What could be the reason for persistent diarrhea with the flu?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been down with flu for the last few days. Most of the pain left, but I have constantly had diarrhea, even when taking constipation medicine. I have barely eaten since the flu started (even though I usually eat a lot of food); somehow, I need to go. I have been drinking a lot of water, as is obvious when you have diarrhea, but I barely need to urinate, and my stools are almost entirely liquid. Could it be that all the water I am drinking is somehow "reaching the wrong hole"? If this is not normal, is it a cause for concern?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

You probably suffer from an acute enteritis episode due to a viral infection. It may happen with viral fever or due to some drugs like Ibuprofen or antibiotics taken for fever. Anyway, some infection is there in your bowel. So allow the bowel to clean up. Support the bowel with plenty of oral fluid, antacids, probiotics, etc. Avoid Loperamide as it reduces bowel motility and worsens the condition. Avoid Ibuprofen-like drugs. After consulting your specialist doctor, if it is not improving in one or two days, you may add some antibiotics like Ofloxacin or Rifaximin. Anyway, keep good urine output with plenty of oral fluids.

Thank you.

What could be the reason for persistent diarrhea with the flu?

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