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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Health
Keren Landman

So you have diarrhea. Here’s what to do and when to seek care

Sad toilet paper graphic
Most episodes of diarrhea go away by themselves and don’t require treatment apart from staying hydrated. Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images

In the US, people are discussing diarrhea more than usual. As of late August, more than 17,000 people across the US have had cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection often traced to contaminated produce. But tens of millions of diarrhea cases occur in the US every year, caused by lots of other factors.

Some causes, such as cyclospora infection, benefit from antibiotic treatment. But most episodes of diarrhea go away by themselves and don’t require treatment apart from staying hydrated, says Benjamin Levy, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago.

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