Common Causes of Diarrhea:

Rotavirus is named by the shape of this virus. Rotavirus infections hospitalize 55,000 children a year here in the United States. It is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children and is spread most often by feces to mouth. Wash hands to prevent this. Immediate medical attention is required for severe diarrhea due to the possibility of death by dehydration.

Food Poisoning is one of the more common causes of diarrhea. Generally speaking, food poisoning is caused by one of four common bacteria: Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and E. Coli. Diarrhea from a bacterial infection can be acute and very painful. Antibiotics can be used to treat a bacterial infection.

Viral Gastroenteritis is yet another common cause of diarrhea. Not much can be said about gastroenteritis other than the fact that is is a viral infection, and that virus could be any number of viruses. Since viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, most cases are simply allowed to run their course. Take pain relievers (acetaminophen) for the cramping that often accompanies acute diarrhea.

Antibiotics can be another cause of diarrhea. Often times when a patient is taking antibiotics to treat another infection, they experience symptoms of acute diarrhea. This is because antibiotics are used to kill bacteria, and they will kill the good bacteria in your intestines that help you digest your food. Nothing can be done about such a case of diarrhea other than to stop taking antibiotics, but consult your doctor before discontinuing any medication.

Bananas are a very good alternative to taking diarrhea medication. Bananas are high in what we call soluble fiber, which can help control and regulate the water content of your bowels and help to relieve you of your diarrhea.

Mucilage is another great natural alternative to taking diarrhea medication. Mucilage is substance produced by plants, and dietary supplements can be found quite easily online. Just be certain you're not buying paper adhesive or paint products. Mucilage supplements are usually found under different names like Marshmallow or Solaray Psyllium Husk, which are both high in mucilage content.

Not too long ago, I had a wicked case of the runs. I mean, this was awful. It was poop soup every hour on the hour, and the painful cramps that came afterwards were a kind of pain I'd never experienced before. After three whole days of drinking fluids, eating almost nothing, and laying on the floor blinded with pain I finally ushered myself to the emergency room. The cause of my "discomfort"? A Campylobacter I had picked up from my local Chipotle. To put it simply: a fajita made me weep. But I learned a few things about getting rid of diarrhea while I was in the hospital, after getting the chance to talk to the doctor. The usual diarrhea symptoms don't really need explaining, we all know them: loose stool, cramps, inability to digest food, fatigue, and dehydration. Dehydration from diarrhea is what you need to watch out for, especially when it comes to children (600,000 child deaths from diarrhea world wide last year) and elderly people. There are a number of causes (outlined to your left) of diarrhea, but I can't stress enough how important it is to get rid of diarrhea in order to avoid dehydration. Now, if you experience any other symptoms like blood in your stool, fainting, or cramps too severe to handle with normal pain relievers, then it might be wise to go see a doctor. For now, let's work on how to start treating that diarrhea at home.

Diarrhea Treatment

The first treatment recommended by doctors when experiencing acute diarrhea is to drink fluids, plenty of them. Now, I know what you're thinking. What's the point of drinking fluids when I'm peeing out of my butt? That's the point. You're losing fluids faster than a fat man in the Sahara. You should be drinking fluids that are loaded with electrolytes. Pedialyte and Gatorade are good examples of such fluids.

Cutting certain foods out of your diet with the onset of diarrhea will help you get rid of diarrhea faster. Foods that you should avoid include dairy products, foods that are high in fat content, fried foods, foods that are high in fiber, and very spicy foods. Plain and simple: don't drink milk and eat curry when you've got the shits. Dairy products and high-fiber foods are impossible for you to digest, and spicy food will only irritate your intestinal wall, exacerbating your diarrhea problem.