Website design By BotEap.comThe secret to curing diarrhea lies in recognizing the underlying cause.

Website design By BotEap.comProbably 95% of the time diarrhea is due to an intestinal virus. There is no medicinal cure, as such, for an intestinal virus. Your body will clear the infection on its own, given enough time, usually within a few to several days.

Website design By BotEap.comFor run-of-the-mill viral diarrhea, what most people want is simply something to stop the diarrhea. Technically speaking, that’s not a cure. But what’s the difference if you feel better?

Website design By BotEap.comSo, tip #1To delay diarrhea, for the most reliable results, use over-the-counter loperamide (Imodium). This medication was by prescription just a few years ago (and higher doses are still required by prescription). When your immune system kicks in and clears the infection from your body, you can stop taking the medicine.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat about the other 5% of the time? Probably the second most common cause of diarrhea that I see as a family doctor is “c diff” colitis, also known as “Clostridium difficile colitis. This form of diarrhea is caused by bacteria rather than a virus, and almost always occurs after a patient has taken an antibiotic for a different type of infection, such as a respiratory infection or bladder infection. Most patients know that taking an antibiotic can predispose to a yeast infection, but it also predisposes to c. diff. Since common antibiotics kill many good bacteria, sometimes the bad bacteria take over. In addition to diarrhea, colitis c. diff can cause fever, foul-smelling stools, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

Website design By BotEap.comTip #2 – if you have recently taken an antibiotic and develop diarrhoea, fever, foul-smelling stools and perhaps abdominal pain, contact your doctor. You should not take loperamide in this situation. Diarrhea is part of your body’s attempt to get rid of the infection. You will need to take metronidazole or vancomycin, both prescription antibiotics, or risk hospitalization.

Website design By BotEap.comThird, for patients with chronic diarrhea previously diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, ask your doctor about celiac disease. This problem is being increasingly recognized in the medical world and is caused by an allergic reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat and other flours. In recent years a blood test has been developed to detect the disease. Previously, an intestinal biopsy was required and is sometimes still done. Ask your doctor if you should have either or both of these tests.

Website design By BotEap.comGold, tip #3, stop all gluten for at least a few weeks and see if your symptoms improve. You may want to switch back and forth a few times, skipping and then restarting the gluten. If the symptoms occur every time you reintroduce gluten into your diet, you may have found the answer. Visit celiac.org for additional information.

Website design By BotEap.comThe above does not cover all types of diarrhoea. Other causes include true irritable bowel disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, parasitic infections, stress-induced diarrhea, and dozens of other less common conditions. See your doctor if diarrhea persists for more than several days, especially if you have additional symptoms such as abdominal pain or cramps, fever, blood or mucus in your stool, weight loss, or dehydration.

Website design By BotEap.comCopyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD