McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
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What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea means having loose bowel movements often. If it starts all of a sudden and doesn't last a long time, it is called acute diarrhea. Most of the time, it goes away in 1 or 2 days. Nearly everyone gets this kind of diarrhea at one time or another. It can happen when you eat or drink something that has germs in it.

Sometimes diarrhea doesn't go away. It may keep coming back. This is called chronic diarrhea. An ongoing health problem may cause this kind of diarrhea.

Diarrhea takes water from your body. It can cause you to lose too much water. This can be a very serious problem, especially for the very young and old.

How does it happen?

You can get acute diarrhea when you:

• Get infected with germs.
• Have food poisoning.
• Use antibiotics.
• Are sensitive to certain kinds of foods.

What are the symptoms?

• You have many loose bowel movements.
• You may have pain or cramping in your belly.
• You may have a fever.

How do I know if I have it?

Your health care provider will:

• Talk to you about your symptoms.
• Give you a checkup.
• Make sure you have not lost too much water.
• Make sure you do not have appendicitis.

You may need lab tests:

• You may need a blood test.
• You may need to give 1 or more samples of bowel movement (stool samples).

How is it treated?

When you have diarrhea, you lose water and other nutrients your body needs. You will need to drink plenty of clear fluids, like water and broth. Your health care provider may suggest that you drink a special mixture. This mixture will give back to your body some of the nutrients you have lost.

Sometimes your health care provider may need to give you antibiotics.

If medicine you are taking is causing the diarrhea, your provider may ask you to stop taking it.

How long will it take to get well?

Most of the time acute diarrhea lasts less than 3 days. Sometimes it goes away after just a few hours. Other times it can last as long as 2 weeks.

How can I take care of myself?

If your temperature is over 100°F (37.8°C):

• Rest as much as you can.
• Take acetaminophen. (Tylenol)
• Take your temperature every day. Write it down.

If you have cramps or pain in your belly, you can:

• Put a hot water bottle on your belly.
• Use an electric heating pad set on low.

At first it can help to:

• Not eat solid foods. They can cause cramps.
• Drink only clear liquids, like water, weak tea, and broth.
• Drink a soft drink with no caffeine (like 7 UP). Let it go flat first.
• Drink often. Do not get dehydrated.
• Suck on ice chips if you feel too sick to drink.

When you are feeling better:

• Start eating soft, starchy foods. Try bananas, cooked cereal, rice, potatoes, toast or bread with jelly, and applesauce.
• Eat these soft foods for 2 or 3 days. Then you can go back to the foods you are used to eating.
• Keep drinking just clear liquids for a while.

For a few days, stay away from:

• milk, butter, cream, and cheese
• fresh fruit (except bananas) and applesauce
• fresh vegetables
• alcohol
• fatty foods, like cheeseburgers or bacon
• spicy foods
• caffeine.

Call your health care provider if:

• You have really bad cramps.
• You have cramps in only one area of your belly.
• Your cramps last more than a few days or get worse.
• You are lightheaded.
• You have blood or mucus in your bowel movements.
• You have a fever higher than 102°F (38.9°C).

How can I help prevent it?

There are some things you can do to help keep from getting diarrhea:

• Always wash your hands after you use the restroom and before you eat.
• Make sure the milk foods you eat and drink have been pasteurized.
• Serve or refrigerate food right after it has been cooked.

If you have diarrhea, here are some things you can do to keep from giving diarrhea to others.

• Wash your hands with soap and very warm water after you use the restroom.
• You should not prepare or serve food for other people. If you must, wash your hands very well before you prepare or serve food.
• Do not work as a food handler or server in a restaurant, dining hall, or grocery store until your diarrhea is all gone.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.