Viral Diarrhea (Adult)

Symptoms

Along with diarrhea, you may have other symptoms, including:

• Belly (abdominal) pain and cramping.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Loss of bowel control.

• Fever and chills.

• Bloody stools.

The danger from repeated diarrhea is dehydration. This is when your body loses too much water and electrolytes.

Antibiotics don't work well in treating this illness. But there are things you can do at home that will help.

Home care

Follow these home care tips:

• If symptoms are severe, rest at home for the next 24 hours or until you are feeling better.

• Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. This helps prevent the spread of infection. Wash your hands after touching anyone who is sick.

• Teach all people in your home when and how to wash their hands. Wet your hands with clean, running water. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, try humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. Rinse your hands well. Dry them with a clean paper towel.

• Wash your hands after using the toilet and before meals. Clean the toilet after each use.

Food preparation

• People with diarrhea should not make food for others. When making food, wash your hands after touching anyone who is sick.

• Wash your hands after using items that have been in contact with raw food. This includes cutting boards, countertops, and knives.

• Keep uncooked meats away from cooked and ready-to-eat foods.

Medicines

• You may use acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to control fever unless another medicine was prescribed. In addition:

  • Talk with your doctor before using these medicines if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or ever had a stomach ulcer or GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding.

  • Do not give aspirin to children or teens unless your child's doctor says it is safe. Aspirin can put your child at risk for Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition.

  • Don't use NSAID medicines if you are already taking one for another condition (such as arthritis) or if you are taking aspirin (such as for heart disease or after a stroke).

• Take antidiarrheal medicines only if advised by your doctor. Sometimes they can make your condition worse. If you have bloody diarrhea or fever, check with your doctor before taking this type of medicine.

Diet

• Water and clear liquids are important, so you don't get dehydrated. Drink small amounts at a time. Don't guzzle it down. If you are very dehydrated, sports drinks aren't a good choice. They have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes. In this case, commercially available products called oral rehydration solutions are best.

• Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can make diarrhea, cramping, and pain worse. Try to stop using these until you are fully recovered.

• Don't force yourself to eat, especially if you have cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea. Don't eat large amounts at a time, even if you are hungry. It may make you feel worse.

• If you eat, don't have fatty, greasy, spicy, or fried foods.

• Don't have any dairy products, as they can make diarrhea worse.

During the first 24 hours (the first full day), follow the diet below:

• Drinks. You can drink water, clear liquids, soft drinks without caffeine, ginger ale, mineral water (plain or flavored), and decaf tea and coffee.

• Soups. You can have clear broth, consommé, and bouillon.

• Desserts. You can have plain gelatin, ice pops, and fruit juice bars.

During the next 24 hours (the second day):

• If you are feeling better, you may add:

  • Hot cereal, plain toast, bread, rolls, and crackers.

  • Plain noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, and chicken noodle or rice soup.

  • Unsweetened canned fruit like applesauce and bananas (not pineapple and citrus).

• Limit fat intake to less than 15 grams per day. Don't eat margarine, butter, oils, mayonnaise, sauces, gravies, fried foods, peanut butter, meat, poultry, and fish.

• Limit fiber. Don't eat raw or cooked vegetables, fresh fruits (except bananas), and bran cereals.

• Limit caffeine and chocolate. Don't use spices or seasonings, except salt.

During the next 24 hours (the third day):

• As you feel better and your symptoms ease, slowly go back to a normal diet.

• If at any time the diarrhea or cramping gets worse, go back to the simpler diet (above) or to clear liquids.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your doctor as advised. Call if you aren't getting better in 24 hours or if the diarrhea lasts more than 1 week. This is even more important if you are in a high-risk group, such as:

• Being an older adult.

• Having a weak immune system (such as from cancer treatment).

• Having inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or colitis).

If a stool (diarrhea) sample was taken, you may call in 2 days (or as directed) for the results.

When to get medical advice

Contact your doctor right away if you:

• Have more belly pain or constant lower right belly pain.

• Have lasting vomiting (can't keep liquids or food down).

• Have frequent diarrhea (more than 5 times a day).

• Have blood in vomit or stool (black or red color).

• Are eating or drinking less.

• Have dark urine, reduced urine output (not urinating in 6 to 8 hours during the day).

• Have weakness, dizziness.

• Have drowsiness.

• Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your doctor.

• Have a new rash.

• Have symptoms that get worse or you have new symptoms.

Call 911

Call 911 if you:

• Have trouble breathing.

• Feel confused.

• Have severe drowsiness or trouble waking up.

• Faint or lose consciousness.

• Have a fast heart rate.

• Have a seizure.

• Have a stiff neck.