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Signs
and Symptoms:
- Watery,
loose stools
- Frequent
bowel movements
- Cramping
or pain in the
abdomen
[Go
to Self-Care Prevention]
Still
not sure? Ask yourself
with these questions.
1.
With diarrhea, do you
have these signs of
dehyration?
- Sunken
and dry or tearless
eyes
- Dry
mouth, tongue,
and lips
- No
urine or a low
amount of urine
that is dark yellow
- Lightheadedness,
especially when
getting up quickly
- Dry
skin that doesn't
spring back after
being pinched
- Dizziness,
confusion, weakness
- Increase
in breathing and
heart rate
- Severe
thirst (sometimes)
If yes to
one of these symptoms
described above, please
get immediate care.
If no,
continue on to the
next question.
2.
Is there blood in the
diarrhea or is its
color tarlike or maroon?
If yes to
one of these symptoms
described above, please
get immediate care.
If no,
continue on to the
next question.
3.
Do you have the following
signs and symptoms
of irritable bowel
syndrome?
- Gas,
bloating, cramps,
or pain in the abdomen
- Changes
in bowel habits:
- Constipation,
diarrhea,
or
both
- Crampy
urge,
but
inability
to
move
your
bowels
- mucus
in
your
stool
If yes to
one of these symptoms
described above, please
see your doctor.
If no,
continue on to the
next question.
4.
With diarrhea, do you
have abdominal or rectal
pain?
If yes to
one of these symptoms
described above, please
see your doctor.
If no,
continue on to the
next question.
5.
Do you have any of
these problems with
diarrhea?
- Temperature
of 101 F or higher
- The
diarrhea has lasted
48 hours or longer
- You
have a chronic illness
and have diarrhea
more than 8 times
a day
- You
are taking medicines
(regular medicines
that the body may
not be absorbing
due to the diarrhea,
and/or prescribed
or over-the-counter
ones that might be
contributing to the
diarrhea).
If yes to
one of these symptoms
described above, please
see your doctor.
If no to
all questions, use
self-care prevention.
Self-Care/
Prevention
- If
vomiting
is also present,
treat for
vomiting
first. (see
vomiting
and nausea)
- Follow
your normal
diet if there
are no signs
of dehyration
- If
there are
signs of
dehydration,
stop solid
foods. Have
around 2
cups of clear
fluids per
hour (if
vomiting
isn't present),
Fluids or
choice are:
- Sport
drinks,
such
as
Gatorade
- Kool-Aid.
This
usually
has
less
sugar
than
soda
pop.
- Avoid
having high
simple sugar
drinks, like
apple juice,
grape juice,
gelatin,
regular colas,
and other
soft drinks.
These can
pull water
into the
gut and make
the diarrhea
persist.
- Don't
drink clear
liquids exclusively
for more
than 24 hours.
- Start
eating normal
meals with
12 hours.
Good food
choices are:
- Starchy
foods,
such
as
rice,
potatoes,
cereals
(not
sweetened
ones),
crackers,
and
toast
- Vegetables,
such
as
cooked
carrots,
and
non
milk-based
soups
with
noodles,
rice,
and/or
vegetables
- Lean
(not
fatty)
meats
- Yogurt,
especially
with
live
active
cultures
of
lactobacillus
acidophilus
- Use
over-the-counter
lactobacillus
acidophilus
capsules
or tablets.
These help
restore normal
bacteria
to the bowel.
- Avoid
fatty and
fried foods.
- The
B.R.A.T.
diet; just
having bananas,
rice, applesauce,
and dry toast
is no longer
the diet
of choice
for diarrhea.
These foods
are still
okay to eat,
though.
- Exercise
moderately
until the
diarrhea
is gone.
- Try
an over-the-counter
antidiarrheal
medicine,
such as Imodium
A-D, but
wait at least
12 hours
before you
take this
to let the
diarrhea
run its course
to get rid
of what caused
it.
For
Lactose Intolerance:
- Avoid
foods that
are not easy
for you to
digest. Some
people with
lactose intolerance
can tolerate
dairy products
in small
portions.
- Try
foods that
have had
lactose reduced
by bacterial
cultures.
Examples
are buttermilk,
yogurt, and
sweet acidophilus
milk. Take
over-the-counter
lactobacillus
acidophilus
capsules.
- Take
over-the-counter
drops or
pills that
have the
enzyme lactase
when you
have diary
foods.
- If
the above
measures
don't help,
avoid products
with milk,
milk solids,
and whey.
Products
marked "parve" are
milk free.
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