Diarrhea

1.  Diarrhea

   1.  Take Fluids

• Ask your doctor what fluids are best for you or your child. Here are some basic tips:
  • Give an adult plenty of ORS, Dub water. Avoid milk or milk-based products, alcohol, apple juice, and caffeine while you have diarrhea and for 3 to 5 days after you get better. They may make diarrhea worse.
  • Give a child or infant frequent sips of ORSaline.
  • Make sure the person drinks more fluids than they are losing through diarrhea. If they are unable to keep up with their losses, call a doctor.

2. Rest

• Have the person rest as needed and avoid strenuous exercise. Keep a sick child home from school or day care.

3. Ease Into Eating

• Feed an infant or child easily digested foods; (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) is a good choice as soon as they can tolerate food.
• For an adult, add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as diarrhea stops. Avoid spicy, greasy, or fatty foods.

2. When to Call a Doctor

• Call a doctor right away if:
  • You suspect that you or your child is dehydrated.
  • An infant 3 months old or younger has vomiting or diarrhea.
  • There is blood or mucus in the stool, or the stool is black.
  • You think the person needs over-the-counter diarrhea medication; some kinds of diarrhea can get worse with anti-diarrheal medications.
  • You think the person has traveler’s diarrhea or drank contaminated water.
  • The person is taking an antibiotic that may be causing the diarrhea.
  • There is stomach pain that is not relieved by having a bowel movement.
  • There is any fever.
  • The person is losing more fluid in his stool than he can replace by drinking fluids.

Follow-Up

Also seek medical attention if:

• You or your child has any other medical problems and has diarrhea.
• Diarrhea in an adult worsens or doesn’t clear up after 2 or 3 days
• A child doesn’t feel better after 24 hours

3. Food Poisoning

1. Control Nausea and Vomiting

• Avoid solid foods until vomiting ends. Then eat light, bland foods, such as saltine crackers, bananas, rice, or bread.
• Sipping liquids may help avoid vomiting.
• Don’t eat fried, greasy, spicy, or sweet foods.
• Don’t take anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medication without asking your doctor. They may make some kinds of diarrhea worse. Your doctor may give you anti-nausea medication if you are at risk of being dehydrated.

2. Prevent Dehydration

• Drink plenty of fluids, ORSaline, starting with small sips and gradually drinking more.
• If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, drink an oral rehydration solution.

3. When to Call a Doctor

Call a doctor immediately if symptoms include:

• Lasting more than 3 days
• Severe belly pain
• Fever
• Bloody diarrhea or dark stools
• Vomiting that is prolonged or bloody
• Signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, fatigue, or increased heart rate or breathing rate