Editing Antidiarrheal (section)

== Medical use ==

=== Acute diarrhea ===
Acute diarrhea is a common condition that typically resolves on its own with [[oral rehydration therapy]].<ref name=":02" /> Most cases of acute diarrhea are caused by infections from contaminated food or water and usually go away on their own within a week.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thielman |first=Nathan M. |last2=Guerrant |first2=Richard L. |date=January 2004 |title=Acute Infectious Diarrhea |url=https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMcp031534 |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |language=en |volume=350 |issue=1 |pages=38–47 |doi=10.1056/NEJMcp031534 |issn=0028-4793}}</ref> The most common causes of acute diarrhea in children are the viral agents [[norovirus]] and [[rotavirus]], accounting for about 70% of cases.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Pediatric gastrointestinal and liver disease |date=2021 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-67293-1 |editor-last=Wyllie |editor-first=Robert |edition=Sixth |location=Philadelphia, PA |editor-last2=Hyams |editor-first2=Jeffrey S. |editor-last3=Kay |editor-first3=Marsha}}</ref> [[Travelers' diarrhea|Travelers’ diarrhea]] (TD) is one of the most common illnesses affecting people of all ages abroad, with up to 70% of travelers developing symptoms within two weeks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Travelers’ Diarrhea {{!}} CDC Yellow Book 2024 |url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/preparing/travelers-diarrhea |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=wwwnc.cdc.gov}}</ref> While traditional advice like avoiding uncooked or unpeeled foods was once thought to be effective, poor sanitation and food handling practices—especially in local eateries—remain major risk factors.<ref name=":2" />

Anti-motility medications like loperamide and diphenoxylate can help manage the symptoms of travelers’ diarrhea by reducing the frequency of bowel movements, which can be helpful when needing to travel, but are not curative.<ref name=":2" /> Loperamide and diphenoxylate should be avoided in people with bloody diarrhea or a fever, and loperamide is typically not recommended for children under six.<ref name=":2" /> Additionally, [[Zinc|zinc supplements]], particularly in children, can reduce diarrheal duration by up to 25% and reduce stool volume by up to 30%.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Diarrhoeal disease |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== Dehydration and oral replacement therapy ===
The primary risk from diarrhea is [[dehydration]] and [[electrolyte]] loss, making fluid and electrolyte replacement the top treatment priority.<ref name=":02" /> Drinking fluids orally is typically as effective as IV fluids and more cost-efficient for most patients.<ref name=":02" /> Thus, rehydration is essential when managing acute diarrhea, especially in vulnerable groups like young children, older adults, and those with chronic conditions.<ref name=":2" /> Oral rehydration solutions are made with clean water, salt, and sugar.<ref name=":3" /> These solutions are ideal for severe cases, while milder dehydration can be managed with safe, preferred fluids—though overly sugary drinks should be avoided.<ref name=":2" />

Dehydration is categorized into three levels: '''severe, some, or none'''. '''Severe dehydration''' includes signs like [[lethargy]], sunken eyes, little to no urine output, and confusion. '''Some dehydration''' may present with dry mouth, restlessness, thirst, and slightly sunken eyes. If these signs are absent or insufficient, the person is not considered dehydrated.<ref name=":3" />

=== Chronic diarrhea ===
Chronic diarrhea often persists for greater than a week and may require further work-up from a medical professional.<ref name=":02" /> When the underlying cause cannot be directly addressed, long-term symptom management using antidiarrheals is often necessary.<ref name=":02" />