Diarrhea

Foods to Eat That Can Help Diarrhea

The basic BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) plus some other choices that are safe:

1. B - Bananas

2. R - Plain rice and boiled potatoes - NO butter

3. A - Applesauce

4. T - White Toast and Crackers

5. Yogurt that contains live or active cultures (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum)

6. Baked chicken without the skin or fat

7. Cooked carrots

8. Blueberries - chewing dried blueberries or making a tea by boiling crushed dried blueberries for about ten minutes

8. Tea - Peppermint and Chamomile

Foods to Avoid - These Foods Tend to Aggravate Diarrhea

1. Fatty Foods - greasy, fried, creamy, or covered in gravy

2. Milk and milk products, such as ice cream or cheese, butter, milk

3. Foods that are very sweet, such as cakes and cookies

4. Foods high in fiber such as citrus fruits, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, peas

5. Alcohol, caffeine and carbonated Beverages

6. Unsafe Foods that have not been safely washed, prepared and stored

Food Hygiene:

Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing or eating any food.
Thoroughly wash all raw fruits and vegetables.
Clean food preparation surfaces with hot soapy water before and after use.
Cook all foods to an internal temperature of 160 F.
Refrigerate or freeze leftovers immediately after eating.

Dehydration

Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body has lost too much fluid and too many electrolytes and can't function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and in older adults and must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems.

Signs of dehydration include:

Thirst
Less frequent urination
Dry skin
Fatigue
Light-headedness
Dark-colored urine

Signs of dehydration in children include:

Dry mouth and tongue
No tears when crying
No wet diapers for 3 hours or more
Sunken abdomen, eyes, or cheeks
High fever
Listlessness or irritability
Skin that does not flatten when pinched and released

If you suspect that you or your child is dehydrated, call the doctor immediately. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization.

Preventing Dehydration

The fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them. Electrolytes are the salts and minerals that affect the amount of water in your body, muscle activity, and other important functions.

Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. Broth and soups that contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium, help restore electrolyte levels. Over-the-counter rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Ceralyte, and Infalyte are also good electrolyte sources and are especially recommended for use in children.

When to go to the Doctor

Diarrhea is not usually harmful, but it can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem. You should see the doctor if you experience any of the following:

Diarrhea for more than 3 days
Severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
A fever of 102 degrees or higher
Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools
Signs of dehydration

Treatment for Diarrhea

In most cases of diarrhea, replacing lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment necessary. Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection or parasite. If you stop the diarrhea before having purged the bacteria or parasite, you will trap the organism in the intestines and prolong the problem. Rather, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics as a first-line treatment. Viral infections are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of virus.