Here’s how to relieve diarrhea at home, according to doctors
Learn how to prevent dehydration, choose the right electrolyte drinks and avoid common treatment mistakes.
Trisha Easto- Health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness causing severe diarrhea.
- Experts recommend staying hydrated with oral rehydration solutions and avoiding sugary drinks, alcohol, and greasy foods.
- Over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol or Imodium may help manage symptoms in some adults.
- Medical care is advised for severe symptoms, signs of dehydration, or if diarrhea lasts more than a few days.
Health officials are continuing to investigate a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause frequent, watery and sometimes "explosive" diarrhea. More than 800 cases are being tracked nationwide, with outbreaks reported in Texas, Georgia, New York, Florida and Michigan.
While the infection typically requires prescription antibiotics, medical experts say there are several important steps you can take at home to help prevent dehydration and manage symptoms while you recover.
How oral rehydration solutions can help treat diarrhea at home
Diarrhea, particularly the frequent, watery and even explosive diarrhea associated with cyclosporiasis, can flush vital fluids and electrolytes from your body, which can lead to severe dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“The most important thing during severe diarrhea isn’t just drinking fluids—it’s replacing the right mix of water, salt and sugar,” JustAnswer Gastroenterologist Dr. Jason Korenblit said. Without that balance, drinking plain water alone may not fully restore what your body is losing.
To help manage symptoms at home, the USA TODAY Shopping team spoke with gastroenterologists and emergency medicine physicians about at-home treatments for diarrhea that actually work—including the most effective hydration options, when to use over-the-counter medications and the warning signs that mean it’s time to seek medical care.
Doctors warn about ‘explosive diarrhea’ as outbreak spreads—what to drink, eat and avoid right now
Replenishing electrolytes can be key to relieving diarrhea symptons but not all electrolytes are created equal. Andrea Giamalva, Chief Medical Officer at Experity breaks down the differences between top hydration solutions here:
- Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS): ORS closely follow the WHO formula, being specifically formulated for rehydration in the setting of severe diarrhea or dehydration.
- Electrolyte drinks: A broad category and formulations vary. They typically contain sodium, potassium (and sometimes glucose), but do not follow the specific WHO formula for ORS unless specifically labeled as ORS.
- Sports drinks: A sub-category of electrolyte drinks. These are formulated to contain moderate sodium to replace sweat loss and varying levels of sugar content to provide energy for your activity, but typically they do not follow the specific WHO formula for ORS unless specifically labeled as ORS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health both recommend oral rehydration solutions (ORS), a category of drinks designed to replace fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhea. Common over-the-counter options include Pedialyte, CeraLyte, Oralyte and Naturalyte.
Pedialyte is available in several forms, including liquid, powder and freezer pops.
"Powder packets can also be useful because they are easy to keep at home and mix when needed," Dr. Korenblit said. "The key is to follow the mixing directions exactly. Do not make the drink extra strong, because too much salt or sugar can make things worse."
How to make your own electrolyte drink at home in a pinch
Dr. Giamalva explains that choosing electrolyte drinks and sports drinks like Liquid I.V., LMNT, Gatorade and Powerade still provide sodium, potassium, glucose and water to support your hydration needs.
"However, if someone is experiencing significant fluid losses," Dr. Giamalva said. "A true ORS is the better choice because it's specifically formulated to replace the water and electrolytes lost during diarrheal illness."
"If you are in a pinch, you can even make a basic WHO-approved solution at home," said Dr. David Kahana, board-certified Gastroenterologist & 1MD Nutrition Physician Formulator. Here's the recipe he suggests:
- 1 liter of clean water
- 6 level teaspoons of sugar
- 1/2 level teaspoon of salt (lite salt may be even better, since it contains about 350 mg of potassium per ¼ teaspoon)
When should you seek medical care for diarrhea?
Not all diarrhea can or should be treated at home. Dr. Giamalva explains when you should seek medical treatment:
"If diarrhea is severe, prolonged, accompanied by dizziness, inability to keep fluids down, or signs of dehydration, medical evaluation is warranted because intravenous fluids may be necessary," said Dr. Giamalva.
