarrhea often subsides on its own after a few days (or a few days after finishing a course of antibiotics), there are some things you can do to relieve your suffering in the meantime. We’ve compiled this list of 25 helpful ways you can get rid of diarrhea to help you recover more quickly and get back to your normal life (click on a link for more detail):

If you’re currently experiencing a bout of diarrhea, there’s no time to waste. Read on to learn how to put these tips into action to get relief fast.

1. Eat plenty of yogurt. “Yogurt, especially the one with live bacterial cultures such as lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium is a great home remedy for diarrhea.

“In a 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that probiotics can help reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea

“Just two bowls of yogurt a day can produce noticeable relief. Add or eat a banana with your yogurt for added benefits.” – How To Get Rid of Diarrhea, Top 10 Home Remedies; Twitter: @10homeremedies

2. Try some ginger. “Ginger is known to be an effective treatment for food poisoning and can also help you stay away from cramps and abdominal pain which are the main symptoms of typical diarrhea. Why does ginger have the fabulous power? Ginger is accompanied with anti-inflammatory properties that can ease irritated bowels and promote digestive activities.

“Direction: Prepare a small piece of ginger. If you desire to make the best of it for your diarrhea, you should slice it into small pieces and mix it with a teaspoon of honey. It tastes not so good for those who don’t familiar with its flavor before.

“Note: If you are sensitive to spicy foods, you can turn to ginger supplements instead of using fresh ginger. Don’t drink much water then to let ginger perform its role smoothly.” – 15 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast, Health Essential

3. Avoid foods and beverages that can cause gas or increase discomfort. “Watching what you eat and drink is very important when you have diarrhea. Dehydration from diarrhea can be fatal in young children and older adults. The most important thing you can do is to keep hydrated.

“Alcohol, milk, soda, and other carbonated or caffeinated drinks may make symptoms worse. Fried and greasy foods, as well as dairy products, are usually not well tolerated. You can decrease bloating by avoiding fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as:

4. Consume liquids that contain salt and sugar. “The biggest danger with a short bout of diarrhea is dehydration, or the loss of water and nutrients from the body’s tissues. You could become dehydrated if you have diarrhea more than three times a day and are not drinking enough fluids. Dehydration can cause serious complications if it is not treated.

The best way to guard against dehydration is to consume liquids that contain salt and sugar, says digestive disease specialist Donald Kirby, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition. The salt slows down the fluid loss, while the sugar helps your body to absorb the salt.

“‘We tend not to want people to have salt in general, but when you’re having significant diarrhea, you want to make sure you’re getting salt and enough sugar to keep out of the emergency room,’ Dr. Kirby says.

“Over-the-counter rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte® will do the job, Dr. Kirby says. Or, follow Mom’s advice and have some chicken soup with saltine crackers or pretzels.

“‘Doctor Mom has been doing it for generations and it still works,’ Dr. Kirby says. ‘In this case, Mother really does know best.’” – Digestive Health Team, Mom’s Advice Is Still the Best for Treating Diarrhea, Cleveland Clinic; Twitter: @ClevelandClinic

5. You can also make your own electrolyte solution at home. “It’s important to keep replacing your body’s supply of water and electrolytes, which include sodium, potassium and chloride. Mix up the perfect electrolyte drink by stirring a half-teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar into a litre of water. Add a little bit of orange juice, lemon juice or salt substitute for potassium. During the day, drink the full amount.” – Natural Home Remedies: Diarrhea, Best Health; Twitter: @besthealthmag

6. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your diarrhea is caused by bacteria or parasites. “Most of the time, diarrhea doesn’t require treatment. It usually lasts only a couple of days, whether you treat it or not. However, medicine can help you feel better, especially if you also have cramping.

“When diarrhea is a symptom of an infection caused by bacteria or parasites, antidiarrheal medicines can actually make the condition worse. This is because the medicine keeps your body from getting rid of the bacteria or parasite that is causing the diarrhea. Talk to your family doctor if you have any reason to think your diarrhea might be caused by a bacterial or parasitic infection.” – Anti-diarrheal Medicines: OTC Relief for Diarrhea, FamilyDoctor.org; Twitter: @familydoctor

7. Prepare some fresh orange peel tea. “A traditional diarrhea remedy and general digestive aid, orange peels stimulate digestion. You need organic oranges for this brew; nonorganic orange skins may contain dyes and pesticides. Peel an orange and chop the peel finely. Place in a pot and cover with a pint of boiling water. Cover the pot tightly and steep until cool. Strain, sweeten with honey, and drink.” – Taylor Shea, 11 Home Remedies for Diarrhea, Reader’s Digest; Twitter: @readersdigest

8. Sip, don’t guzzle, beverages, and make sure they’re cool. “Whatever you choose to drink, keep it cool; it will be less irritating that way. Sip, don’t guzzle; it will be easier on your insides if you take frequent sips of liquid instead of guzzling down a glass at a time.” – 10 Home Remedies for Diarrhea, HowStuffWorks Health; Twitter: @HowStuffWorks

9. Eat soft, bland foods. “Soft, bland foods are recommended as well, including bananas, plain rice, toast, crackers, boiled potatoes, smooth peanut butter, cottage cheese, noodles and applesauce. Because yogurt, cheese and miso contain probiotics, which contain strains of bacteria similar to those in a healthy intestine, they are also good choices. Avoid fatty, high-fiber or heavily seasoned foods for several days.” – Elizabeth Palermo, Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments, Live Science; Twitter: @techEpalermo, @LiveScience

10. Eat bananas, which are easily digested and contain prebiotics. “The ‘B’ in the BRAT diet, bananas are bland and easily digested, and thus are a good choice for settling your upset tummy. As a bonus, the high level of potassium in bananas helps to replace electrolytes that may be lost by severe bouts of diarrhea.

“Bananas are also rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps to absorb liquid in the intestines and thus move stool along smoothly.

“Bananas also contain a good amount of inulin, another soluble fiber. Inulin is a prebiotic, a substance that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in your large intestine Thus, bananas may actually help to address the underlying problem that is causing the diarrhea.” – Barbara Bolen, PhD, What to Eat When You Have Diarrhea, Verywell; Twitter: @Verywell

11. Use a heating pad to ease abdominal cramping. “Diarrhea can be caused by abdominal cramping. If this is the case, then it is important for you to soothe the cramped muscles up. You can do this by placing a heating pad over your stomach. But always use a layer of cloth to protect your skin from the heat.” – How to Get Rid of Diarrhea, Enki Village; Twitter: @EnkiVillage

12. Try a vinegar and brown sugar mixture. “Those who have a severe case of diarrhea can mix four tablespoons of vinegar and one tablespoon of brown sugar in a glass of water. Drink a glass of this mixture every 6 hours. It may taste weird, but is an ideal remedy for diarrhea.” – 34 Simple Home Remedies to Get Rid of Diarrhea, Home Remedy Hacks; Twitter: @homeremedyhacks

13. Chamomile and lemon tea can help to soothe diarrhea and related symptoms. “Chamomile and lemon tea can help you to get relief from diarrhea as both have a soothing effect on your whole body. Chamomile tea is very effective, if your diarrhea is caused by heavy stress or from high anxieties. You can use directly the herbal leaves of chamomile in preparing the tea. On the other hand, if sprinkle over just one slice of lemon on your tea, you will get satisfactory result must. The recommended amount is one lemon for preparing 250 ml of tea.” – John Hurry, How to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast Without Medicine, Healthy Women – Women TALK; Twitter: @HealthyWomen

14. Get enough rest. “When using what you’ve learned about how to stop diarrhea, do not neglect this step. Providing your body with the rest it needs to combat viral gastroenteritis is essential. If you’re not well rested, your immune system will simply be unable to perform as well as it should. This means the time it takes your body to cure diarrhea will be lengthened. Luckily, with the exception of frequent visits to the can, getting rest is usually a pretty easy thing to talk yourself into.” – Eric D. Ronning, Best Ways to Get Rid of Diarrhea, GetRidofThings.com; Twitter: @howtogetridofus

15. Avoid dairy, caffeine, and alcohol. “Sugary, alcoholic, and caffeinated drinks could make dehydration worse. Since diarrhea could also cause temporary lactose-intolerance, milk and other dairy products could make the symptoms feel worse. Thus, you should avoid these for about three days after the symptoms disappear. Yogurt or cheeses with probiotics are allowed.

