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   Diarrhea

Simple things like a change of water, food or climate can all cause a mild bout of diarrhea, but a few rushed toilet trips with no other symptoms is not indicative of a major problem.

Dehydration is the main danger with any diarrhea, particularly with children or elderly, in whom dehydration can occur quite quickly. Under all circumstances fluid replacement is the most important thing to remember. Weak black tea with a little sugar, soda water, or soft drinks allowed to go flat and diluted 50% with clean water are all good.

With severe diarrhea a rehydrating solution is preferable, as it will replace the minerals and salts that have been lost. Commercially available oral rehydration salts are very useful: add these salts to boiled or bottled water. In an emergency you can make a solution of six teaspoons of sugar and a half-teaspoon of salt to a liter of boiled or bottled water.

You need to drink at least the same volume of fluid that you are losing in bowel movements and vomiting. Urine is the best guide to the adequacy of replacement. If you have small amounts of concentrated urine, you need to drink more. Keep drinking small amounts often. Stick to a bland diet as you recover.

You should seek medical advice if you have diarrhea for a period longer than 48 hours without improvement.