How do I Get Rid of Diarrhea?

Perhaps there are only a few other health conditions that are as embarrassing as having the “runs” or diarrhea. Loose bowel movements always spell disaster for people, especially those who aren't in the comfort of their homes for long periods of time. Diarrhea is especially annoying when you're on a bus or on the subway and you feel something wet and wild just raring to get out of your system in the most embarrassing way possible.

However, the severe and acute form of diarrhea is one of the common causes of death of children in developing countries. About two million deaths are attributed to it every year. Diarrhea is also one of the major causes of infant deaths worldwide.

Diarrhea is loose stool movement. People with diarrhea normally excrete stool more than three or four times a day, passing more than a quart of waste products. Diarrhea is mostly caused by a viral infection, bacteria or parasite.

Rotavirus infections, for example, hospitalize about 55,000 children in the United States alone. Other diseases such as botulism, cholera or dysentery count diarrhea as a symptom. That is why it is always important to have your condition checked whenever your diarrhea lasts longer than usual; diarrhea that lasts more than three or four days is already cause for concern.

Usually, diarrhea is accompanied by cramps, abdominal pain, nausea (For more information on nausea, read The guide to nausea) or bloating. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, a person may also have blood in their stool or have a fever. While diarrhea usually goes away on its own after the bacteria or the cause has been flushed out of the body, there are several things you can do to get rid of it or at least ease the discomfort it causes.

Drink lots of fluids and electrolytes. Since you will mostly be excreting lots of fluids, you are at risk of suffering from dehydration. Dehydration is the primary reason why children and infants are in particular danger when they suffer from diarrhea; they are losing too much water and electrolytes, so their body can't function properly (electrolytes are the minerals and salts that affect muscle activity, water levels and other important body functions).

Drinking lots of water frequently balances the loss of fluids. Since water doesn't have electrolytes, getting them from somewhere else is the next option. Electrolyte levels can be increased by consuming broths and soups that have sodium, and fruits and vegetables that contain potassium.

Children can also benefit from over-the-counter rehydration products like Ceralyte and Infalyte. For adults, drinking Gatorade will help replenish lost electrolytes as well as fluids.