“You should also avoid spicy foods and chewing gum that contains sorbitol.

“If diarrhea lasts for more than a few days, investigate the foods you eat because some can irritate your bowel and worsen diarrhea. These include foods that are high in fiber, such as brown rice, whole grains, and bran; and greasy or excessively sweet foods.” – How to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast, HowtoGetRid.net

16. Find out if any medications you’re taking could be causing diarrhea. “Certain prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Talk with your healthcare provider about any medicines you take that may be causing these symptoms.” – Self-Care for Vomiting and Diarrhea, Fairview; Twitter: @FairviewHealth

17. Drink a cup or two of black tea, which contains polyphenols. “Black tea contains tannins that are polyphenols and give tea its astringent property. Astringent ingredients are capable of binding up and contracting bodily tissue. Tannins, in fact, stick to the protein layer of inflamed mucous membranes and make these membranes thick. The thick membranes cannot absorb toxins that fast. Also, their thickness prevents the bodily fluids from being secreted. In case of diarrhea, tannins thus thicken the irritated intestine and stops loss of bodily fluids. Therefore, you may have a cup or two of black tea when suffering from diarrhea.” – Sara, How to Get Rid of Diarrhea, Rapid Home Remedies; Twitter: @RapidRemedies

18. Identify potential food allergies and food intolerance. “Food intolerance is when your body can’t digest a certain food and it causes irritation in your digestive system. For example, if you have diarrhea after consuming dairy foods you may be lactose intolerant. According to Patient.info, the symptoms of food intolerance are nausea after eating, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea, which can all occur within a few hours after eating.

“Food allergies are when your body mistakes a certain food as harmful and attacks it. The symptoms of food allergies are similar to food intolerance and can cause constant diarrhea after eating a meal. Usually, the symptoms of food allergies come on quicker after eating certain food and may affect different parts of your whole body, not just your digestive system.

“If you think that the cause of your diarrhea after eating food is because of an allergy or intolerance, it’s important to identify the trigger and eliminate this from your diet.” – Jenny Hills, Diarrhea After Eating: The Most Common Causes and Treatments, Healthy and Natural World; Twitter: @GetBetterHeal

19. Coconut water and maple water are good alernatives to sugar-containing beverages. “The more water lost in your stool, the less you have in your body, and the greater your risk for dehydration. Dehydration will only make you feel worse, so drink up.

“Stick to water, and/or small amounts of an electrolyte-containing beverages (but be careful with the later—too much of a sugary beverage can make diarrhea worse. Coconut water and maple water are good options.

“And although bubbles may sound soothing, carbonation can actually make diarrhea worse, so stick avoid fizzy drinks until you’re back up to speed.” – Katherine Baker, Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea, Spoon University; Twitter: @SpoonUniversity

20. If you do take OTC medication to alleviate diarrhea, discontinue if your symptoms persist after two days and seek medical attention. “In many cases of diarrhea, replacing lost fluid and salts is the only treatment needed.

“Adults should consume broth, soup, fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables.

“Children should drink a special liquid that has all the nutrients they need. These solutions are sold without a prescription in grocery stores or drugstores. Pedialyte, Ceralyte, or Infalyte are some examples.

“Taking medicine to stop diarrhea can be helpful in some cases. Medicines that are available without a doctor’s prescription include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate). Stop taking these medicines if symptoms get worse or if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days.” – What is diarrhea?, EDinformatics.com

21. During bouts of diarrhea, cutting back on fiber can be helpful. “A low fibre diet can help you manage diarrhea, cramps and gas. A diet low in fat, lactose, caffeine and spices may also help. You may find it easier to eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. It is also very important to stay well hydrated.” – Connie Giordano Ziembicki, MHSc, RD, What to Eat and Drink When You Have Diarrhea, Cramps and Gas, UHN Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Twitter: @UHN_News

22. Don’t allow diarrhea to continue for more than three days without seeking advice from a healthcare provider. “Suffering from diarrhea should not be for a longer time. You should seek medical help once it lasts for more than 3 days. Most doctors don’t give oral medicine for diarrhea because through the bowel movement, humans are able to eliminate toxins which should be secreted. It’s the natural way of the body to remove unwanted substances that should not be present in the body for a longer time.

“But, if you are suffering from stomach pain and you are experiencing continued watery bowel. Something’s not right anymore. You should start seeking for help since dehydration is a fatal complication that can occur when diarrhea is going on for a longer time.” – Jacob Mabille, Foods to Eat to Stop Diarrhea, HealthGuidance.org

23. Take probiotics. “These microorganisms help restore a healthy balance to the intestinal tract by boosting the level of good bacteria. Probiotics are available in capsule or liquid form and are also added to some foods, such as certain brands of yogurt.

“Studies confirm that some probiotics might be helpful in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infectious diarrhea.” – Diarrhea, Mayo Clinic; Twitter: @MayoClinic

24. Protein such as baked or broiled meats and vegetables are generally safe foods when you’re ready to begin reintroducing solids to your diet. “You can bake or broil beef, pork, chicken, fish, or turkey. Cooked eggs are also OK. Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt.

“If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days.

“Eat bread products made from refined, white flour. Pasta, white rice, and cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes are OK. You may also try pancakes and waffles made with white flour, and cornbread. But don’t add too much honey or syrup.

“You should eat vegetables, including carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus tips, acorn squash, and peeled zucchini. Cook them first. Baked potatoes are OK. In general, removing seeds and skins is best.

“Some desserts and snacks to try include fruit-flavored gelatin, fruit-flavored ice pops, cakes, cookies, or sherbet.” – When you have diarrhea, McLaren Northern Michigan; Twitter: @northernhealth

25. Taking probiotics on a regular basis can even help to reduce chronic diarrhea and prevent the onset of diarrhea for those taking antibiotics. “For over a decade, I have recommended a trial of probiotics to virtually all of my patients. Why? Of all the strategies I discuss with clients, adding probiotics has resulted in the most significant decrease in chronic diarrhea.” – Niki Strealy, RDN, LD, Tip #8 Try Probiotics, The Diarrhea Dietician; Twitter: @DiarrheaRD

What to eat after diarrhea stops? – Mvorganizing.org

What to eat after diarrhea stops?

While recovering from diarrhea, a person should eat bland, simple foods that are easy to digest and will help absorb some water from the stool….Bland foods

• hot cereals, such as oatmeal, cream of wheat, or rice porridge.
• bananas.
• applesauce.
• plain white rice.
• bread or toast.
• boiled potatoes.
• unseasoned crackers.

How long should you stay on the BRAT diet after diarrhea?

Limited research-backed guidelines exist on how to follow the BRAT diet exactly, but recommendations for a 3-day plan do exist. Within the first 6 hours of your illness, you may want to skip food altogether. Give your stomach a rest and wait to eat until vomiting and diarrhea have stopped completely.

How do you reset your stomach after diarrhea?

BRAT diet Every parent of a toddler knows about the bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet to calm an upset stomach. It can help nausea or diarrhea. BRAT contains low-fiber, high-binding foods. None of these foods contain salt or spices, which can further aggravate symptoms.

