Diarrhea is a very annoying condition, from stomach cramps, going back and forth to the bathroom, to watery stools. Fortunately, you can treat diarrhea at home by changing your diet or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications to quickly relieve diarrhea. Learn the correct way to treat the cause of diarrhea and avoid dehydration to minimize discomfort and prevent diarrhea from prolonging.
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Method 1 of 3: Overcome Symptoms Quickly
Step 1. Avoid dehydration
The most common complication of diarrhea is dehydration, and this is dangerous. Make sure you drink water, broth, and juices consistently throughout the day. It's okay if you can only take a few sips because the fluids lost during diarrhea need to be replaced immediately.
- Water is great, but make sure you also drink broth, juice, or sports drinks. The body needs electrolytes such as potassium and sodium.
- Some people feel that apple juice can make symptoms worse.
- Suck on ice cubes if you are too nauseous to drink.
- See a doctor right away if the fluids don't last more than 12 hours, or you have diarrhea or vomiting for longer than 24 hours. If dehydration is severe, you may need an IV in the hospital.
- If your child or baby has diarrhea, do not give fruit juice or carbonated drinks. If the child is still breastfed, continue breastfeeding as usual.
Step 2. Use over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications
Try loperamide (Imodium A-D) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). Use as directed. This drug can be found at drug stores or pharmacies.
- Do not give this medicine to children unless you have confirmed with your doctor.
- There are some types of diarrhea that are more severe with this medicine, such as stomach problems caused by a bacterial infection. You can try over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications, but if the diarrhea is more severe, see your doctor right away for other treatments.
Step 3. Use painkillers with care
You can try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen) to help reduce fever and reduce pain from stomach cramps. However, in large doses or under certain conditions, this drug can cause irritation and stomach upset. Take this medication according to the prescription or directions on the package, and avoid it if:
- Your doctor prescribes another medicine or you take another NSAID for another disease.
- You have liver or kidney disease.
- You have had stomach ulcers or bleeding.
- You are less than 18 years old. Consult a doctor first before giving aspirin to children or adolescents. The use of aspirin to treat viruses (including the flu) in children and adolescents is associated with life-threatening illnesses such as Reye's Syndrome.
Step 4. Get plenty of rest
As with other illnesses and medical conditions, one of the best ways to help your body is rest. Get plenty of sleep, stay warm, and let your body rest. This will help you fight off any infections that might be causing your diarrhea and recover from the physical stress of being sick.
Step 5. See a doctor if symptoms persist or are more severe
If diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, or you can't drink water for more than 12 hours, see a doctor to prevent dehydration. See a specialist if you have severe pain in your stomach or rectum, have blood in your stool, have a fever over 39°C, stiff neck or severe headache, or have a yellowish tinge to the skin or whites of your eyes.
You may be dehydrated if you feel very thirsty, have dry mouth or skin, don't urinate much, have dark urine, or feel weak, dizzy, tired, or have a spinning head
Step 6. Take your child to the doctor if he is dehydrated
Children and infants dehydrate more quickly than adults, and the consequences are more severe. Signs of dehydration in children include not getting diapers wet enough (or generally not getting wet for more than 3 hours), crying without tears, dry mouth or tongue, fever of 39°C or higher, or being very fussy, irritable, drowsy, or unresponsive.
Also, take your child to the doctor if he has diarrhea for more than 24 hours or has black or bloody stools
Step 7. Call the emergency room if there is a severe change in health
Call emergency services right away if you or someone else has trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, extreme drowsiness or difficulty getting up, fainting or loss of consciousness, irregular fast heartbeat, convulsions, stiff neck or severe headache, or weakness, dizziness, or severe feeling of spinning in the head.
Method 2 of 3: Changing Your Diet as a Quick Solution
Step 1. Follow a clear liquid diet
Reduce the work of the digestive tract as much as possible during diarrhea. Drink enough clear fluids to keep the body hydrated and maintain electrolyte balance without burdening the stomach. Consume small "food" portions a day, or just drink this liquid every few minutes within your tolerance. Here's an example of a clear liquid diet you can try:
- Water (carbonated water and flavored water are okay)
- Fruit juice without pulp, fruit punch and lemonade
- Bubble drinks, including soda (though it's important to choose sugar and caffeine-free options)
- Gelatin
- Coffee and tea (decaffeinated, no dairy)
- Tomato juice or filtered vegetable juice
- Sports drinks (combine with other drinks as they contain too much sugar so it is not helpful to drink without the others)
- Clear broth (not cream soup)
- Honey and sugar, and hard candies like lemon and peppermint candies
- Popsicles (without fruit or dairy products)
Step 2. Add solid food gradually
On the second day, you can add semisolid dry food to your diet. Eat in small portions. If you can't tolerate it, go back to a clear liquid diet and try again later. Choose foods that are soft and low in fat and fiber.
