Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Diarrhea is not a disease: it is a symptom of another health problem such as an infection or a viral illness. Diarrhea can also be a reaction to food, drug, unicellular (10% -15%) allergies, viruses (50% -70% of cases) or bacteria (15% -20% of cases). in food or drinking water. In most cases, the diarrhea will go away on its own within a few days, but there are forms of diarrhea that can cause serious problems. Acute diarrhea is considered the cause of 150,000 hospitalizations each year. Furthermore, diarrhea is the fifth leading cause of death in the world, affecting 11 percent of the general population. However, diarrhea is a way for the body to flush toxins out. Often it is best to let diarrhea run its course while treating the cause behind it, while at the same time limiting the dehydration and electrolyte imbalance associated with this symptom.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Treatment for Diarrhea Without Medicine

1. 

   
   
   Drink water and other fluids to replenish vitamins and minerals. During diarrhea, the body releases fluids that contain essential vitamins and minerals. It is important to get these substances back through fluids, especially sports drinks and water.
   • Anti-dehydration is the mainstay of treatment for diarrhea. If vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, be careful to drink small sips many times instead of drinking lots of water at once.
   • Other liquids you can drink to combat dehydration are chicken or beef broth, flavored mineral water or rehydration solutions like Pedialyte.
   • Caffeinated beverages are best. Caffeine is a mild diuretic, meaning it can dehydrate you. If you have diarrhea, choose fluids that won't dehydrate you further.

2. 

   
   
   Sleep more. In the treatment of diarrhea, sleep is essential in treating diarrhea. Diarrhea is a symptom, so it's a good sign that the body is fighting off a pathogen, such as a virus. Sleep and rest are one of the ways to support the immune system.

3. 

   Switch to the BRAT diet. If the vomiting stops (or the vomiting symptoms have stopped), you can start on the BRAT diet - which includes bananas, rice, apples, and toast. These low-fiber foods will help harden stools. The above foods are also quite healthy, so there is no risk of upset stomach.
   • Bananas in this diet also help replenish the potassium lost through diarrhea.

4. 

   
   
   Add other options to your BRAT diet. Although effective at helping with diarrhea, BRAT is not a balanced diet.Salty crackers, boiled potatoes, gravy soups, skinless roasted chicken, cooked carrots and a few other bland dishes can help while you still have a stomach upset.
   • Some people may also try yogurt. However, the lactose in yogurt can worsen your stomach when you have diarrhea. If you want to switch to yogurt, choose a probiotic (which includes live bacteria) to restore good bacteria in your stomach and help you recover.

5. 

   Avoid foods that may worsen symptoms. Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to eat. In general, you should avoid greasy, spicy or sweet foods and foods rich in fiber. Milk and dairy products can also be difficult to digest in patients with diarrhea. You should also avoid:
   • Gum with sorbitol. Sorbitol is a laxative.
   • Spicy foods, fruit and alcohol for at least 48 hours after symptoms of diarrhea have subsided.
   • Caffeinated foods like chocolate because caffeine has a dehydrating effect.

6. 

   Take a zinc supplement. Studies have demonstrated that zinc supplementation can improve results in diarrhea treatment. Zinc is a micronutrient that aids in protein synthesis, water transport and electrolytes in the gut.
   • The World Health Organization recommends that children under 6 months of age take 10mg of zinc a day, and children over six months old take 20mg a day. Adults should take the dose recommended by the manufacturer.

7. 

   Return to normal diet. In about 24 to 48 hours after your symptoms subside, you should be able to return to your normal diet. Gradually get used to normal foods again for best results.
   • Eat properly. Start with a light fish or chicken dish instead of a spicy plate of grilled pork.
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Method 2 of 3: Treating Diarrhea With Medicine

1. 

   Take an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicine. These products attach to the wall of the intestine and colon and absorb water, making the stools less liquid. Read dosage instructions on the package.
   • It is important not to take any other medicine within a few hours of taking this preparation, as it may cause other drugs to latch on to the colon and colon, reducing its effectiveness. You should take the anti-diarrhea medicine and other medicines separately.

2. 

   Take over-the-counter medications that contain bismuth compounds. Bismuth compounds, found in popular preparations like Pepto-Bismo, contain ingredients similar to antibiotics that fight bacteria that cause diarrhea. The anti-diarrhea mechanism of bismuth compounds is not exactly known. It is possible that this compound can only help patients with diarrhea caused by environmental changes or those who are battling H. pylori bacteria.

