Diarrhea is the passing of watery stools more than three times a day. Diarrhea is categorized as acute diarrhea which lasts 5-10 days, and chronic diarrhea which lasts more than 2 weeks.
Anyone suffering from chronic diarrhea should always consult their doctor. Acute diarrhea is usually a symptom of gastroenteritis (an infection of the bowel) and may be due to:
Other causes include anxiety, drinking lots of alcohol and drugs (prescription or otherwise), which can cause diarrhea as a side-effect.
Consult your doctor if you have:
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persistent diarrhea
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diarrhea associated with blood or fever
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diarrhea with severe or constant stomach cramps
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children, babies and the elderly can easily become dehydrated and medical referral is advisable.
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Homeopathic remedies such as Arsen alb are traditionally used to help relieve the symptoms of diarrhea. (Always read the label.)
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Drink lots of fluid. Take small, frequent sips of water or diluted fruit juice.
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Rehydration drinks are ideal as they provide a great balance of salts, sugars and water to prevent dehydration. Sachets are available from most pharmacies.
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Eat as normally as possible. It is recommended that you eat food high in carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes). myth that starvation helps diarrhea.
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