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Suggest Treatment For Diarrhea And Blood Discharge

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Posted on Wed, 14 Dec 2016
Question: I am woman 82 years old. Yesterday had severe abdominal diarrhea. thought it was food poisoning. Now today no real bowel movement, but bloody showings in toilet and on paper, look like mucus. My doctor away for holidays, I am living alone and worried.
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
should be okay

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Diarrhea is most often due to viral or bacterial infection of the gastro intestinal tract.

Both types of these can be transmitted via food.

Usually blood can indicate that the infection may be severe though it may still resolve on its own in some cases.

The most common complication is dehydration and electrolyte disturbance because of the loss from the diarrhea.

Treatment
(1)because of the risk of dehydration and electrolytes disturbance, you need to replace these with either oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks such as gatorade.

One of these can be used because you would get back both the fluids and the electrolytes that you lost.

(2)Holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms. This gives the intestines time to heal. Use only fluids in this time.
When this 4 hour window passes, then you can start a small amount of dry food such as toast, biscuits

(3)probiotics- these also speed up healing and shorten the illness time, you can use on their own or in certain yogurts

(4)meds such as pepto bismol or lomitil if the diarrhea restarts

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Diarrhea And Blood Discharge

Brief Answer: should be okay Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Diarrhea is most often due to viral or bacterial infection of the gastro intestinal tract. Both types of these can be transmitted via food. Usually blood can indicate that the infection may be severe though it may still resolve on its own in some cases. The most common complication is dehydration and electrolyte disturbance because of the loss from the diarrhea. Treatment (1)because of the risk of dehydration and electrolytes disturbance, you need to replace these with either oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks such as gatorade. One of these can be used because you would get back both the fluids and the electrolytes that you lost. (2)Holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms. This gives the intestines time to heal. Use only fluids in this time. When this 4 hour window passes, then you can start a small amount of dry food such as toast, biscuits (3)probiotics- these also speed up healing and shorten the illness time, you can use on their own or in certain yogurts (4)meds such as pepto bismol or lomitil if the diarrhea restarts I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions