Digestive Care

Management of Diarrhea

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is the word used to describe loose, watery stools that occur more than three times in one day. Usually diarrhea is an isolated event lasting one or two days before going away on its own. If it lasts for a longer period of time, or is associated with certain symptoms, one should talk to a health professional.

When Should I See a Doctor?

Adults should consult a doctor if they experience one or more of the following:

Diarrhea lasts for more than 48 hours
Signs of dehydration occur (excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness)
Severe, persistent abdominal or rectal pain
Bloody or black stools
Fever greater than 38.5 C

In addition to the above, children with diarrhoea should be checked by a doctor if:

They are less than six months old
They have been vomiting for more than four hours
They haven't had a wet diaper in eight hours, or have a dry mouth or cry without tears (signs of dehydration)
They are unusually sleepy or drowsy or unresponsive

What Causes Diarrhea?

Bacterial or viral infections are the most common causes of acute (sudden and temporary) diarrhoea. The rotavirus (most common cause of diarrhea in young children) and Norwalk virus (causes diarrhea in older children and adults) are examples of viruses that can be spread from person to person. Food or water contaminated with bacteria (such as Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli) can cause severe diarrhea
Food intolerances may cause diarrhea as a result of a person not being able to digest a component of food, such as lactose (the sugar found in milk).
Certain medicines (antibiotics or antacids containing magnesium) may cause diarrhea
Intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease are associated with chronic diarrhea, as well as functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome
Other causes of diarrhea include nervousness or anxiety, tumours, and rapid increase of fibre in ones diet

How Can I Prevent Diarrhea?

Avoid foods or drugs that have caused Diarrhea in the past
Wash hands well after going to toilet, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food
Cook foods thoroughly and eat foods soon after they have been cooked to prevent bacterial growth
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold
Use separate cutting boards for raw meats

Treatment of Diarrhea

Rehydration

It is very important to replace lost fluids to prevent dehydration when suffering from Diarrhea. In most cases, this is all that is required. Liquid formulated to mimic the natural fluid in the intestines (called "oral rehydration therapy") is recommended for use early in the treatment of Diarrhea. This is especially true in the case of children and the elderly. Commercial examples of oral rehydration solutions include Gastrolye® and Pedialyte®. The medical community no longer recommends the use of fruit juices, pop, or tea with sugar as rehydrating fluids because of the high concentration of carbohydrates they contain.

Oral rehydration therapy should not be used under the following circumstances:

Vomiting despite small frequent feedings
Worsening Diarrhea and an inability to maintain hydration
Stupor or coma
Intestinal blockage causing abdominal pain, bloating and/or vomiting

Medications

Any medications used for treatment of Diarrhea (including those not requiring a prescription) should be used only on the advice of a health professional. Your Sobeys Pharmacist is always happy to talk with you about your medication concerns.

Children should visit a doctor before using medication to treat Diarrhea. Medication available without a prescription includes:

Loperamide
Kaolin and pectin
Attapulgite
Bismuth subsalicylate

Children or adolescents should not use bismuth subsalicylate. Prescription medications, such as diphenoxylate and codeine, may be prescribed by your doctor if appropriate.

Traveler's Diarrhea

Traveler's Diarrhea is caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and affects from 20 to 50% of all travelers who spend two weeks or more in developing countries such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It usually goes away on its own within three to four days.

Symptoms of traveler's Diarrhea include three or more loose, unformed stools per day along with one symptom of intestinal infection (e.g., fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, urgency, or dysentery)
People most likely to get traveler's Diarrhea include those who aren't careful about what they eat, those with a low concentration of stomach acid, people with weak immune systems (e.g., on chemotherapy), and younger individuals
Foods associated with traveler's Diarrhea include buffet food at room temperature, fresh soft cheese, food from street vendors, cold salads, unpeeled fruit, ice cubes, shellfish, large reef fish (e.g. barracuda, snapper, grouper), custards, mousses, mayonnaise, and hollandaise sauce

How Can I Prevent Traveler's Diarrhea?

"Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it"
Use purified water or water from the hot tap to brush teeth
Wash hands frequently while traveling
Avoid drinking the water while swimming
Avoid drinking local water
Drink bottled beverages in their original containers
Talk to your doctor or Sobeys Pharmacist about prevention of traveler's Diarrhea with the use of bismuth subsalicylate. Bismuth subsalicylate should not be used by people taking blood thinners (anticoagulants such as warfarin), anyone with an ASA allergy, children, or adolescents

If you are at high risk for traveler's Diarrhea and you will be traveling in a high-risk area, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for prevention.