How to Rehydrate After Diarrhea
Table of Contents
Diarrhea is a common condition that usually goes away on its own after a few days. However, diarrhea may also have dangerous side effects, such as dehydration. In this article, we’ll explain how to avoid getting dehydrated when you have diarrhea and when to seek medical help.
What Causes Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a very common condition characterized by loose and watery stool. It usually resolves without intervention within a few days.
Types of diarrhea
Diarrhea can be classified under three categories:
- Acute diarrhea: The most common type, lasting up to two days. Causes are often unknown and it doesn’t necessitate treatment.
- Persistent diarrhea: Generally lasts for two to four weeks.
- Chronic diarrhea: Persists for more than four weeks or occurs regularly over longer periods of time.
Causes of acute and persistent diarrhea
The most common causes are viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, as well as taking certain medications.
- Infections: Viral infections (like viral gastroenteritis), bacterial infections (such as Campylobacter , E. coli , Salmonella , and Shigella ), and parasitic infections (like Giardia lamblia ) are common culprits.
- Traveler’s diarrhea: A travel-related illness caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
- Side effects of medicines: Antibiotics, antidepressants, certain antacids, and cancer drugs can cause diarrhea.
Causes of chronic diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea can stem from various sources:
- Infections: Some bacterial or parasitic infections require medical treatment.
- Food allergies and intolerances: Lactose, fructose, sugar alcohol intolerances, or allergies to milk, soy, eggs, or seafood.
- Digestive tract problems: Conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
- Abdominal surgery: Surgery on the appendix, gallbladder, intestines, pancreas, or other abdominal organs.
- Long-term use of medicines: Drugs that treat heartburn or ulcers can alter gut flora, increasing the risk of Clostridioides difficile infection.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
The main symptom is passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day. You may also experience:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Bloating
- Bloody stools
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Light-headedness and dizziness
Can You Dehydrate from Diarrhea?
Prolonged diarrhea and vomiting cause your body to lose more fluids than it takes in, leading to dehydration. Severe dehydration is dangerous and can lead to urinary tract infections, seizures, kidney stones, and kidney failure. It is especially critical to monitor children and the elderly.
Symptoms of Dehydration to Watch For:
- Extreme thirst
- Less urination than normal
- Inability to sweat
- Dark-colored urine
- Dry skin and cracked lips
- Headache, fatigue, light-headedness, or dizziness
- Poor concentration or confusion
- Low blood pressure (severe dehydration)
When to Seek Medical Help
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of severe dehydration
- Diarrhea persisting for more than 3 days
- Persistent vomiting for more than 48 hours
- Fever above 102 ℉ accompanied by nausea and vomiting
- Blood in diarrhea or vomit
- Severe, non-relenting stomach pain
- Inability to keep any fluids down
- Confusion, inability to focus, or feeling lethargic
Note: Older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those with other health conditions should see a doctor right away. If experiencing severe dehydration, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Preventing Dehydration When Suffering from Diarrhea
Replenish lost fluids as quickly as possible:
- Drinking water: Have at least one cup of water after each loose bowel movement.
- Oral rehydration solutions: Use products like Pedialyte or DripDrop, which replace both fluids and essential electrolytes (sodium, calcium, potassium).
- Sports drinks: Drinks like Gatorade or Powerade can help, though they are often high in sugar.
- Coconut water: Rich in potassium and electrolytes, and often contains fewer calories/less sodium than sports drinks.
- Foods to eat: Foods rich in minerals and water content, such as lettuce, squash, apples, cottage cheese, and white bread.
- Avoid: Caffeinated drinks (coffee/tea), soft drinks, artificial fruit juices, high-salt foods, and high-protein foods.
IV Therapy
When you have diarrhea, IV therapy is the fastest way to get fluids and nutrients directly into your bloodstream. Reset IV’s Basic Hydration Package uses a saline solution to rehydrate you quickly, with optional add-ons like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, or medication to help you recover faster.
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