Home treatment for diarrhea in children with gastrointestinal bleeding is based on general measures and dietary therapy. Medications are rarely needed. When possible, treating the underlying cause is important.

General Measures
Simple methods can restore lost body fluids and prevent the spread of infection.

Children who are taking fluids by mouth can usually restore lost fluids and body salts with oral rehydration therapy (ORT). Simply drinking enough fluid can treat most children with diarrhea and dehydration.

ORT fluids include:

• Infalyte
• Lytren
• Naturalyte
• Pedialyte
• Rehydralyte
• ReVital
• Generic drugstore brands

Older children may also use the following fluids:

• Non-caffeinated soft drinks
• Sports drinks
• Tea
• Water (not exclusively)

General Measures in Infants Under 6 Months
General measures for breast-fed infants under 6 months include:

• Continue breast feeding as much as your baby desires.
• Give extra feedings with an oral rehydration therapy (ORT) fluid to supplement breast milk.
• If vomiting occurs, feed very small amounts every 30-60 minutes.
• Prevent diaper rash by using super-absorbent diapers changed frequently and apply Vaseline or other protective ointments to the buttocks.
• Watch for symptoms of dehydration.

General measures for bottle-fed infants under 6 months:

• Give as much ORT fluids as often as desired.
• Give your child as much formula as he or she will normally drink.
• If bloating, gas or vomiting occurs, try a lactose-free formula. Formula can also be diluted in half with ORT for 1-2 days.
• Prevent diaper rash by using super-absorbent diapers changed frequently. Apply Vaseline or other protective ointments to the buttocks.
• Watch for symptoms of dehydration

General Measures in Children Over 6 Months
General measures for children over 6 months:

• Give a normal, light diet or a BRAT diet (below) unless certain foods are making the diarrhea worse.
• Give as much oral rehydration therapy (ORT) fluids as often as desired to prevent dehydration.
• If vomiting occurs use small, frequent, and increasing amounts of ORT for up to 8 hours.
• Limit or avoid certain foods, especially those that are making the diarrhea worse.
• Watch for symptoms of dehydration.

Dietary Therapy
It is not necessary to highly restrict the diet to treat diarrhea. Most children can eat a regular, balanced diet with mild or moderate diarrhea. Small, frequent meals may improve symptoms. Certain foods may help or worsen diarrhea, depending on the person.

Foods that may help diarrhea:

• Applesauce
• Bananas
• Bread
• Cereal
• Crackers (saltines and pretzels contain needed salt)
• Lean meats
• Mashed potatoes
• Noodles
• Oatmeal
• Oral rehydration therapy liquids
• Potatoes
• Rice
• Sorghum
• Strained carrots
• Wheat
• Yogurt with live cultures

Items that may worsen diarrhea include:

• Caffeine
• Concentrated fruit juices
• High-sugar foods (junk food)
• Cow's milk
• Spicy foods
• Sugar substitutes