50 SIDE EFFECTS AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT /// CHAPTER 34 Diarrhea What Causes Diarrhea? Many different things can cause diarrhea. It is important to figure out the right cause so that the treatment can work well. Some things that cause diarrhea are: » Anxiety or stress » Infections » Antibiotics » Too much stool softener » Malnutrition » Radiation to the abdomen or pelvis » Some chemotherapy Why Are We Talking About This? Of course diarrhea is not fun, but we also want you to be aware that if left untreated, diarrhea can cause big problems for you that might bring you back to the hospital. These include: » Dehydration » Malnutrition and weight loss » Skin breakdown around your bottom that can become painful and/or infected » Bleeding in the GI tract What Can I Do If I Have Diarrhea? » Tell your medical team. They can help you figure out the best way to treat it before it gets too bad » Drink clear fluids like water and Gatorade » Eat low fiber foods like white rice and bananas » Keep your bottom clean: You may need to use soft wipes, or even rinse off in the shower. Any poop sitting on your skin can cause irritation and infection. » Apply a barrier cream like Desitin if your bottom starts to hurt What is Diarrhea? Diarrhea describes when you have too much poop, too loose and/or too often. WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR » If you have a fever » If you are having 6 or more bowel movements in a day » If your urine is dark in color, or you haven't peed in 12 hours (This means that you are having so much diarrhea that you are getting dehydrated) » If you see blood in your poop, in the toilet, or when you wipehttps://fwaya.org/