Diarrhea Health Video

Diarrhea is an unpleasant digestive disorder that most of us can expect to have at some point in our lives. The loose-stool consistency that characterizes diarrhea usually lasts a few days at most and is usually limited to more frequent trips to the toilet and a greater volume of stool. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for diarrhea in this health video.

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Drink plenty of water
Avoid caffeine & alcohol
Avoid dairy & high fat food

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Sue McGladerry. I'm the medical director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I would like to give you some information about diarrhea. This is an unpleasant digestive disorder that most of us experience now and then. Typically, there will be loose watery stools several times per day. There may also be cramps, bloating, nausea, and an urgent need to have a bowel movement. The causes of diarrhea include infection with bacteria, viruses or parasites but also it may be due to certain medications including antibiotics or to food intolerances. It can also be due to inflammatory bowel disease, it could affect the stomach, the small intestine, or the colon, and is some cases, no cause can be found. Acute diarrhea usually lasts a few days at most; in the case of chronic diarrhea, this lasts much longer often more than 4 weeks. Although not usually harmful, diarrhea can become very dangerous or signal a more serious problem. What about the treatment of diarrhea? Most cases of diarrhea will clear on their own within a few days without needing treatment but you will need to be careful to replace lost salt and electrolytes and especially fluids. Sometimes, you will need to take an antibiotic for this but generally it's not helpful. What is the best diet to follow if you have diarrhea? It's important to drink plenty of clear fluids including water, clear sodas, herbal teas, and broths. You should avoid caffeine and alcohol. As you start to feel better, you can add semisolid and low-fiber foods to your diet. You can try things like dry breakfast cereals, crackers, toasts, eggs, rice, and chicken. You should avoid certain foods such as dairy foods, fatty foods and high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods, because this will tend to make the diarrhea worse again. You need to talk to your doctor if you have severe diarrhea for more than 3 days especially if it's associated with a strong pain in the abdomen with fever or blood in the stools or dehydration. Also, if your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call your doctor for advice. Diarrhea in children can rapidly lead to serious dehydration.

Diarrhea Health Video

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