3. 

   Try anti-peristalsis. Intestinal peristalsis drugs slow down the movement of the intestines and colon. Slow motion will cause these organs to relax and have more time to absorb water, resulting in less loose stools. Two popular anti-motility drugs are loperamide and diphenoxylate. Loperamide is sold over the counter in different forms (eg Imodium A-D).
   • Patients with diarrhea caused by bacterial infections (eg E.coli) should avoid anti-peristaltic medications.

4. 

   See your doctor for an antibiotic prescription. If after 72 hours of taking over-the-counter medications in combination with a bland diet and drinking plenty of fluids, but your diarrhea doesn't improve, see your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for you to treat bacterial or parasitic diarrhea. Antibiotics are not effective in treating diarrhea caused by viruses.
   • It is extremely important to see your doctor if over-the-counter medications don't work, as bacterial or parasitic diarrhea actually gets worse with these medications.
   • Your doctor will decide to prescribe a specific antibiotic to treat the diarrhea after you have examined the stool and identified the bacteria that are causing the symptoms.
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Method 3 of 3: Treating Diarrhea With Herbs

1. 

   See a doctor. For the diarrhea caused by infection, herbal remedies can actually make symptoms worse. Consult your doctor before switching to herbal treatment.

2. 

   Use probiotics preparations. The live bacteria present in probiotics increase the amount of good bacteria in the gut that are often lost during diarrhea. By replenishing these beneficial bacteria, the digestive tract can get back to normal more quickly.
   • Probiotics are available in supplements and in yogurt labeled probiotics.

3. 

   Drink chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is often used to fight inflammation, including inflammation of the digestive tract. You can drink up to 3 cups a day, sipping small sips to help your body absorb it.
   • Note that chamomile tea can lead to reactions in people who are allergic to wild chamomile, and can also interfere with the absorption of certain medications, including hormonal drugs.

4. 

   Try using psyllium. Psyllium is a type of soluble fiber (that is, it absorbs water). It can make stools harder with diarrhea. Always drink psyllium with plenty of water.
   • Consult your doctor before taking psyllium if you have inflammatory bowel disease.

5. 

   Try marshmallow root. It is also a traditional herb that reduces inflammation. Use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
   • You can also make this herb cold as a tea by adding 2 tablespoons to 1 liter of water and leaving it overnight. Strain before drinking.
   • This herb may prevent the absorption of certain medications - for example, lithium - so consult your doctor before taking it.

6. 

   Drink elm powder mixture. Elm powder is also used as a traditional herb that relieves inflammation of the digestive tract. Use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
   • Soak 4 grams of elm powder in half a liter of boiling water and let it soak for 3 to 5 minutes. You can drink it up to 3 times a day when you have diarrhea.
   • Some plant researchers believe elm may cause miscarriage. Consult your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

7. 

   Try apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is believed to contain antimicrobial properties. If you use apple cider vinegar to treat diarrhea, try stirring 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water. Drink this mixture several times a day.
   • If you drink vinegar with other probiotics, take the two types of vinegar every few hours. Yogurt, for example, contains beneficial bacteria and is generally considered to be effective in treating diarrhea. Wait 2 hours after drinking apple cider vinegar before eating yogurt.

8. 

   Try astringent herbs. These herbs are thought to dry out the mucous membranes in the intestines, and reduce the amount of loose stools. Most of these herbs are available as a supplement or as a tea, which includes:
   • Mulberry leaves
   • Raspberry leaves
   • Carob powder
   • Blueberry extract
   • Long house grass
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Advice

• If symptoms get worse, see your doctor.
• If the diarrhea is accompanied by a fever above 38.5 degrees C in children or above 39 degrees C in an adult, see your doctor.
• Keep drinking water!
• Leave school or work until symptoms have been treated, and hand washing is practiced well.

Warning

• Call your doctor if an infant or young child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours or shows signs of dehydration.
• Signs of dehydration include feeling tired, thirsty, dry mouth, cramps, dizziness, confusion, decreased urine output.
• See your doctor if you have bloody bowel movements, dehydration, when you've taken the last dose of antibiotics, or if the diarrhea lasts more than 72 hours.