Diarrhea 299
Take medicine only for these kinds of diarrhea:
• Sudden, severe diarrhea with fever (with or without blood
in the stool). Take ciprofloxacin 500 mg by mouth 2 times a
day for 7 days. Or try cotrimoxazole 960 mg 2 times a day for
7 days. If you are not better after 2 days, see a health worker.
• Bloody diarrhea without fever, which can be caused by
amoebas (tiny animals that live in water or in the intestines).
Take metronidazole 500 mg, 3 times a day for 7 days. If you
are not better after 2 days, see a health worker.
• When someone has diarrhea for a long time, she may
get a red, sore area around the anus. It may help to apply
petroleum gel or zinc oxide cream each time after passing
stool. The person may also get piles (hemorrhoids).
Get help if the person:
• has the signs of dehydration (see page 298).
• cannot eat or drink as usual.
• does not seem to be getting better
no matter what she does.
• has a high fever (over 39°C or over 102°F).
• passes many watery
stools in a day.
• passes bloody stools that
do not go away with
medicine.
• is also vomiting.
Prevention:
• Drink clean water. Purify your water before using it in food
or drink.
• Eat clean, safe food. Make sure raw foods are washed or
peeled, and that meat is well cooked. Protect food from dirt,
flies, insects, and animals, which can spread germs.
• Always wash your hands:
- after using or helping someone use
the latrine or toilet.
- after cleaning soiled children or
sick people.
- before making food or drink.
• Protect your community’s water source.
➤ If you are
pregnant or
breastfeeding, do not
take norfloxacin. For
more information
about these
medicines, see the
“Green Pages.”
70
piles
➤ If a woman with
HIV has diarrhea for
more than a month, she
probably needs ART.
ART,
291, 517–521
clean water, 155
safe food, 156
washing your hands,
526
cotrimoxazole, 296
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012