What helps with diarrhea?

What helps with diarrhea? The priority is to replace lost fluids and salts. Diarrhea means stools are looser and more frequent than usual; it may be associated with infections, certain medicines or food intolerances. This article provides general information and does not replace diagnosis or individualized treatment.

What can help with fluid loss and eating?

Drink fluids in small, frequent sips. Oral rehydration solution (ORS), available from pharmacies, helps replace lost water and salts; prepare the packet with the specified amount of water. You can return to your normal diet when your appetite returns. Choose foods you tolerate, such as rice, boiled potatoes, bananas or soup; these are not a treatment on their own. Fasting or eating only a few foods is not recommended. Alcohol, caffeine, very sugary drinks and fatty foods may worsen symptoms. Dairy products may temporarily worsen discomfort in some people. Continue breast milk or formula at its usual strength for infants; do not dilute formula. Continue age-appropriate food for children.

Medicines and medical help: what should you watch for?

Do not start antibiotics on your own. If you have bloody stools or fever, do not use medicines that stop diarrhea, such as loperamide, without medical advice; do not give children medicines to stop diarrhea without medical advice. The effects of probiotics depend on the product and circumstances, and they do not benefit everyone. Reduced urination, dry mouth or dizziness may suggest dehydration. Seek medical care for bloody or black stools, high fever, persistent vomiting, inability to keep fluids down or diarrhea lasting more than two days in an adult. Call 112 for sudden severe abdominal pain, fainting or altered consciousness. Infants, young children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immunity should be assessed sooner. Wash hands with soap; stay away from work or school for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop. Sources: NHS — Diarrhoea and vomiting (https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/); NIDDK — Treatment, Eating, Diet & Nutrition and Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea. Sources accessed: 10 October 2026.