How to Treat Diarrhea

Last Updated: June 1, 2003

Diarrhea – loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day – is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. However, prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of other problems.

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and the elderly, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems.

People of all ages can get diarrhea. The average adult has a bout of diarrhea about four times a year.

What Causes Diarrhea?
Diarrhea may be caused by a temporary problem, like an infection, or a chronic problem, like an intestinal disease. In many cases, the cause of diarrhea cannot be found. As long as diarrhea goes away on its own, an extensive search for the cause is not usually necessary.

What are the symptoms?
Diarrhea may be accompanied by cramping abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or an urgent need to use the bathroom. Depending on the cause, a person may have a fever or bloody stools.

Diarrhea can be either acute or chronic. The acute form, which lasts less than three weeks, is usually related to a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Chronic diarrhea lasts more than three weeks and is usually related to functional disorders like irritable bowel syndrome or diseases like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.

Although usually not harmful, diarrhea can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem.

You should see the doctor if:
You have diarrhea for more than 3 days.
You have severe pain in the abdomen or rectum.
You have a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
You see blood in your stool or have black, tarry stools.

What is the treatment?
In most cases, replacing lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment necessary. Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful in some cases, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is from a bacterial infection or parasite – stopping the diarrhea traps the organism in the intestines, prolonging the problem. Instead, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. Viral causes are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of the virus.

Preventing dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body has lost too much fluid and electrolytes (the salts potassium and sodium). The fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly – the body cannot function properly without them.

Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. To maintain electrolyte levels, you could have broth or soups, which contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits or vegetables, which contain potassium.

Tips about food
Until diarrhea subsides, try to avoid milk products and foods that are greasy, high-fiber or very sweet. These foods tend to aggravate diarrhea.

As you improve, you can add soft, bland foods to your diet, including bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots and baked chicken without the skin or fat.

Diarrhea in children
Children can have acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) forms of diarrhea. Infection with the rotavirus is the most common cause of acute childhood diarrhea. Rotavirus diarrhea usually resolves in five to eight days.

Medications to treat diarrhea in adults can be dangerous to children and should be given only under a doctor’s guidance.

Diarrhea can be dangerous in newborns and infants. In small children, severe diarrhea lasting just a day or two can lead to dehydration. Because a child can die from dehydration within a few days, the main treatment for diarrhea in children is rehydration.

Take your child to the doctor if any of the following symptoms appear:
- Stools containing blood or pus, or black stools
- Temperature above 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit
- No improvement after 24 hours
- Signs of dehydration

If you suspect that your child is dehydrated, call the doctor immediately. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization.

For at-home treatment, doctors often recommend a special rehydration solution that contains the nutrients they need. You can buy this solution in the grocery store without a prescription. Examples include Pedialyte, Ceralyte and Infalyte.

When the child is ready for solid foods, pediatricians recommend the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

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