How to deal with diarrhea at school

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: How to get through a day at school with diarrhea
Method 2 of 3: Precautions
Method 3 of 3: Treating Symptoms
Tips

Diarrhea, meaning frequent bowel movements and loose stools, can be a nightmare for anyone. Most often, diarrhea and the accompanying discomfort are caused by an infection in the digestive tract. If you have diarrhea, we recommend that you stay at home and allow your body to recover. However, if you are unable to do this, or if you have diarrhea at school, it may be difficult for you to get through the day. To make it easier for you, it's important to take precautions and start treating your symptoms.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: How to get through a day at school with diarrhea

1 Go to the bathroom during your breaks. Even if it seems to you that you do not want to use the toilet, try to go to the bathroom at every break.This will allow you to prevent discomfort during class or at any other inopportune moment. Do not hurry. If you are late for class, explain to the teacher that you are not healthy and that you need to go to the toilet more often.
- Tell the teacher why you are late. You can talk to the teacher outside the classroom if you are shy. Remember that teachers are there to help you. It is important to talk to the teacher to avoid unwanted consequences. Ask the teacher to go out into the hallway with you and say this: "Unfortunately, today I have big stomach problems and I need to go to the toilet more often during class."
- Think about your health first. If you cannot agree with the teacher or he is not ready to enter your situation, put health first. Do what you need to do to make it easier for you. You should not interfere with the rest during the lessons, but you also don’t need to sacrifice your well-being.
2 Sit near the door. If you need to go to the bathroom often, tell the teacher and ask if you can sit near the door. This will allow you to sneak out without disturbing others or drawing attention to yourself.
- Sit on the floor if necessary. If someone asks you why you are doing this, tell them that your back hurts and that you want to ease the pain.
- Do not make noise. If you need to get out, open the door quietly and discreetly.
- Go to the restroom during your breaks, even if you don't want to use the restroom. This can save you the trouble of running out of class at the wrong time.
3 Wear special underwear. If you have severe diarrhea, wear incontinence-friendly, absorbent underwear. It will save you if you do not have time to reach the toilet, and will not let the smell spread. In addition, wearing such underwear will help you feel more relaxed and your diarrhea will go away faster.
- You can wear special underpants or pads. Choose what is more convenient for you and what is easier for you to handle.
4 Take extra clothes with you. Pack extra pants and underwear in your backpack before leaving the house in the morning. If you have a change of clothes with you, you will feel more relaxed. If the diarrhea started when you were already at school, call your parents and ask them to bring you replacement items.
- Cover the back of your trousers with a backpack or sweater, and then change.
- Take similar items with you. For example, if you are wearing jeans, bring another pair of jeans with you. If someone asks why you changed your clothes, tell them that you had a tight lunch and your jeans are getting tight.
- If someone asks why you changed your clothes, explain that you are trying to dress differently throughout the day.
5 Be confident. If you have diarrhea, you may feel embarrassed or ashamed, especially if you are in a public place like school. However, it is important to remember that all people go to the toilet and everyone will sooner or later experience diarrhea. Think about it if you feel uncomfortable.
- Go out to the restroom and don't be ashamed of it. Tolerate can be unhealthy. If necessary, wait until you are alone in the restroom.
6 Wash your hands. Wash your hands every time you go to the bathroom. This will prevent you from passing the bacteria on to others and will prevent your diarrhea from getting worse.
- Wet your hands and wash them for at least 20 seconds. Rinse off foam with warm water.
- Use a hand sanitizer solution with at least 60% alcohol if you cannot wash your hands with soap and water. Squeeze the gel onto both sides of your hands and rub it like soap.