Can you eat eggs when you have diarrhea?

Eating When you Have Diarrhea Cooked eggs are also OK. Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt. If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days. Eat bread products made from refined, white flour.

What can I eat to harden my stool?

Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast The best (and most recommended) diet to follow when experiencing diarrhea is the BRAT diet. This curiously named food plan stands for: Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Notice a trend? These bland foods are low-fiber, which will help firm your stool and calm your stomach.

What naturally stops diarrhea?

Lifestyle and home remedies

1. Drink plenty of clear liquids, including water, broths and juices.
2. Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your bowel movements return to normal.
3. Avoid certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods for a few days.

Is Coke good for diarrhea?

Give an adult plenty of clear fluid, like fruit juices, soda, sports drinks and clear broth. Avoid milk or milk-based products, alcohol, apple juice, and caffeine while you have diarrhea and for 3 to 5 days after you get better. They may make diarrhea worse.

Is tea good for diarrhea?

You should drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. Choose fruit juice without pulp, broth, or soda (without caffeine). Chicken broth (without the fat), tea with honey, and sports drinks are also good choices. Instead of drinking liquids with your meals, drink liquids between meals.

What is watery diarrhea a sign of?

Bacteria that cause diarrhea-producing infections include salmonella and E. coli. Contaminated food and fluids are common sources of bacterial infections. Rotavirus, norovirus, and other kinds of viral gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as “stomach flu,” are among the viruses that can cause explosive diarrhea.

Is it better to stop diarrhea or let it go?

If you suffer from acute diarrhea, it’s best to treat it straight away. By treating diarrhea, your body can start to recover so you can feel better and get on with your day as quickly as possible.

What cures diarrhea fast?

A diet known as BRAT may also quickly relieve diarrhea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. This diet is effective due to the bland nature of these foods, and the fact that they’re starchy, low-fiber foods. These foods have a binding effect in the digestive tract to make stools bulkier.

What helps with the runs?

Two types of meds relieve diarrhea in different ways:

• Loperamide (Imodium) slows the movement of food through your intestines, which lets your body absorb more liquid.
• Bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) balances out how fluid moves through your digestive tract.

Why won’t my diarrhea go away?

Some infections, food allergies and intolerances, digestive tract problems, abdominal surgery, and long-term use of medicines can cause chronic diarrhea. Some infections from bacteria and parasites that cause diarrhea do not go away quickly without treatment.

Is Pepto Bismol good for diarrhea?

Pepto-Bismol is used to treat diarrhea and relieve the symptoms of an upset stomach. These symptoms can include: heartburn. nausea.

What settles upset stomach and diarrhea?

Remedies and Treatments for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea

1. Clear soup broth or bouillon.
2. Decaffeinated tea.
3. Sports drinks.
4. Clear soft-drinks like 7-Up, Sprite, or Ginger Ale.
5. Juices like apple, grape, cherry, or cranberry (make sure to avoid citrus juices)
6. Popsicles.

What food makes your stomach feel better?

The 12 Best Foods for an Upset Stomach

1. Ginger Can Relieve Nausea and Vomiting.
2. Chamomile May Reduce Vomiting and Soothe Intestinal Discomfort.
3. Peppermint May Relieve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
4. Licorice Can Reduce Indigestion and May Help Prevent Stomach Ulcers.
5. Flaxseed Relieves Constipation and Stomach Pain.

How can I settle my upset stomach?

Some of the most popular home remedies for an upset stomach and indigestion include:

1. Drinking water.
2. Avoiding lying down.
3. Ginger.
4. Mint.
5. Taking a warm bath or using a heating bag.
6. BRAT diet.
7. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol.
8. Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods.

What’s the best medicine for upset stomach and diarrhea?

For cramping from diarrhea, medicines that have loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) might make you feel better. For other types of pain, acetaminophen (Aspirin Free Anacin, Liquiprin, Panadol, Tylenol) might be helpful.

How do I stop my stomach from gurgling and diarrhea?

Here are a few tips for dealing with stomach churning resulting from food poisoning or gastroenteritis from a virus:

1. Drink plenty of fluids.
2. Eat bland foods like saltine crackers and white toast.
3. Take Pedialyte to replace your electrolytes.
4. Eat bland, broth-based soups.
5. Avoid hard-to-digest foods.
6. Get plenty of rest.

When should you not take Imodium?

If you are taking loperamide for acute diarrhea and your symptoms get worse or if your diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours, stop taking this medication and call your doctor.

What drink helps an upset stomach?

Treatment & Prevention

• Sports drinks.
• Clear, non-caffeinated sodas such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale.
• Diluted juices such as apple, grape, cherry or cranberry (avoid citrus juices)
• Clear soup broth or bouillon.
• Popsicles.
• Decaffeinated tea.

What should you not eat with an upset stomach?

Don’t Eat: Dairy Milk, cheese, and ice cream are all no-no’s with an upset stomach. They’re hard for your body to digest, in part because they’re high in fat. Plain, nonfat yogurt may be OK sometimes, but start with a little and see how it goes.

What can I take to stop feeling sick?

Things that may help you stop feeling sick

• get plenty of fresh air.
• distract yourself – for example, listen to music or watch a film.
• take sips of a cold drink – some people find fizzy drinks best.
• drink ginger or peppermint tea.
• eat foods containing ginger – such as ginger biscuits.
• eat smaller, more frequent meals.

What settles your stomach when you feel sick?

Crackers, pretzels, toast and cereals are quick meal fixes that require little to no preparation, have no strong odor and may help settle your empty, upset stomach ( 12 ).

What helps when you feel like throwing up?

Try some of these handy tips:

1. Sit down or lie propped up.
2. Avoid physical activity.
3. Drink something sugary like ginger ale or Gatorade.
4. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and acidic drinks like orange juice.
5. Suck ice chips or have a cold drink.
6. Avoid oily and spicy foods.
7. Practice deep breathing exercises.

What medicine stops nausea fast?

Nausea medications are called antiemetics. When nausea is severe, you may need an OTC medication to help calm and soothe the stomach….Some options are:

1. Emetrol.
2. Nauzene.
3. Dramamine.
4. Pepto-Bismol.
5. Gravol.

What is the best medication for nausea?

What types of medications are available to treat nausea and vomiting?

• Meclizine hydrochloride (Bonine) is an antihistamine that is effective in the treatment of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness.
• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) also is an antihistamine.

How do you sleep when you feel like throwing up?

Crunching your stomach may also worsen nausea since it compresses the area and makes you less comfortable in general. When you’re nauseous, try reclining with your upper body elevated, and move around as little as possible.

What causes nausea without vomiting?

Nausea is not a disease itself, but can be a symptom of many disorders related to the digestive system, including: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Peptic ulcer disease. Problems with nerves or muscles in the stomach that cause slow stomach emptying or digestion (gastroparesis)

90,000 Diarrhea home treatment

Diarrhea is one of the first symptoms of most intestinal infections and food poisoning. In order to stop diarrhea, it is necessary to treat the disease that is causing the intestinal disorder, and not the symptom itself. But sometimes people don’t have the time or opportunity to see a doctor. Therefore, in such a situation, it is advisable to know how to stop diarrhea at home on your own.

Usually, people do not take diarrhea seriously enough, do not seek medical attention, and pay little attention to the recovery process.And this is a fundamentally wrong approach to your health.

If we are talking about a child, then their body is more sensitive to external factors: environment, nutrition, microbes. Because of this, they are more likely to suffer from stool disorder and adults devote more time to their treatment than to their own.

Regardless of who suffers from intestinal malaise, with a symptom of diarrhea, home treatment should be started immediately. You also need to remember that not all disorders of the digestive tract require the use of medication; in some situations, it is permissible to limit yourself to rehydration therapy at home.

