Your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history, as well as perform a physical examination. He or she will ask about any medications you have taken and order a stool and a blood test to look for bacteria, parasites, or other signs of infection.
In the event that you have chronic diarrhea, your doctor will require other tests to find the cause through endoscopic procedures.
Treatment will depend on the cause of diarrhea, but the first step will be to replace the fluids and electrolytes you lost to prevent dehydration.
Once your doctor knows the source of your diarrhea, he or she will prescribe medications to control your bowel movements and treat the infection. You should drink plenty of fluids and consume broths. As soon as the symptoms improve, you can follow a soft diet without fats and condiments.
Prevention:
Rotavirus diarrhea can be prevented through a controlled vaccination schedule, and in the case of traveler’s diarrhea, you should watch what you eat and drink, here are some recommendations:
- Only use bottled water to drink and brush your teeth.
- Avoid eating unpeeled fruits and raw vegetables.
- Make sure that the food you eat is well cooked and avoid eating on the street or in places of questionable hygiene.
In ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
