Q
When should I see a doctor about diarrhea?
A
Many different things cause diarrhea. The main concern with diarrhea is dehydration. Be sure to drink a lot of fluids, especially those containing needed minerals such as sodium and potassium. In some cases, diarrhea indicates a serious infection or condition. If the diarrhea is associated with other symptoms such as blood in the stool, fever, or severe abdominal pain, you should contact your physician. You should also let the physician know if the diarrhea follows recent antibiotic therapy. If diarrhea continues for 72 hours or longer, it would be advisable to contact your physician.