How to Treat Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea is a condition consisting of loose stools that last for more than one month. It can also afflict a person in between periods of constipation. Chronic diarrhea can be very detrimental to the body because the transit time of nutrients in the digestive system is short lived. This can lead to food being only partially absorbed, which can cause dehydration from a loss of electrolytes. The body can also grow weak and disoriented from not getting proper nutrients. That is why treatment for chronic diarrhea is so important.

Instructions

• 1

  Prevent dehydration.
  It is very important to stay hydrated when you have chronic diarrhea. Drink clear liquids and formulas that have electrolytes in them. Some examples are water, bouillon, Gatorade and coconut water.

• 2

  Avoid caffeine.
  Anything that has caffeine in it will cause dehydration. Avoid soft drinks, coffee, energy drinks and any other caffeine containing beverage. Also avoid alcohol because it also causes dehydration.

• 3

  Get some antibiotics.
  Some occurrences of chronic diarrhea are caused from a parasite or an infection. In these cases, antibiotics are often used as a treatment.

• 4

  Use bulking agents.
  You can treat loose stools with agents that help to firm them up.
  These bulking agents can slow down and even stop chronic diarrhea. Some examples of these are bismuth, activated charcoal and psyllium husks.

• 5

  Avoid trigger foods.
  In some cases, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac disease and lactose intolerance, certain foods can exacerbate chronic diarrhea. Some foods to avoid in these cases would be dairy products, wheat products and artificial sweeteners.