Prolonged diarrhea can result in severe dehydration. Its symptoms are:

• weakness;

• incessant thirst;

• dry skin and mucous membranes;

• lowering blood pressure;

• headache, dizziness;

• the frequency of urination falls.

In an extreme form, vital processes are disrupted in the body, which can result in the death of the patient.

Because of this, at the first signs of diarrhea, you should not take symptomatic drugs for diarrhea with a huge list of contraindications, it is necessary to limit yourself to enterosorbents.

Diarrhea home treatment quickly

If diarrhea is not accompanied by vomiting, does not manifest itself too much and you do not see the need to call a doctor, this does not mean that the body will be able to cope with the disorder on its own and does not need help.A sure remedy for diarrhea is sorbents, they collect harmful substances and remove them painlessly. This process helps to cleanse the body and stop diarrhea.

Choosing the most effective and safe means, pay attention to the enterosorbent “Polysorb”. This drug is approved not only for adult patients, but also for children, the elderly, pregnant women and women during breastfeeding, since it has no practical contraindications. The action of the drug begins within 1-4 minutes after using the suspension.

Polysorb is already available in powder form, which is much more convenient than tablets. The enerosorbent just needs to be stirred in water (it is also permissible to use fruit drink, compote and even breast milk) in the proportions indicated in the instructions. The amount of the drug depends on the patient’s body weight. “Polysorb” eliminates the root cause of the ailment, while it does not have a traumatic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, does not allow the absorption of harmful elements into the circulatory system. Taking this sorbent not only cleanses the body, but also speeds up the recovery process and improves the patient’s well-being.You can buy Polysorb at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

If you prefer the tried and tested “grandma” methods, you can use rice or rice water in addition to the sorbent. This cereal has long earned the fame of a natural sorbent due to its absorbent, fixing and enveloping characteristics. Rice can soothe irritated bowels and normalize digestive processes.At the same time, the round-grain variety of this cereal has better properties.

Doctors also advise eating rice porridge cooked in water without added sugar or oil. Strained rice water should be taken every few hours, 100 ml.

Nutrition for diarrhea

There are several rules to follow after diarrhea:

1. You can not load the intestines – for this, food is taken in small portions, but 5-6 times a day.

2. Remove all junk food from the diet – fried, spicy, smoked.

3. Do not eat foods that increase fermentation.

4. To drink a lot of water.

5. Reduce or completely eliminate salty foods.

6. Do not consume chocolate.

7. You cannot eat raw vegetables and fruits.

When restoring the body, it is recommended to eat the following foods:

• cereals boiled in water – they do not overload the digestive system, have high digestibility, envelop the intestinal walls;

• dietary meat (chicken, turkey), boiled, steamed or baked in the oven without spices;

• lean types of fish;

• crackers;

• jelly, dried fruit compote;

• black tea without sugar.

Foods that irritate the intestines and lead to digestive problems are strictly prohibited. These include alcoholic beverages, coffee, juices, sweet and carbonated drinks, canned food, marinades, various sauces, fresh baked goods.

How to avoid recurring eating disorders

By adhering to basic personal hygiene practices, you can minimize the recurrence of diarrhea.

1. Wash your hands whenever possible, use antiseptics.

2. Keep track of the purity of the food you eat, especially if it is vegetables and fruits, which are most often eaten without heat treatment.

3. Drink only boiled water or purchased bottled water. Be especially careful with your food and water choices when you are in other countries.

4. Avoid swimming in open waters that are not designed for this purpose.

5. Don’t buy food from suspicious food outlets.

6. Try to be less nervous, rest more and not overexert your body in order to maintain vitality and energy.

Why is Polysorb right for you?

• Recommended for use by people of all ages.

• Begins to act in 1-4 minutes after ingestion.

• Contains no preservatives, colors or sweeteners. Taste neutral.

• Gently removes harmful and normalizes the intestinal microflora.

The dosage of the drug is calculated individually depending on its weight according to instructions .

If you have any difficulties in calculating the individual dose of Polysorb, you can get a free consultation by phone: 8-800-100-19-89 or in section of consultation .

Learn more

IMODIUM® – a lingual drug for diarrhea and diarrhea

Diarrhea can come at the most inopportune moment and ruin weekend plans, disrupt workflow, and prevent you from enjoying your vacation.The remedy for diarrhea Imodium ^® helps to quickly eliminate discomfort from the intestines!

Imodium ^® is a remedy for diarrhea, which normalizes intestinal motility (muscle work).

Imodium ^® is recommended to be taken in the event of:

• Acute diarrhea (diarrhea) in adults and children over the age of 12 years.
• Acute episodes of diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome in adults 18 years of age and older after the initial diagnosis is made by the doctor.

Imodium ^® is recommended for the treatment of symptoms of acute diarrhea in astronauts and is included in the necessary pharmacy kit on the ISS (International Space Station) ² . Properties Imodium ^® :

• The drug begins to act within an hour, eliminating the symptoms of diarrhea ³ .
• Imodium ^® is easy to buy in most pharmacy chains.
• Imodium ^® correctly solves the problem by helping to restore bowel function.

Mechanism of Action: How does Imodium ^® help solve the problem?

Active ingredient Imodium ^® – loperamide . The mechanism of action of the drug is to normalize the motor function of the intestine and increase the tone of the anal sphincter, thereby reducing the urge to defecate. Imodium ^® eliminates the uncomfortable manifestations of gastrointestinal tract problems and contributes to:

• Improving the motor function (muscle work) of the intestine.
• Normalization of intestinal water absorption.
• Decrease in fluid secretion into the intestinal lumen.

Forms of production Imodium ^®

Imodium ^® is available in two forms:

1. Capsules.
2. Lozenges (lingual format).

Format – Imodium ^® Lingual ⁴ – produced according to the special technology Zydis ⁵ . Lozenges Imodium ^® Lingual:

• Dissolve on the tongue in a few seconds ³ , do not need to be washed down with water.
• Packed in a special handy blister.
• Have a pleasant mint flavor.
• Convenient for people who have difficulty swallowing.

Recommendations for taking Imodium ^®

Self-medication can be harmful to your health. It is recommended that you read the instructions and consult your doctor before you start taking the product. If symptoms of diarrhea persist for 48 hours, make an appointment with your doctor.

Download instructions for use IMODIUM ^®

Imodium

^® . Fights diarrhea quickly and gently ¹ .

1. Fast action refers to the action of a drug that helps stop diarrhea and takes effect within an hour after ingestion. Emery W., Duke F., Polak J., Van den Bouvusen G. Multicenter Dual Study Kerr Ther. Res. Wedge Exp. 1975 March; 17 (3): 263-2. By gentle action, we mean the antidiarrheal effect of the drug, in accordance with the instructions, namely, a decrease in the propulsive motor activity of the intestine and an increase in the transit time of its contents, thanks to which the drug helps to reduce the loss of fluid and electrolytes through the gastrointestinal tract.The drug has contraindications.
2. Space Station User Guide http://spaceref.com/iss/medical.ops.html
3. Amery et al. “Multicenter double-blind study: comparison of the efficacy of loperamide in acute diarrhea with two popular antidiarrheal agents and placebo” 1975
4. According to the Market research system “Pharm Explorer” in 2016, no other drugs in the form of lingual tablets are available on the Ukrainian market …
5. Preparations using Zydis technology are produced only at Catalent UK Swindon Zaydis Limited http://www.catalent.com/index.php/offerings/A-Z-Offerings/zydis

CONTRAINDICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. BEFORE USING IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT A DOCTOR AND READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.