- Try the BRAT diet which stands for five kinds of soft foods, namely banana (banana), rice (rice), applesauce (apple sauce), toats (bread) and tea (tea). Other options are crackers, noodles, and mashed potatoes.
- Stay away from foods that have a lot of seasoning. Salt is fine, but don't eat anything that's heavily seasoned.
Step 3. Choose low-fiber foods
Fiber-rich foods cause gas and make diarrhea worse. Avoid fresh vegetables and fruit (other than bananas) until you feel better. Whole grains and bran are also high in fiber.
However, remember that fiber is very beneficial for the intestines. If you have frequent problems like diarrhea, consider eating more fiber to help regulate your digestive system
Step 4. Avoid fatty and greasy foods
High-fat foods can make diarrhea and upset stomach worse. If you are not 100% cured, avoid red meat, butter, margarine, dairy products, fried foods, and fast food, packaged ready-to-eat foods, and processed foods.
Limit fat consumption to <15 grams per day
Step 5. Say no to dairy
One of the causes of diarrhea, gas, and bloating is lactose intolerance. If you have frequent diarrhea or your diarrhea is worse when you drink milk or eat dairy products, consider whether you are lactose intolerant. However, avoid dairy products when you have diarrhea no matter what.
Step 6. Avoid caffeine
Caffeine can cause stomach upset and gas, and may make you more dehydrated. You can drink coffee, tea, and soda as long as they are caffeine-free.
This includes caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and some sports drinks, as well as foods high in caffeine, such as chocolate
Step 7. Don't drink alcohol
Alcohol will further aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea. Alcoholic beverages can interfere with the effects of medications you take to control symptoms. Alcohol also makes you urinate more often and contributes to dehydration. Stay away from alcohol when you are sick.
Step 8. Avoid fructose and artificial sweeteners
Chemical compounds in artificial sweeteners are known to cause or worsen diarrhea. In general, you should avoid additives, especially until your digestive system has recovered. There are many brands that contain artificial sweeteners, such as:
- Sunett and Sweet One
- Equal, NutraSweet and Neotame
- Sweet'N Low
- Splenda
Step 9. Try probiotics
Probiotics are a type of live bacteria that help maintain the digestive tract. You can find them in products such as yogurt with live cultures, and as pills or capsules at drug stores or pharmacies. Probiotics can help treat diarrhea caused by bacteria and some viruses because probiotics can restore the balance of "good" bacteria in the gut.
Eating plain yogurt with live cultures is the exception to the rule of eating no dairy when you have diarrhea
Method 3 of 3: Treating the Cause
Step 1. Let the diarrhea caused by the virus go away on its own
Most cases of diarrhea are caused by viruses, such as flu and others. Diarrhea due to the virus will subside in two days. Wait until it heals, stay hydrated, rest, and take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications to relieve symptoms.
Step 2. Take prescription medications for bacterial infections
Diarrhea that occurs after consuming contaminated food or drink is usually caused by bacteria or sometimes parasites. In this case, your doctor may have to prescribe specific antibiotics or other medications to treat the infection. If diarrhea doesn't improve within 2-3 days, see a doctor to determine if there's an infectious cause.
Be aware that antibiotics will only be prescribed if the cause of the diarrhea is confirmed to be bacteria. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses or other causes, and can cause unpleasant side effects or exacerbate digestive problems if not used properly
Step 3. Consider changing medications with the help of a doctor
Antibiotics are actually a common cause of diarrhea because they change the balance of bacteria in the gut. Cancer drugs and antacids with magnesium also cause or worsen diarrhea. If you have frequent diarrhea and you're not sure why, ask your doctor if your medication has any effect. Maybe the doctor can lower the dose or replace it with another type of drug.
Never stop or change prescription medications without consulting your doctor. This can lead to serious health consequences
Step 4. Treat chronic diseases
Several digestive diseases can cause chronic or frequent diarrhea, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and problems with the gallbladder (or after surgery). You need to work closely with your doctor to control the underlying disease. Your doctor may refer you to an intestinal and stomach specialist called a gastroenterologist.
Step 5. Minimize stress and anxiety
For some people, intense stress or anxiety can cause an upset stomach. Use relaxation techniques regularly to reduce stress levels and during diarrhea to help reduce discomfort. Try meditation or deep breathing. Practice sensitivity training, take walks in nature, listen to music, and anything else that helps you relax.
Tips
- Do not prepare food for others if you have diarrhea. Wash your hands regularly, especially after using the toilet, to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Drink plenty of water that contains electrolytes. When you have diarrhea, you don't just lose fluids. You will also lose body salt.
