Diarrhea: What To Do If You Are Ill | News & Information | Forum

If you have diarrhea, preventing dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids is the most important thing to do.

This is especially important for young children, pregnant women, and persons living with compromised immune systems (such as those living with AIDS, those who have received an organ transplant, or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy).

Seek medical care immediately if :

• your diarrhea is bloody
• your diarrhea does not resolve in 5 days
• your diarrhea is accompanied by fever or chills
• you are dehydrated. (Signs of dehydration include: dry or "cottony" mouth, cracked lips, dry flushed skin, headache, irritability, not urinating at least four times a day, no tears when crying, no sweating, or confusion).

A health care provider may prescribe medicine to help replace the fluids your body has lost because of the diarrhea. In some cases, over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications slow the diarrhea.

Remember, for the health and safety of those sharing the pool water, don't swim when you have diarrhea. Diarrhea can contaminate the pool and make other people sick.

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