Acute Diarrhea: Brief Version

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea means having loose bowel movements often. If it starts all of a sudden and doesn't last a long time, it is called acute diarrhea. Most of the time, it goes away in 1 or 2 days. Nearly everyone gets this kind of diarrhea at one time or another. It can happen when you eat or drink something that has germs in it or when you have stomach flu.

Sometimes diarrhea doesn't go away. It may keep coming back. This is called chronic diarrhea. An ongoing health problem may cause this kind of diarrhea.

Diarrhea takes water from your body. It can cause you to lose too much water. This can be a very serious problem, especially for the very young and the very old.

How does it happen?

You can get acute diarrhea when you:

• Get infected with germs.
• Have food poisoning.
• Use antibiotics.
• Are sensitive to certain kinds of foods.

What are the symptoms?

• You have many loose bowel movements.
• You may have pain or cramping in your belly.
• You may have a fever.

How do I know if I have it?

Your healthcare provider will:

• Talk to you about your symptoms.
• Give you a checkup.
• Make sure you have not lost too much water.
• Make sure you do not have appendicitis.

You may need lab tests:

• You may need a blood or urine test.
• You may need to give 1 or more samples of bowel movement (stool samples).

How is it treated?

When you have diarrhea, you lose water and other nutrients your body needs. You will need to drink plenty of clear fluids, like water and broth. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you drink a special drink that gives back to your body some of the nutrients you have lost. Pedialyte is an example of this type of drink.

Your healthcare provider may give you antibiotics if your diarrhea is being caused by bacteria.

If medicine you are taking is causing the diarrhea, your provider may ask you to stop taking it.

How long will it take to get well?

Most of the time acute diarrhea lasts less than 3 days. Sometimes it goes away after just a few hours. Other times it can last as long as 2 weeks.

How can I take care of myself?

If your temperature is over 100°F (38°C):

• Rest as much as you can.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Take your temperature every day. Write it down.

If you have cramps or pain in your belly, you can:

• Put a hot water bottle on your belly.
• Use an electric heating pad set on low.

Drink often. Do not get dehydrated.

• Suck on ice chips if you feel too sick to drink.
• Drink clear liquids, like water, weak tea, and broth.
• Drink a soft drink with no caffeine (like 7 UP). Let it go flat first.

At first it may help to not eat solid foods or eat just soft, starchy foods. Try bananas, cooked cereal, rice, potatoes, toast or bread with jelly, and applesauce.

After 2 or 3 days you can go back to most of the foods you are used to eating. For a few days, stay away from:

• milk, butter, cream, and cheese
• fresh fruit (except bananas)
• fresh vegetables (cooked carrots, potatoes and squash are fine)
• alcohol
• fatty foods, like cheeseburgers or bacon
• spicy foods
• caffeine.

Call your healthcare provider if:

• You have really bad cramps.
• You have cramps in only one area of your belly.
• Your cramps last more than a few days or get worse.
• You feel like you might faint.
• You have blood or mucus in your bowel movements.
• You have a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C) or higher.
• The diarrhea lasts longer than 3 days.

How can I help prevent it?

There are some things you can do to help keep from getting diarrhea:

• Always wash your hands after you use the restroom and before you eat.
• Make sure foods made from milk have been pasteurized.
• Serve or refrigerate food right after it has been cooked.

If you have diarrhea, here are some things you can do to keep from giving diarrhea to others.

• Wash your hands with soap and very warm water after you use the restroom.
• You should not prepare or serve food for other people. If you must, wash your hands very well before you prepare or serve food and wear disposable plastic server gloves.
• Do not work as a food handler or server in a restaurant, dining hall, or grocery store until your diarrhea is all gone.