Should I Use Antibiotics For Persistent Diarrhea And Weight Loss?

Posted on Sun, 25 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 25 May 2014 Answered on

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I was working in XXXXXXX for 3 weeks and have just returned home Thursday. Last Saturday, I got severe diarrhea which got better but never went away. This weekend I'm worse, I've had 6 bouts today alone and just since I weighed myself on Friday, I've lost 3 lbs. I only weight 111. Should I get some antibiotics or let it run its course?

Answered by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Singal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Take antibiotic and antiprotozoals

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for contacting HealthacreMagic.
You definitly have diarrhea due to some infection. It can be a bacterial or a protozoal infection. Since it has persisted you certainly need a course of antibiotic like quinolones as well as some antiprotozoal like metronidazole. Prior to this it may be useful if you can get your comprehensive stool examination done as it may exactly tell us the organism causing infection.
Best wishes.
Dr Dinesh Kumar Singal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj