Diarrhea

Overview
Common causes
Tests
Prevention
Treatment
Sources

Treatment
If your diarrhea is uncomplicated and goes away within a few days, your doctor may not prescribe any treatment for your gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Most bacterial infections of the GI tract resolve by themselves in healthy people. In some cases, antibiotics actually prolong the shedding of the pathogen and may lead to carrying the organisms for months ("carrier state"). Patients with underlying diseases that compromise the immune system, such as cancer or HIV, may be treated with antibiotics since they may not be able to clear the infection on their own. If the diarrhea is severe, bloody, includes mucus, and/or has lasted for several days to a couple of weeks, then your doctor will often order tests to identify the cause of your diarrhea and then tailor the treatment to the cause.

For viral infections and many pathogenic bacterial infections, the main treatment is to address dehydration to make sure that the patient replaces lost fluids and electrolytes. Infants and those with severe dehydration may not be able to drink enough to meet their re-hydration needs and may have to be hospitalized for a short period of time. Your doctor will monitor your health status, give you advice on preventing the spread of the infection, and watch for any complications.

Most parasitic infections are treated, although a few may resolve on their own. With some bacterial and parasitic infections, your doctor may treat the entire family even if only one member is obviously affected.

Talk to your doctor before taking an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicine. Diarrhea is one of the methods that your body uses to help rid itself of the infection. If you slow down or prevent this from happening by taking an anti-diarrhea medication, you can prolong the amount of time that you are ill and sometimes make your infection worse.

For diarrhea caused by food intolerances such as lactose intolerance, treatment often involves avoidance of the suspected cause. A diagnosis of Celiac disease may require avoidance of all foods containing gluten.