What to do with diarrhea – Lifehacker

Diarrhea is normal. Sooner or later, absolutely everyone encounters it, and in most cases, diarrhea safely passes ^{by itself – within a day or two.But sometimes diarrhea can be a serious problem.}

When you need to see a doctor urgently

Most often, you don’t have to worry about diarrhea. But quickly consult a physician or, depending on the severity of the symptoms, call an ambulance if:

• You have not only loose stools, but also blood in it. Or it is black – this is a sign of clotted blood.
• Together with diarrhea, you have a high (above 38.3 ° C) temperature.
• You have severe nausea or vomiting that interferes with drinking to replace lost fluids.
• You feel severe pain in your abdomen or anus.
• Diarrhea appeared after you returned from abroad.
• You have deep, dark urine.
• You have a quick heartbeat.
• Diarrhea is accompanied by severe headache, irritability, clouding of consciousness.

These symptoms indicate either an acute inflammatory process associated with an infection or a severe degree of dehydration. Both situations are equally dangerous – up to and including death.Therefore, do not expect to do with home remedies and do not hesitate to see a doctor.

If there are no ominous signs, diarrhea can be treated with simple methods.

Where does diarrhea come from

Diarrhea is called a disease of unwashed hands, and it is true: most often diarrhea overtakes those who are not too concerned about hygiene. But it also happens otherwise. These are the most common causes of ^diarrhea.

1. Viral infections

Didn’t wash your hands, swallow water from a river or a heated sea, bit an unwashed apple.And they got, for example, a rotavirus infection. And, possibly, viral hepatitis. From the same sources – the Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus and other gastrointestinal nasty things, accompanied by a thinning of the stool.

2. Bacteria and parasites

They are taken from about the same place as viral infections – from the careless habit of dragging something poorly washed or filtered into your mouth. Diarrhea caused by bacteria and parasites often overtakes people in unfamiliar countries, and therefore has the “romantic” name of travel diarrhea.

3. Taking certain medications

Diarrhea is often caused by:

• antibiotics;
• Antacid preparations, especially those containing magnesium;
• Certain drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases.

4. Artificial sweeteners

Sorbitol, mannitol, aspartame – the human digestive system is not always ready to meet these sweet synthetic substances. They are difficult to digest and sometimes cause bloating and diarrhea.

5. Fructose or lactose intolerance

Lactose is a natural sugar found in dairy products. Fructose is the same, but comes from fruits or honey. Despite the natural origin of these simple carbohydrates, some people are unable to process them. Hence digestive problems, including diarrhea.

By the way, the number of enzymes that help to digest lactose decreases with age. Therefore, intolerance to milk sugars is often manifested in the elderly.

6. Digestive disorders

Here is a list of diseases that can occasionally (not necessarily on an ongoing basis) provoke diarrhea:

• ulcerative and microscopic colitis;
• celiac disease;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract.

7. Alcohol abuse

Large amounts of alcohol can damage the intestinal mucosa and disrupt the composition of its microflora.

8. Certain hormonal diseases

Diarrhea is a common occurrence in diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).

9. Running

For some people, this hobby also provokes diarrhea. It’s called runner’s diarrhea.

What to do in case of diarrhea

In most cases, diarrhea does not need treatment as it goes away quickly on its own. To speed up this process:

• Drink plenty of liquids: water, broth, fruit drinks, fruit drinks, juices.Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Include low-fiber foods in your diet: boiled eggs, boiled rice or chicken, white bread toast, or crackers.
• Avoid fatty foods, high fiber foods (raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads), and spices for a while.
• Consider taking probiotics, substances that help restore normal gut flora. It is best to choose the necessary drug with a therapist.

What to do if diarrhea persists

Diarrhea that lasts longer than two days is a direct indication for consultation with a physician. Probably, the diarrhea is caused by some kind of internal serious malfunction in the body.

The doctor will ask about the accompanying symptoms, look into your medical history. You may need to undergo blood, urine, and feces tests. Depending on the results of the examination and tests, the doctor will diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Read also 🌡💊😰

Helpful hints

Translated from the Greek “diarrheo” means “I expire.”Anyone who has ever encountered this unpleasant problem should not explain the meaning of the word “diarrhea”. This syndrome causes a lot of inconvenience and unpleasant minutes and can be a symptom of serious diseases.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea – frequent loose stools (more than 3 times a day). A distinctive feature is watery feces, which are more than 90% liquid.

Diarrhea is a syndrome, not a disease. It indicates that a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract has occurred in the body.In various diseases, diarrheal syndrome has its own distinctive features.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom of many diseases and pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The most common cause of diarrhea are viral infections (rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, and others) or bacterial infections such as dysentery, salmonellosis, and others.

But diarrhea can also develop under the influence of drugs, such as antibiotics, antiarrhythmic drugs.It may be the result of an individual intolerance to a particular food product, the so-called food allergy. Diarrhea can be provoked by errors in the diet or the abuse of fatty, heavy foods. It accompanies a number of chronic gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers) or is a manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome.

But it is important to know that if we are talking about adults, then their diarrhea is most often the result of poisoning with spoiled or low-quality products, the so-called food poisoning.Usually food poisoning has a vivid clinical picture: in addition to frequent loose stools, vomiting, weakness, fever with high body temperature are observed. It develops rapidly, lasts from 1 to 3 days.

Diarrhea in adults often occurs during travel, especially if it is a trip to exotic countries. There is even a special term – traveler’s diarrhea, which affects up to 30% of all tourists visiting exotic countries. Bowel upset in this case is associated with a change in climatic conditions, adaptation to new water, food, spices, stress suffered from the flight, or lowered hygiene standards in a number of countries.

Why is diarrhea dangerous for adults?

Acute diarrhea in adults is dangerous because it can become chronic. In this case, loose stools haunt a person every day for a month or more. This significantly affects the general well-being of a person, his performance, immunity and, of course, the quality of life. In this case, you need to see a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination and treatment. Find out the cause of diarrhea and eliminate it!

Diarrhea is also dangerous with the development of complications such as:

– Dehydration.

– Violations of the rhythm of the heart, cramps, muscle pain.

– Cachexia is a state of extreme exhaustion of the body.

Help for diarrhea in adults

It is better to start treating diarrhea as soon as you understand that loose stools are not an isolated case. Depending on the causes of diarrhea, the doctor will prescribe a comprehensive treatment, but here are the general rules that should be followed by all patients with diarrhea.

1.Start taking antidiarrheal drugs

Treatment should be started with drugs that have an antidiarrheal effect, that is, they are ways to stop diarrhea. There are a huge number of antidiarrheal drugs, but your choice should be stopped on the one that is not only effective, but also safe. It is to such funds that Adiarin belongs. This remedy is based on a fundamentally new active substance – tannate gelatin, which not only acts quickly and stops diarrhea, but also protects the intestines from the aggressive effects of factors that provoked it (viruses, toxins, bacteria).It creates a special protective bio-barrier on the damaged mucous membrane of the small intestine, which stops inflammation, restores the integrity of the intestinal epithelium and normalizes its physiological functions, preventing the development of dehydration. In this case, the drug works only in the intestines and has no effect on the body as a whole.

After improving the condition and reducing the frequency of loose stools, it is the turn of enzyme preparations and probiotics. They help restore microflora and restore the stomach and intestines to function normally.

2. Drink more fluids

With diarrhea, the body loses a lot of water and electrolytes. It is possible to replenish the fluid deficit with an enhanced water regime, but special rehydration solutions cope best with dehydration, because they contain the necessary salts and trace elements.

3. Follow a sparing diet

It is necessary to exclude from the diet all “irritants”: spicy, salty, sour, coarse fiber.Also limit anything that stimulates the production of bile (tomatoes, carrots, fatty foods, juices). Remove products that cause gas formation: cabbage, milk, apples.

