Diarrhea

Your doctor will ask you to obtain one or more stool samples in special containers to test for signs of inflammation and infection and to identify the organism causing infection.

• chem-20 (to check electrolytes)
• urine specific gravity
• BUN and creatinine

• Wash your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• Teach children to not put objects in their mouth.
• When taking antibiotics, try using Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic or healthy bacteria. This helps replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics can kill.

When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:

• Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice.
• DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruit without a peel.
• DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.
• DO NOT consume dairy products.

Yates J. Traveler's diarrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2005; 71(11): 2095-2100.

Guerrant RL. Practice guidelines for the management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2001; 32(3): 331-351.

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