A similar warning was issued by Dr. Korenblit, "People should seek care right away if they cannot keep fluids down, feel faint or confused, stop urinating, have blood in the stool, have high fever, are elderly, pregnant, immunocompromised or have diarrhea lasting more than a couple of days."
Over-the-counter medications may treat some symptoms
In more minor cases of diarrhea, you may be able to treat the symptoms at home. All three doctors we spoke with had the same recommendations for at-home care: Pepto-Bismol and Immodium, but said that you should also exercise caution with these over-the-counter medications.
"For symptom relief, adults may be able to use bismuth subsalicylate, such as Pepto-Bismol, or loperamide. Or, Imodium if they have watery diarrhea without fever or blood," Dr. Korenblit said. "These should be avoided if there is bloody stool, high fever, severe abdominal pain or concern for a more serious infection, because slowing the gut down can sometimes make illness worse."
Note: Children should not be given these medicines unless a pediatrician recommends it.
Diet modifications until symptoms stop
Gastroenterologists have often recommended switching to the "BRAT Diet" when recovering from stomach-related illnesses. The BRAT Diet consisting of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast, according to Harvard Health. However, Dr. Kahana says more and more experts are moving away from that recommendation.
"Modern gastroenterology is moving away from strict starvation or prolonged use of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), as it lacks the protein and fat needed for gut healing," Dr. Kahana said. "Instead, introduce bland, easily digestible complex carbohydrates and lean proteins as soon as you can tolerate them—think bone broth, oatmeal, or boiled chicken."
But, all three experts we spoke with had the same recommendations for what you should not be eating and drinking while recovering from diarrhea.
Food and drinks to avoid while recovering from diarrhea
Dr. Giamalva provided a great breakdown of the foods and beverages you should avoid if you find yourself with diarrhea or other gastro-related illnesses:
- High-sugar beverages: Soda, fruit juice, and energy drinks can worsen diarrhea by drawing more water into the intestine.
- Alcohol and excess caffeine: These can contribute to dehydration and worsen gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Greasy, spicy, or very rich foods: These may aggravate symptoms until the GI tract has recovered.
- Dairy products: Some people develop temporary lactose intolerance after infectious diarrhea, so milk and ice cream may worsen bloating and diarrhea for a short time.
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic parasite. Over the last several weeks, more reports of what the CDC describes as “explosive diarrhea” have emerged.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration reports that people become infected when they consume food or water contaminated with the cyclospora parasite. The contamination often originates from human fecal matter that enters agricultural water supplies or food production systems. Direct person-to-person transmission is considered unlikely because the parasite must mature in the environment before it becomes infectious.
Cyclosporiasis is commonly treated with a prescription antibiotic but according to Anil Sharma, M.D., an associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at the University of Florida College of Medicine:
“You have to treat this infection with an antibiotic and there is a special antibiotic called Bactrim DS. Unless you get a stool test, specifically a GI pathogen panel and it comes back positive, a doctor will not know how to treat it. Without the test, it could be viewed as bacterial or viral diarrhea.”
What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
Dr. Vanessa Coffman, Alliance Director at Stop Foodborne Illness emphasized the importance of recognizing the symptoms of cyclosporiasis. "Symptoms of infection most often include frequent watery diarrhea that persists for more than a few days. If you are feeling unwell, contact your healthcare provider. If needed, they may prescribe antibiotics, which can reduce the length of illness and prevent it from reoccurring."
The most common symptom is watery, frequent and sometimes "explosive" diarrhea, according to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic, though other stomach troubles can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating, including burping, gas or stomach cramps
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
How is cyclosporiasis treated?
Those who believe they are infected should see a doctor for testing and treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cyclospora often requires prescription antibiotics, so getting evaluated can make all the difference," Dr. Giamalva said.
Cyclosporiasis is treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which is sold as Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, according to the CDC. Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim are antibiotic medications that require a prescription, meaning they are not over-the-counter options.
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