Compliance with these recommendations will allow you to cope with a common episode of diarrhea in a few days. But if the diarrhea lasts longer than 5-7 days and you don’t feel any improvement, you should see your doctor right away.

Treatment of diarrhea in children

Intestinal infections are more likely to attack children than adults.According to statistics, 2/3 of patients with diarrhea are children under 5 years of age. And it is this age that is most vulnerable to the danger of diarrhea complications. We are mainly talking about dehydration, which quickly develops in children against the background of poisoning and, if not properly treated, can lead to sad consequences.

With repeated loose stools, you should consult a doctor in order to establish the causes of the ailment and receive recommendations for treatment. But there are a number of general rules that must be followed when a child has diarrhea:

1. Follow a gentle diet
2. Increase fluid intake to prevent deficiency in the body
3. start taking antidiarrheal agents appropriate for the patient’s age to support the intestinal microflora using probiotics.

No one is immune from diarrhea. But there are rules that can reduce the risk of disease:

– Wash hands regularly with soap, especially after visiting public places and before eating

– Compliance with the rules for storing food. Never store raw and cooked foods together.

– Avoid drinking raw water

– Avoid contact with people suffering from intestinal disorders

– Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits before eating, preferably with soap and a brush

– Eat only fresh products, pay attention to their expiration dates, composition and manufacturer

– Do not eat unfamiliar or suspicious food

– Correct culinary processing of food

– Keep the dishes clean

– Eat in checked places

Related products: Adiarin

CONTRAINDICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE.PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE.

If the intestines sound the alarm / Health / Nezavisimaya gazeta

A “shameful” symptom can signal a serious illness

Diarrhea is often the result of food poisoning or allergies to certain foods. Photo by Pixabay

According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, every third inhabitant of our planet regularly suffers from diarrhea.This symptom occurs as a result of increased peristalsis (contraction) of the intestine and impaired absorption of water in its thick section.

We emphasize right away that this symptom is a kind of SOS signal, indicating, for example, an acute intestinal infection. In this case, we are talking about such a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria as dysentery.

Another cause of diarrhea can be dysbiosis – a violation of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the intestinal microflora, caused, in particular, by weakening of the immune system, poor nutrition, and the use of antibacterial drugs.At the same time, the number of beneficial microorganisms (bifidobacteria, lactobacilli), constantly living in the intestine, decreases, and pathogenic (staphylococci, streptococci) – increases. This contributes to the occurrence of diarrhea.

However, the causative agents of diarrhea can be not only pathogenic microbes, but also the so-called rotaviruses. They cause inflammation and swelling of the small intestine wall, which leads to impaired production and absorption of fluids rich in sodium and potassium. At the same time, the large intestine does not suffer and leukocytes are not detected in laboratory tests.Diarrhea is accompanied by a massive loss of fluid, which can lead to dehydration.

Another cause of diarrhea is chronic gastrointestinal diseases such as enterocolitis (inflammation of the lining of the small intestine). There is also dyspeptic diarrhea, which is caused by an insufficient amount of gastric juice or enzymes produced in the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes diarrhea is neurogenic and appears under the influence of severe stress.In addition, diarrhea is often the result of food poisoning or allergies to certain foods.

If the diarrhea is severe and prolonged, accompanied by fever, vomiting, bloating and abdominal pain, see a doctor immediately. Based on the results of laboratory tests, he will diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

It happens that the patient’s diarrhea is caused by some serious illness, such as an infectious disease.In this case, urgent hospitalization is required.

Light and short-lived diarrhea is another matter. They have little effect on the general condition, and their treatment is usually carried out at home. It consists in adhering to a sparing diet, including, in particular, the exclusion of fatty and spicy dishes, raw vegetables and fruits from the menu, and restriction of carbohydrates. The optimal nutritious product that can also stop diarrhea is boiled rice, which must be cooked in a sufficient amount of salt water.The resulting broth is very useful and should be given to the patient along with cooked rice.

In the first two days after the onset of diarrhea symptoms, you can also include semolina and a steam omelet in the menu. As the condition improves, the diet should be diversified by including vegetable soup, boiled meat or fish. Meals should be fractional (4-5 times a day). Fasting with diarrhea is impractical, since the recovery of the intestinal mucosa slows down.It is advisable to abstain from food (within 24-36 hours) only in case of food poisoning.

It should be emphasized that the most dangerous complication of diarrhea, especially long-term, is dehydration. Therefore, along with the medicines and diet prescribed by the doctor, it is necessary to replenish the fluid deficit. It is recommended to drink plenty of water, in particular, weak tea without sugar (both black and green), alkaline non-carbonated mineral water, cranberry juice. To this it should be added that decoctions from oak bark, St. John’s wort, and serpentine rhizomes are actively used to treat diarrhea.An infusion of blueberries has a firming effect.

With regard to prevention, it primarily lies in the observance of basic rules of personal hygiene. So, you need to wash your hands with soap and water before every meal. You need to eat at least 3-4 times a day, be sure to exclude products with an expired shelf life from the menu. And, of course, it is time to deal with the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to quickly stop diarrhea: the best ways – Rambler / female

It is difficult to find a person who, at least once in his life, has not faced such an unpleasant and, most importantly, delicate problem like diarrhea.The constant urge to defecate negatively affects the quality of life and forces a person to adjust their plans.

But what if there is no way to cancel or reschedule an important event. Let’s take a look at how to stop diarrhea in adults quickly and safely at home.

Emergency aid

In case an adult develops diarrhea and it needs to be stopped as soon as possible, doctors recommend having the following drugs in the medicine cabinet:

Sorbents.For example, “Smecta”, “Activated carbon”, “Polysorb”. These drugs bind substances dangerous to the body, toxins, and remove them in a natural way, that is, with feces. A number of drugs of this type have the consistency of a gel, which allows them to envelop the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, creating a protective membrane that excludes the penetration of toxins into the bloodstream.

Drugs that have a positive effect on intestinal motility also help stop sudden onset diarrhea.For example, “Loperamide”, “Imodium”. There is one important note – medicines are contraindicated for those cases when stool disturbance is caused by any infection and is not associated with poisoning. This can be explained by the fact that under these conditions, it is unacceptable to inhibit the movement of feces.

For those patients in whom diarrhea is caused by enzyme deficiency, Pancreatin or Creon tablets are recommended. They do not contain bile acids, which is extremely dangerous.

Sometimes a stool disorder occurs against a background of nervous tension. In this case, sedatives help to change the situation. They can be taken at the same time as other medicines aimed at eliminating diarrhea.

Traditional methods

When figuring out how to stop diarrhea at home in adults quickly and safely, you should pay attention to traditional methods. Of course, this does not exclude the need to consult a therapist or gastroenterologist:

Rice broth.A universal remedy that helps to eliminate the signs of diarrhea in the shortest possible time. To prepare it, boil 500 ml of water, add a tablespoon of rice and cook for 30 minutes. The liquid should become cloudy. Cool the broth, filter and use 100 ml twice or three times.

Pomegranate peels. Rinse thoroughly, dry the skin of one fruit. Then grind with a blender. Add 2 cups of boiling water. We leave to insist. After an hour, filter the resulting liquid and take 1 tbsp.l four times a day. We take it until the diarrhea stops completely.

Bird cherry. Pour about 100 g of berries with two glasses of boiling water and leave on low heat to simmer. After half an hour, remove and let cool completely. Then we pass it through a sieve or cheesecloth. Takes half a glass three times a day.

Oak bark. Has the ability to destroy pathogenic microflora. Pre-grind the raw materials, pour 5 tablespoons of the mass with 3 cups of boiling water. Boil over low heat for about a quarter of an hour.We filter. We accept 2 tbsp. l.

