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How Can Diarrhea For Over Two Days In An Elderly Woman Be Stopped?
Question: My wife is 90 years of age and suffering from diarrhea for the past 2 days' How can I stop it?
Brief Answer:
hold off solids, fluid replacement, probiotics, pepto bismol
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Diarrhea can be due to viral or bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract, though viral infection is more common.
Treatment involves-(1) holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no diarrhea.
Right now the intestines cannot absorb solids and when given solid food, it will aggravate them.
When 4 hours pass with no diarrhea, a small amount of dry solids can be started (bread, biscuits, plain rice etc)
(2) fluids are very important to prevent dehydration. IF there is any nausea or vomiting, only a small amount should be used at a time eg 1 tsp to 1 tbs every few mins for an hour then the amount is increased if this is tolerated
If there is no nausea or vomiting, then larger amounts can be used. It is important to give back both fluids and electrolytes so an oral hydration product for diarrhea would be the best replacement.
These would be found at your local pharmacy. If not then a dilute sports drink, it has to be diluted to reduce the sugar concentration.
(3)probiotics- either on their own or in yogurt with probiotics
(4)pepto bismol- this over the counter medication would help with her diarrhea as well
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
hold off solids, fluid replacement, probiotics, pepto bismol
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Diarrhea can be due to viral or bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract, though viral infection is more common.
Treatment involves-(1) holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no diarrhea.
Right now the intestines cannot absorb solids and when given solid food, it will aggravate them.
When 4 hours pass with no diarrhea, a small amount of dry solids can be started (bread, biscuits, plain rice etc)
(2) fluids are very important to prevent dehydration. IF there is any nausea or vomiting, only a small amount should be used at a time eg 1 tsp to 1 tbs every few mins for an hour then the amount is increased if this is tolerated
If there is no nausea or vomiting, then larger amounts can be used. It is important to give back both fluids and electrolytes so an oral hydration product for diarrhea would be the best replacement.
These would be found at your local pharmacy. If not then a dilute sports drink, it has to be diluted to reduce the sugar concentration.
(3)probiotics- either on their own or in yogurt with probiotics
(4)pepto bismol- this over the counter medication would help with her diarrhea as well
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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