Diarrhea

Treating Dehydration
Ask your doctor what fluids are best for you or your child. Here are some basic tips:

Give an adult plenty of clear fluid, like fruit juices, soda, sports drinks and clear broth. Avoid milk or milk-based products, alcohol, apple juice, and caffeine while you have diarrhea and for 3-5 days after you get better. They may make diarrhea worse.
Give a child or infant frequent sips of a rehydration solution such as Pedialyte, Ceralyte, or Infalyte. Do not add salt tablets to a baby’s bottle.
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; the BRAT diet (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.

3. When to Call a Doctor

Call right away if you suspect that you or your child is dehydrated.
Call right away if an infant 3 months old or younger has vomiting or diarrhea.
If you think the person needs over-the-counter diarrhea medication; some kinds of diarrhea can get worse with anti-diarrheal medications.
If you think the person has traveler’s diarrhea or drank contaminated water
If the person is taking an antibiotic that may be causing the diarrhea
If there is blood or mucus in the stool, or the stool is black.
For any stomach pain that is not relieved by having a bowel movement
If there is any fever.
If 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