Iodine. A teaspoon of salt, a tablespoon of sugar and 5 drops of iodine are added to 200 ml of water at room temperature. The solution is taken in 3 tbsp. l every 20 minutes. The recipe allows you to get rid of diarrhea in a short period of time. However, it is contraindicated in people with thyroid disorders.

Causes of diarrhea

Determining how to stop diarrhea at home in adults quickly and safely in order to avoid dangerous consequences, one should understand the reasons for the development of the pathological process: storage rules and terms of implementation;

ingestion of pathogenic microbes, which, in the course of their vital activity, release a significant amount of toxins;

long-term use of drugs, especially from the antibiotic spectrum;

a large number of stressful situations.

In addition, violation of basic rules of personal hygiene can provoke diarrhea. For example, a person did not wash their hands before eating.

Diet

If a person develops diarrhea, he should not eat any food during the first day. Only water is allowed.

Further from the diet until complete recovery are excluded:

fried and smoked foods;

confectionery and pastry products;

canned food, sausages;

coarse cereal porridge;

The diet should consist of rice soup in water, bread crumbs, eggs, mineral water, homemade jelly, vegetable purees.

Compliance with the rules of hygiene, adherence to a balanced diet reduces the likelihood of diarrhea. And in case violations are still noted, the home medicine cabinet should have emergency medications.

Official site Stopdiar is an intestinal antiseptic for the treatment of diarrhea. Stop diarrhea! Stopdiar

International non-proprietary name

Nifuroxazide.

Trade name:

STOPDIAR.

Description of the dosage form

Light yellow suspension with banana smell; during storage, the formation of a precipitate is possible, after shaking it returns to a state of a homogeneous suspension.

Pharmacological action

Antimicrobial.

Pharmacodynamics

Nifuroxazide is an antimicrobial agent derived from nitrofuran.Blocks the activity of dehydrogenases and inhibits the respiratory chain, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and a number of other biochemical processes in the microbial cell. Destroys the membrane of a microbial cell, reduces the production of toxins by microorganisms.
Highly active against Campylobacteg jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp; Clostgidium pegfringens, Vibgio cholerae, pathogenic Vibrions and Vibrio pagahaemolytique, Staphylococcus spp. The drug is practically not absorbed from the digestive tract, it acts exclusively in the intestinal lumen.Weakly sensitive to nifuroxazide: Citrobacter spp, Enterobacter cloacae and Proteus indologenes.
Resistant to nifuroxazide: Klebsiella spp, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia spp., Pseudomonas spp.
Nifuroxazide does not disturb the balance of the intestinal microflora. In case of acute bacterial diarrhea, it restores intestinal eubiosis. When infected with enterotropic viruses, it prevents the development of bacterial superinfection.

Pharmacokinetics

After oral administration, nifuroxazide is practically not absorbed from the digestive tract and exerts its antibacterial effect exclusively in the intestinal lumen.Nifuroxazide is excreted by the intestines: 20% is unchanged, and the rest of nifuroxazide is chemically altered.

Indication of the drug Stopdiar

Acute bacterial diarrhea without deterioration in general condition, fever, and intoxication.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to nifuroxazide, nitrofuran derivatives or any excipients of the drug; fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome or sucrase and isomaltase deficiency; pregnancy; neonatal period up to 1 month, prematurity.

Application during pregnancy and lactation

No teratogenic effect was found in animal studies. However, it is not recommended to take nifuroxazide during pregnancy as a precautionary measure.
During the lactation period, it is possible to continue breastfeeding in the case of a short course of drug treatment.
It is necessary to consult a doctor.

Side effects

Allergic reactions (skin rash, urticaria, Quincke’s edema, anaphylactic shock).If any of the side effects indicated in the instructions are aggravated, or you notice any other side effects that are not indicated in the instructions, inform your doctor.

Interaction

Simultaneous use with drugs that cause the development of disulfiram-like reactions, drugs that inhibit the function of the central nervous system is not recommended.
If you are taking other medicines (including over-the-counter medicines), consult your doctor before using Stopdiar.

Method of administration and dosage

Before taking the drug, shake the bottle several times so that the suspension becomes homogeneous.
The drug can be taken with water.
Children aged 1 to 6 months: 110 mg (1 small scoop of suspension) 2-3 times a day (interval between doses 8-12 hours).
Children aged 6 months to 3 years: 110 mg (1 small scoop of suspension) 3 times a day (interval between doses 8 hours).
Children aged 3 to 6 years: 220 mg (1 large scoop of suspension) 3 times a day (interval between doses 8 hours).
Children aged 6 to 18 years: 220 mg (1 large scoop of suspension) 3-4 times a day (interval between doses 6-8 hours).
Adults: 220 mg (1 large scoop of suspension) 4 times a day (interval between doses 6 hours).
Stopdiar should be used for 5-7 days, but not more than 7 days. If there is no improvement within the first 3 days of taking, then you should consult a doctor.
Use the drug only according to the method of administration and in the doses indicated in the instructions. If necessary, please consult your doctor before using this medication.

Overdose

Overdose symptoms are unknown.
Treatment is symptomatic.

Special instructions

When treating diarrhea concomitantly with nifuroxazide therapy, rehydration therapy should be carried out.
Treatment of diarrhea in children under 3 years of age is recommended under medical supervision.
In the case of bacterial diarrhea with signs of systemic damage (deterioration of the general condition, fever, symptoms of intoxication or infection), you should consult a doctor to decide on the use of antibacterial drugs of systemic action.
If symptoms of hypersensitivity (shortness of breath, rash, itching) appear, the drug should be discontinued.
During therapy, alcohol is prohibited.
Stopdiar contains sucrose. Patients with rare hereditary disorders of fructose tolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase and isomaltase deficiency should not take this drug.
Due to the content of methyl parahydroxybenzoate, Stopdiar may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
One small measuring spoon of the suspension contains 0.09 XE (bread units), one large measuring spoon of the suspension contains 0.18 XE.
The daily dose of the suspension for children aged 1 month to 3 years contains 0.27 XE. The daily dose of the suspension for children aged 3 to 6 years contains 0.54 XE. The maximum daily dose of the suspension for children aged 6 to 18 years contains 0.72 XE.
The daily dose of the suspension for adults contains 0.72 XE.

Influence on the ability to drive vehicles and work with mechanisms

The drug has no effect on the ability to drive vehicles and mechanisms.

Form of issue

Oral suspension, 220 mg / 5 ml.
90 ml of suspension in a 125 ml orange glass bottle, equipped with a polyethylene insert, which facilitates pouring out the suspension, sealed with a polyethylene screw cap.
1 bottle together with a double dosing spoon made of polystyrene with a capacity of 2.5 ml and 5 ml and instructions for use in a cardboard box.

Manufacturer

Gedeon Richter Poland Ltd.05-825, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, st. book Y. Poniatowski, 5, Poland.
The owner of the RU: Gedeon Richter OJSC. Budapest, st. Demrei, 19-21, Hungary.
Consumer claims should be sent to the following address: Moscow Representative Office of Gedeon Richter OJSC. 119049, Moscow, 4th Dobryninsky per., 8.
Tel .: (495) 363-39-50; fax: (495) 363-39-49.

Terms of dispensing from pharmacies

Without a prescription.

Storage conditions of the drug Stopdiar

At a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C.
Keep out of the reach of children.

Shelf life of the drug Stopdiar

3 years.
Do not use after the expiration date printed on the package.
An opened bottle should be stored for no more than 14 days.

International non-proprietary name

Nifuroxazide.

Trade name:

STOPDIAR.

Description of the dosage form

Hard gelatin capsules, size No. 1. Cap and body of the capsule are yellow. The contents of the capsules are yellow powder.

