Causes
- Bacterial infection, caused by contaminated food or water
- Viral infection
- Parasites, which can enter the body through food or water
- Food intolerance, such as the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk
- Overuse of alcohol or laxatives
- Medication, such as some antibiotics or antacids containing magnesium
- Menstrual cramps
- Stress or a panic attack
Symptoms
- watery, loose stools
- frequent bowel movements
- cramping or pain in the abdomen, nausea, bloating
- possibly fever or bloody stools, depending on the cause
Treatment
Usually diarrhea will clear up on its own in a day or two, but a prolonged case may cause complications. The most important concern is dehydration. If you have symptoms of dehydration, a fever above 102° F, bloody stools (black and tarry), severe abdomen or rectum pain, or diarrhea lasting more than 3 days you should consult a physician. Here’s some advice for taking care of diarrhea yourself:
- Avoid foods that are milk-based, greasy, high-fiber, or very sweet because these are likely to aggravate diarrhea.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Do not eat solid food if you have signs of dehydration (thirst, light-headed, dark urine). Instead, drink about 2 cups of clear fluids per hour (if vomiting isn’t present), such as sports drinks and broth. Water alone is not enough because your body needs sodium and sugar to replace what it’s losing.
- Avoid high sugar drinks, like apple juice, grape juice, and soda, which can pull water into the intestine and make the diarrhea persist.
- Don’t drink clear liquids exclusively for more than 24 hours.
- Begin eating normal meals within 12 hours, but stick to food that is bland and won’t irritate your intestine. Some doctors suggest the “BRAT“ diet which includes foods that are low in fiber, fat, and sugar. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast.
- Use over-the-counter lactobacillus acidophilus capsules or tablets. These bacteria help maintain a healthy intestine, and are found in yogurt with live active cultures.
- Decrease level of exercise until symptoms are gone.
- Over-the-counter drugs, such as Imodium A-D, should only be used if absolutely necessary because it is important to let diarrhea flush out the bacteria or parasite that’s causing the infection.
