Diarrhea

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Diarrhea: Prevention

You can reduce your chances of getting infectious diarrhea if you:

• Wash your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating.
• Avoid contaminated food, utensils, or other objects.
• Teach children to not put objects in their mouth.

When taking antibiotics, try using Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic or healthy bacteria. This helps replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics can kill otherwise leading to diarrhea.

When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:

• Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice.
• DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruit without a peel.
• DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.
• DO NOT consume dairy products.