Method 2 of 3: Precautions

1 Keep calm. Panic and anxiety about diarrhea can make diarrhea worse, as getting rid of excess is the body's response to an emergency. By calming your nerves and looking at things differently, you can stop the diarrhea.
- Don't worry about what will happen if you don't make it to the toilet in time. Remind yourself that these situations are rare and that if this has not happened to you before, it is unlikely to happen now.The calmer you are, the sooner the diarrhea will go away.
- Try deep breathing exercises, which are good for your gut as well. Take deep breaths in and out for 4 or 5 counts.
2 Don't strain or squeeze your muscles. A person can squeeze the muscles around the anus with diarrhea, but this will only aggravate the situation, since the tension will provoke muscle fatigue, weakness, pain, cramps. Try not to overexert yourself.
3 Go to the medical center. If the diarrhea started at school, or if you come to school with diarrhea and you are not getting better, talk to the school nurse. It will help you get through the day with the least discomfort.
- Share the problem with the nurse without shame or embarrassment. Nurses are often confronted with diarrhea and other illnesses. If you can't say directly that you have diarrhea, tell them that you have a stomach ache and that you are constantly running to the toilet. This will help the nurse understand what has happened.
- Ask the nurse to write a note for the teacher, let you lie down, or give you a diarrhea pill. The nurse may have the necessary remedies for diarrhea.
4 Distract people's attention from sounds. With diarrhea, your stomach can make all kinds of sounds. If you are in class, try to distract the attention of others from your belly. You can honestly say as it is: "I am not healthy and I apologize for the sounds that my stomach makes." You can laugh it off: "I'm sick, and my stomach wants to answer the question for me." You can also distract attention from sounds in the following ways:
- cough;
- sneezing;
- moving on a chair;
- laughter, if appropriate;
- a question;
- ignoring sound.

Method 3 of 3: Treating Symptoms

1 Drink plenty of clean fluids. During diarrhea, a person loses a lot of fluids and electrolytes. To recover faster and replenish water balance, you should drink more.
- Aim to drink at least 230 milliliters of fluid every hour. You can drink water, broth, juice, and even clear carbonated drinks. Broth, clear soup (such as chicken), and 100% fruit juice will also help restore electrolytes.
- Take liquid with you in a bottle or thermos. Tell the teacher why you need them if you have questions. For example: "I know you can't sit with drinks in class, but I'm sick and need to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day." You can also ask the parents to write a note to the teacher or nurse.
- Do not drink caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea). Give up alcohol.
2 Eat simple meals. If you have diarrhea, your stomach is probably irritated and needs to rest. Eat bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast to soothe your stomach and intestines. This food will also replenish electrolytes.
- For lunch, eat potatoes, crackers, and gelatin if possible. Bring a snack (such as salty crackers) with you. You can also take bananas, apricots, and a sports drink.
- Try not to take spoiled food with you unless you have the opportunity to put them in the refrigerator. You can use a special thermobox.
- When you feel better, eat soft fruits, vegetables, and cereals.
3 Avoid heavy and spicy foods. It is important to eat foods that are gentle on the stomach. Do not eat spicy, fatty, fried foods or dairy products. They can make diarrhea worse.
- Do not add spices to food or eat spicy foods for lunch. Spices can irritate the lining of the stomach.
- If the cafeteria serves food that you cannot eat, ask if you can eat something else.
4 Take an anti-diarrhea medication. Drink loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). These medications can reduce your urge frequency and help you calm down.
- Remember that these drugs do not help in all cases of diarrhea and may be contraindicated in children. Only take them if you are sure the diarrhea is not caused by a bacterium or parasite and if you are over 12 years old. If not, see your doctor.
- Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. If this is not done, the condition may worsen.
- Ask your doctor to prescribe codeine phosphate, diphenoxylate, or cholestyramine if you have severe diarrhea. These drugs should only be taken under medical supervision to prevent life-threatening side effects.
5 Try to move less. Moving too much will aggravate the condition and you will have to go to the toilet more often. Do only the bare minimum. Skip exercise and sports.
- Ask the parents to write a note to the teacher explaining why you are unable to move.
6 Carry wet wipes with you. If you use toilet paper too often, your skin can become irritated, and school toilet paper is usually very rough. Carry wet wipes with you to avoid irritation and discomfort.
- You can use regular wet wipes or baby wipes - they are softer. Do not flush wet wipes down the drain as they will not dissolve in water. Throw them away in the trash can.

Tips

Try to stay at home if you have diarrhea so that you don't worry about possible problems.
Bring wet wipes, linens and clothes, and toilet paper with you.