Most cases of acute diarrhea resolve within one to three days with the right combination of fluids, food choices, and over-the-counter medication. The priority, in order: prevent dehydration, avoid foods that make things worse, and consider medication if symptoms are disruptive. Here’s how to handle each step.
Start With Fluids, Not Food
Diarrhea pulls water and electrolytes out of your body fast. Plain water helps, but it doesn’t replace the sodium and potassium you’re losing. Oral rehydration solutions (sold as Pedialyte or store-brand equivalents) are specifically formulated for this. Broth and diluted fruit juice also work for mild cases. Sports drinks are acceptable for adults but contain more sugar than ideal.
Skip sodas, full-strength apple juice, and sweetened drinks. Excess sugar actually draws more water into the intestines and can make diarrhea worse. If you’re vomiting too, take small sips frequently rather than gulping large amounts. Even five milliliters (about a teaspoon) every minute can add up and stay down better than a full glass.
What to Eat (and What to Skip)
The old advice to stick to bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) is outdated. Major health organizations including the AAP, CDC, and WHO now recommend eating a normal, balanced diet as soon as you can tolerate it. Randomized trials show that resuming regular food right after rehydrating leads to shorter illness, lower stool output, and better nutritional recovery compared to restricting your diet. Limiting yourself to just a few bland foods can actually slow healing and deprive your body of nutrients it needs to recover.
That said, some foods genuinely make things worse during an active episode. Avoid these until symptoms settle:
- High-fat and greasy foods: harder to digest and can speed up gut motility
- Dairy products: temporary lactose intolerance is common during and after a gut infection
- Sugar-free gums and candies: these contain sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol, and maltitol, which your body can’t fully absorb. They ferment in the intestines and have a well-documented laxative effect. If a product label says “excessive consumption can cause a laxative effect,” it contains these compounds.
- Caffeine and alcohol: both stimulate the gut and increase fluid loss
- Very spicy foods: can irritate an already inflamed digestive tract
Good choices include lean proteins, cooked vegetables, rice, potatoes, bread, and soups. Eat smaller portions more frequently rather than large meals.
Over-the-Counter Medications That Help
Two main options are available without a prescription, and they work differently.
Loperamide (Imodium) slows down the movement of your intestines, giving your body more time to absorb water from stool. It works relatively quickly and is the most effective OTC option for reducing the number of trips to the bathroom. Adults typically start with two caplets after the first loose stool, then one after each subsequent episode, up to a maximum of 8 mg (four caplets) per day. Don’t use it if you have a high fever or bloody stools, as these suggest an infection your body needs to clear.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) has milder anti-diarrheal effects but also helps with nausea, cramping, and stomach upset. One important caution: it contains a compound related to aspirin. Don’t give it to children or teenagers who have or are recovering from the flu, chickenpox, or other viral infections, because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition. It can also turn your tongue and stool black temporarily, which is harmless.
Probiotics Can Shorten the Episode
One probiotic strain in particular has strong clinical evidence behind it. A meta-analysis published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial yeast sold under brand names like Florastor) reduced the duration of acute diarrhea by roughly 20 hours compared to placebo. It also significantly lowered the chance of still having diarrhea on days three and four. Other well-studied strains include certain Lactobacillus species, but S. boulardii has the most consistent data for acute episodes.
You can start a probiotic as soon as symptoms begin. It won’t stop diarrhea instantly, but it helps your gut recover faster and may reduce the risk of lingering digestive problems afterward.
Diarrhea in Children Needs Extra Attention
Children dehydrate faster than adults, and the signs can be subtle. In mild dehydration, you’ll notice increased thirst and a slightly dry mouth. Moderate dehydration shows up as loss of skin elasticity (the skin stays “tented” when pinched instead of snapping back), dry membranes, and fewer wet diapers. Severe dehydration causes extreme sleepiness, cool or blotchy skin, and very little urination.
For rehydrating a child, use a pediatric oral rehydration solution rather than juice, soda, or sports drinks. If the child is vomiting, give tiny amounts by spoon or syringe, about a teaspoon per minute. Breastfed infants should continue nursing. Formula-fed babies should continue their regular formula at full strength. Once the child is rehydrated, resume age-appropriate foods. There’s no need to withhold solid food or switch to a restricted diet.
When Diarrhea Signals Something Serious
Most diarrhea is caused by a virus and clears up on its own. But certain symptoms mean you should get medical care promptly:
- Blood in your stool
- Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
- Fever above 102°F (39°C)
- Vomiting so severe you can’t keep any liquids down
- Signs of dehydration: not urinating much, dry mouth and throat, dizziness when standing
Preventing Lingering Gut Problems
Some people develop ongoing digestive sensitivity after a bad bout of diarrhea, a condition called post-infectious IBS. The gut’s bacterial balance gets disrupted during the infection, and for some people it doesn’t fully reset on its own. Continuing a probiotic for a few weeks after recovery may help encourage healthy bacteria to reestablish. A low-FODMAP diet (which limits certain fermentable carbohydrates found in wheat, onions, garlic, and some fruits) can help if symptoms like bloating or loose stools persist beyond the initial illness. Temporarily reducing dairy and gluten may also ease lingering discomfort while your gut heals.