Pharmacological action

Antimicrobial.

Pharmacodynamics

Nifuroxazide is highly active against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp .; Clostrifium perfringens, Vibrio cholerae, pathogenic Vibrions and Vibrio parahemolytique, Staphylococcus spp. Weakly sensitive to nifuroxazide: Citrobacter spp., Entegobacter cloacae and Proteus indologenes. Resistant to nifuroxazide: Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Providencia spp., Pseudomonas spp.
Nifuroxazide does not affect the composition of the normal bacterial flora of the digestive tract.
Nifuroxazide presumably inhibits the activity of dehydrogenases and protein synthesis in bacterial cells.
It does not cause the emergence of drug-resistant strains, and cross-resistance with other antibacterial drugs was not observed, which makes it possible, if necessary, for generalized infections to use it in complex therapy with systemic drugs.
In case of intestinal infections of viral genesis, it prevents the development of bacterial superinfection. The effectiveness of the action of nifuroxazide does not depend on the pH in the intestinal lumen or on the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs.The drug is practically not absorbed from the digestive tract, it acts exclusively in the intestinal lumen. The effect appears from the first hours of treatment.

Pharmacokinetics

Nifuroxazide is excreted by the intestines: 20% is unchanged, and the rest of nifuroxazide is chemically altered.

Indication of the drug Stopdiar

Acute bacterial diarrhea without deterioration in general condition, fever, and intoxication.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to nifuroxazide, nitrofuran derivatives or any excipients of the drug; children under 3 years old; pregnancy; fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome or sucrase and isomaltase deficiency (due to the presence of sucrose in the preparation).

Application during pregnancy and lactation

Use during pregnancy is contraindicated.Breastfeeding is permissible only in the case of a short course of drug treatment.

Side effects

Allergic reactions such as skin rashes, urticaria, Quincke’s edema, anaphylactic shock. If any of the side effects indicated in the description are aggravated, or the patient has noticed any other side effects, the doctor should be informed about it.

Interaction

With simultaneous use with ethanol, a disulfiram-like reaction may develop (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, tachycardia, blurred vision, weakness, convulsions).Simultaneous use with drugs that inhibit the function of the central nervous system is not recommended.

Method of administration and dosage

Inside. Adults and children over 6 years old: 1 capsule (200 mg) 4 times a day; daily dose 800 mg. Children 3-6 years old: 1 capsule (200 mg) 3 times a day; daily dose 600 mg.
If during the first three days there is no improvement, then you should consult a doctor.

Overdose

No data.

Special instructions

In case of bacterial diarrhea with signs of systemic damage (deterioration of the general condition, fever, symptoms of intoxication or infection), you should consult a doctor to decide on the use of antibacterial drugs of systemic action.
Stopdiar should be used for no more than 7 days. There are no indications for long-term therapy. If persistent diarrhea persists for more than 3 days, consult a doctor.
In the case of severe invasive diarrhea, it is recommended to use systemic antibiotics, since nifuroxazide is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
With the development of hypersensitivity reactions (shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rash, itching), stop taking the drug Stopdiar immediately.
While taking the drug Stopdiar, it is necessary to follow a diet, including the exclusion of juices, raw vegetables and fruits, spices and heavy foods.
While taking the drug Stopdiar in the treatment of acute diarrhea, continuous rehydration therapy (oral or intravenous) should be carried out, depending on the general condition of the patient.
During treatment with nifuroxazide, alcohol is prohibited.

Influence on the ability to drive vehicles and work with mechanisms

The drug has no effect on the ability to drive vehicles and mechanisms.

Form of issue

Capsules, 200 mg. In a blister of aluminum / PVC, 12 pcs. 1 blister in a cardboard box.

Manufacturer

Gedeon Richter Poland Ltd. 05-825, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, st. book Y. Poniatowski, 5, Poland.
The owner of the RU: Gedeon Richter OJSC. Budapest, st. Demrei, 19-21, Hungary.
Consumer claims should be sent to the following address: Moscow Representative Office of Gedeon Richter OJSC. 119049, Moscow, 4th Dobryninsky per., 8.
Tel .: (495) 363-39-50; fax: (495) 363-39-49.

Terms of dispensing from pharmacies

Without a prescription.

Storage conditions of the drug Stopdiar

At a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C.
Keep out of the reach of children.

Shelf life of the drug Stopdiar

2 years.
Do not use after the expiration date printed on the package.

International non-proprietary name

Nifuroxazide.

Trade name:

STOPDIAR.

Description of the dosage form

Tablets: yellow film-coated, round, biconvex.

Pharmacological action

Antimicrobial.

Pharmacodynamics

Nifuroxazide is a nitrofuran derivative that has an antibacterial effect against gastrointestinal gram-positive bacteria from the genus Staphylococcus and some gram-negative bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae from the genus Yersinia spp., Escherichia spp., Citobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp.
Nifuroxazide has no antibacterial effect on bacteria of the species Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Does not affect the composition of the normal bacterial flora of the large intestine. The detailed mechanism of action of the drug is unknown.
Nifuroxazide presumably inhibits the activity of dehydrogenases and protein synthesis in bacterial cells.
Does not cause the emergence of drug-resistant strains, and cross-resistance with other antibacterial drugs was not observed.The effectiveness of the action of nifuroxazide does not depend on the pH existing in the intestinal lumen, or on the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs. The drug is practically not absorbed from the digestive tract, it acts exclusively in the intestinal lumen.

Pharmacokinetics

Nifuroxazide is difficult to dissolve. After oral administration, it is practically not absorbed from the digestive tract and has no systemic effect.It is excreted through the intestines.

Indication of the drug Stopdiar

Acute and chronic diarrhea of ​​bacterial origin.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to nifuroxazide, nitrofuran derivatives or any excipient; children up to age 7 years.

Application during pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy and during breastfeeding, use only if the intended benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus and child.

Side effects

Nifuroxazide is well tolerated, side effects were practically not observed.
In isolated cases, in the presence of increased individual sensitivity to nifuroxazide, abdominal pain, nausea and increased diarrhea, granulocytopenia, skin rash, incl. pustular; nodular pruritus; hypersensitivity reactions (shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rash, itching). If any of the side effects indicated in the description are aggravated, or the patient has noticed any other side effects, the doctor should be informed about it.

Interaction

During treatment with nifuroxazide, concomitant use of other drugs for oral administration should be avoided due to the pronounced adsorption properties of nifuroxazide.

Method of administration and dosage

Inside. The tablet should be swallowed whole, not chewed, not crushed, washed down with an appropriate amount of water.
Adults and children over 7 years old: 2 tab. (200 mg) 4 times a day after 6 hours. The course of treatment is 3 days, if after this period the symptoms do not disappear, you should consult a doctor.

Overdose

Symptoms: not described.
Treatment: symptomatic, gastric lavage is recommended.

Special instructions

During treatment, it is necessary orally or parenterally, depending on the patient’s condition, to replenish the loss of fluid.
Drinking alcoholic beverages during treatment with nifuroxazide may cause a disulfiram-like reaction.
In the event of a hypersensitivity reaction (shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rash, itching), you should immediately stop taking the drug.

Influence on the ability to drive vehicles and work with mechanisms

The drug has no effect on the ability to drive vehicles and mechanisms.

Form of issue

Film-coated tablets, 100 mg. In a blister made of aluminum / PVC, 24 pcs. 1 blister in a cardboard box.

Manufacturer

Gedeon Richter Poland Ltd. 05-825, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, st. book Y. Poniatowski, 5, Poland.
The owner of the RU: Gedeon Richter OJSC. Budapest, st. Demrei, 19-21, Hungary.
Consumer claims should be sent to the following address: Moscow Representative Office of Gedeon Richter OJSC.