Diarrhea (cont.)Author:
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MDJay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 When should antibiotics be used for diarrhea?
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Most episodes of diarrhea are acute and of short duration and do not require antibiotics. Antibiotics are not even necessary for the most common bacterial infections that cause diarrhea. Antibiotics, however, often are used when (1) patients have more severe and persistent diarrhea, (2) patients have additional debilitating diseases such as heart failure, lung disease, and AIDS, (3) stool examination and testing discloses parasites, more serious bacterial infections (for example, Shigella), or C. difficile, and 4) traveler's diarrhea. Additional resources from WebMD Boots UK on Diarrhoea REFERENCE: MedscapeReference.com. Diarrhea. Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 2/14/2013 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Diarrhea - Causes
Question: What was the suspected cause of diarrhea in you, a friend, or relative?
Diarrhea - Antibiotics
Question: Were you prescribed antibiotics for diarrhea? If so, why and what antibiotic was prescribed.
Diarrhea - Effective Treatments
Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your diarrhea?
Diarrhea - Share Your Experience
Question: Please share your experience with chronic diarrhea.
Diarrhea - Food Poisoning
Question: Did you ever get diarrhea from something you ate? What was the food? Please describe your experience.
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