Your child had diarrhea and stayed in the hospital for treatment and testing. The healthcare team gave your child fluids (either by mouth or through an intravenous, or IV line) to replace the liquids lost from diarrhea. They also checked your child for different causes of diarrhea.

Your child can now be cared for at home. It might take some time for the diarrhea to get better. Make any diet changes and give plenty of liquids and/or an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand), as recommended by your healthcare provider. Giving plenty of liquids will help make sure your child doesn't get dehydrated (not have enough water in the body). You can buy the oral electrolyte solution at drugstores or supermarkets without a prescription.

Here's how to care for your child.

• Continue giving your child their regular diet of foods unless your healthcare provider recommends changing their diet.
• Encourage your child to drink extra liquids:
  • If your healthcare provider recommends it, offer an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte® or a store brand). You can buy it at drugstores or supermarkets without a prescription. They can drink as much as they want as long as they aren't vomiting. You also can give frozen electrolyte pops.
  • Don't offer juice, sodas, or sports drinks. They can make diarrhea worse.
• You will know your child is getting enough liquids if:
  • They are peeing at least 4 times a day and the pee is light yellow.
  • Their mouth is moist.
• Don't give medicine for the diarrhea unless your healthcare provider has prescribed it. Medicines that slow down diarrhea can cause problems such as sleepiness or belly pain, and may be unsafe for kids and teens.
• Your child can go back to school when they have not had any vomiting, diarrhea, or fever for 24 hours.

Your child:

• Has diarrhea that gets worse or that lasts more than two days after leaving the hospital
• Is losing weight or is not gaining weight as expected
• Gets new or worsening symptoms such as belly pain or fever 
• Vomits (throws up) more than once or twice
• Isn't back to their regular diet within about a week after leaving the hospital
• Has black poop or poop with streaks of blood or mucus in it

Your child:

• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration, such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, extreme thirst, peeing less than usual, darker than usual pee, crying with little or no tears, or decreased alertness
• Has severe belly pain

You know your child best. If they seem very sick or have symptoms that worry you, call your healthcare provider or take them to the ER.

What causes diarrhea? Many things can cause diarrhea, including:

• Infections from a virus or bacteria (different types of germs)
• Too much of some kinds of foods or drinks
• Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance
• Food allergies
• Taking certain medicines
• Problems with the digestive system, such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Does my child need an antibiotic? In kids, diarrhea is usually caused by a virus. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, not viruses. If your healthcare provider thinks your child's diarrhea is from bacteria, they will prescribe an antibiotic.

How do oral electrolyte solutions help keep a child hydrated? These solutions contain a balanced mix of water, electrolytes (sodium, chloride, and potassium), and sugars (glucose). They give the child the fluids they need and replace the liquids and electrolytes that are lost through diarrhea or vomiting. This helps prevent or treat dehydration and keep the body's electrolytes balanced.

How can we prevent the spread of germs that cause diarrhea? Remind everyone in your family to wash their hands well and often. They should wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. This is especially important after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.

Other ways to prevent the spread of germs:

• Keep your child out of school or childcare until the diarrhea has been gone for 24 hours. Also keep your child out of swimming pools until it has stopped.
• Clean objects and surfaces regularly, especially doorknobs and other things that get touched a lot.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them.
• Clean kitchen counters and cooking utensils well after they've been in contact with raw meat.
• Refrigerate meats and fish as soon as you bring them home from the store and cook them well. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible after cooking.
• Avoid drinking from streams, springs, or lakes.