Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
ORS for everyone, zinc for children; antibiotics only for doctor-confirmed cases; anti-motility pills never for children or bloody stools.
Here is the surprise: most diarrhea needs no medicine at all. The treatments that matter are a salt-sugar solution and a mineral - and the famous pills are mostly unnecessary, some harmful.
Diarrhea's real medicines are ORS for everyone and zinc for children; antibiotics only for bloody, parasitic or severe doctor-confirmed cases; anti-motility pills never for children or bloody stools - and most of the time, no medicine is the right medicine.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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The story and the dehydration exam decide - stool tests and blood work are for blood in stool, high fever, the 2-week mark or severe dehydration.
Safe water stored clean, soap at the four key moments, the hot-or-peeled food rule, rotavirus vaccine and exclusive breastfeeding.
The classical ama-stage rule forbids early binding - the ancient anti-loperamide rule - with kutaja, bael, musta and takra for the settled phase.
Viruses, bacteria and parasites from contaminated water, food and hands - plus lactose intolerance, antibiotics and stress. In children, rotavirus.
ORS first, then khichdi, curd-rice, dal, banana and chhach in small frequent portions - skip milk briefly, fried-spicy food and fasting.
ORS from the first stool, light food early, zinc for children, watch urine and eyes - hospital for blood, high fever or deepening dehydration.
