Symptoms and treatment of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is passing looser or more frequent stools than is normal for you. It affects most people from time to time and is usually nothing to worry about. However, it can be distressing and unpleasant until it passes, which normally takes a few days to a week.

Symptoms of diarrhea

The symptoms associated with diarrhea include:

Abdominal cramps

Abdominal pains

Urgency to go to the toilet

Frequent passing of loose, watery faces

Nausea

Vomiting

Treatment

Because most cases of diarrhea resolve on their own within a day or two, self-care to relieve symptoms is usually sufficient for treatment:

You should eat solid food as soon as you feel able to. If you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and they have diarrhea, you should try to feed them as normal.

Avoid caffeine, dairy products, and greasy, high fiber, or sugary foods.

Placing a hot water bottle or wheat pack on your stomach, or taking paracetamol, may provide some relief from abdominal cramps.

Apply zinc and castor oil ointment or a barrier cream to affected areas if you, or your child, develop a rash (like the nappy rash) from diarrhea.

Avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or diclofenac, for pain relief as these medications can cause diarrhea.

Anti-diarrheal medications that slow diarrhea (e.g. Imodium) should be avoided as these drugs prevent your body from getting rid of the bacteria or virus that may have caused the diarrhea.

To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips. Ideal liquids are clear thin broths or soups, diluted non-caffeinated sports drinks (e.g. PowerAde or Gatorade), and rehydration formulations (e.g. Gastrolyte) that are available without prescription from a pharmacy.