How to Treat Diarrhea at Home: Practical Advice and Remedies

Diarrhea can be a sign of many internal diseases or problems. It is important to detect and treat these diseases early.

The biggest risk from diarrhea is lack of water in the body (dehydration). Loose motions cause the body's water and electrolytes to be released through the stool. Dehydration occurs when there is a severe deficiency of water and electrolytes in the body.

Dehydration can also be serious, especially for children, old people and those who have a weak immune system. If diarrhea does not get cured in a few days, it can be a sign of a serious problem and can cause severe pain in your stomach or anus, coma, fever, kidney failure, bleeding in stool, swelling of the brain and even death.

That is why some symptoms of diarrhea should not be ignored and immediate medical attention should be sought for it. The last part of this article explains when to go to the doctor in case of diarrhea.

(Read more - How to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast?)

First aid in diarrhea can be done in the following way -

• Drink as much fluids as possible to avoid water retention in the body due to diarrhea. For this, you can drink energy drinks or fluids that contain electrolytes.
• Due to frequent stools, you may experience pain, itching and irritation in the anal area. To get relief from this, take a bath with warm water and wipe the area gently instead of rubbing it with a towel.
• It is important to keep the anal area clean in case of diarrhea so that the skin does not get damaged. You can apply petroleum jelly or any mild cream on the affected area.
• Take care of your food and drink in case of diarrhea and eat light things.
• If the person is experiencing nausea along with diarrhea, give him ice chips.
• In loose motion, one can carry on with their normal daily chores, but avoid doing strenuous work.
• Instead of drinking water with food, drink water in between meals, such as between breakfast and lunch.
• If you are a pregnant woman, keep taking adequate fluids and consult your doctor if you have diarrhea. 

(Read more - Nature's Solution: Probiotics for Diarrhea Management)

If you have diarrhea, keep the following things in mind -

• Do not take any medicine or drug without consulting a doctor.
• Do not take any food items which have high fat, such as fried or gravy items.
• If diarrhea is increasing, do not ignore it and seek medical attention immediately. 
• Milk, curd, butter and other dairy products take time to digest, so stay away from them when you have diarrhea.
• Do not consume gas-producing foods like broccoli, chili, cabbage, beans, chickpeas and corn.
• Alcohol and soda can cause dehydration in your body, so do not consume them when you have diarrhea.
• Do not take cold drinks and caffeinated beverages available in the market.
• Do not eat things that have gone bad or have been kept out of the fridge for a long time.
• Do not eat raw fish or meat.
• Do not do work that requires too much physical effort.
• Take care of your food and drink and also pay attention to what food is increasing your diarrhea.

(Read more - Diet for blood in stool: Which foods to eat)

Usually home remedies and the first aid mentioned above are enough for loose motion, but go to your doctor immediately in the following situations -

• If you are having high fever along with diarrhea.
• If you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration in the body.
• If you are having severe pain in the stomach.
• If there is pus or blood in the stool.
• If you are having continuous diarrhea for two days.
• If you are vomiting along with diarrhea and you are not able to take any liquid.
• If you already have diseases that weaken the immune system, such as AIDS, diabetes or heart disease.
• If the color of your stool is black.
• If the person is feeling very sleepy or looks lethargic, take him to the doctor. If the person who has diarrhea is old and has a serious disease, such as liver disease or heart disease etc.
• If a pregnant woman has diarrhea and it is not getting cured, take her to the doctor so that there is no harm to the child.
• If the diarrhea is increasing instead of getting cured.
• If the person has diarrhea after coming back from somewhere.

(Read more -Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS))

The first thing to do when you have diarrhea is to prevent dehydration, so drink plenty of water, coconut water, and ORS (oral rehydration solution). Eat light and simple foods, such as bananas, rice, yogurt, and toast, which are easy to digest and help control diarrhea. Avoid spicy and fried foods. Consult a doctor if diarrhea becomes severe or continues for a long time. Rest and hygiene are also important so that the infection does not spread further.