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What Is the Treatment for a Bowel Infection?

A. Pasbjerg
A. Pasbjerg

Patients suffering from the effects of a bowel infection like diarrhea, abdominal pain, or even rectal bleeding can typically take steps at home to treat it, but may also need medical care as well. For any type of infection in the bowel, a person should get plenty of rest, drink a lot of fluids, and eat bland foods. If the infection is caused by bacteria, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. He or she may also recommend the use of laxatives in some cases. Sometimes, infections in the bowels may indicate a larger problem, such as diverticulitis or Crohn's disease, which may require diagnostic tests to determine the best course of action, which in turn may include lifestyle changes, medication, or even surgery.

There are some basic steps anyone can take at home to help treat this condition. It is important to rest so the body is allowed to fight off the infection and recuperate. Eating bland foods or possibly even a completely liquid diet may help. Drinking extra fluids is also important to keep well-hydrated, particularly for those suffering from diarrhea.

A diagram showing diverticulitis and other diseases that could lead to a bowel infection.
A diagram showing diverticulitis and other diseases that could lead to a bowel infection.

A bowel infection is often the result of a pathogen attacking the digestive tract. If the infection is viral in nature, the person may simply need to wait it out, but for bacterial infections a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Since the symptoms for both types of infections can be very similar, it is important for the doctor to determine which type it is before deciding on treatment.

Doctors may suggest a bland food diet that includes rice for bowel infection sufferers.
Doctors may suggest a bland food diet that includes rice for bowel infection sufferers.

Another type of treatment that may be used for a bowel infection is a course of laxatives. These are drugs that can help stimulate the body to pass a bowel movement. This type of treatment may help if the infection is causing constipation, and will typically only be used for a short period of time until the issue resolves.

While an infection is often simply an acute problem that lasts for a short time and then resolves, it may be a symptom of a more chronic condition, particularly if infections occur repeatedly. Diseases like diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis may all lead to bowel infection symptoms, as can more serious conditions like Crohn's disease and colon cancer. If a doctor suspects this to be the case, he or she may want to perform tests like blood sample analysis or a colonoscopy. Once a condition is diagnosed, the appropriate course of treatment can then be determined for the patient.

Discussion Comments

serenesurface

My dog has been suffering from an infection in the bowel on and off for several months now. It gives him diarrhea and affects his appetite as well.

The doctor gave him several medications, but the diarrhea still continues. I have made changes to his diet. Right now, he's eating rice and boiled chicken. I've also tried pumpkin puree because I heard that's good for bowel infections symptoms.

What else can I do?

SteamLouis

@turquoise-- Bowels are the large intestines. A bowel infection can refer to an infection in the digestive tract, especially the large intestine.

The treatment depends on what's causing it. Treatment can include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication and diet changes.

Sometimes though, antibiotics can to do more harm than good. For example, if there is a candida bowel infection, antibiotics often end up strengthening the bacteria rather than killing it. Sometimes anti-fungal medications might be used.

Probably the best treatment for an infection of the bowel is supplementing with probiotics. Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our digestive system.

turquoise

Are bowel infection and intestinal infection the same? If so, bowel infection is usually bacteria related right? So, the first line of bowel infection treatment would be antibiotics?

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    • A diagram showing diverticulitis and other diseases that could lead to a bowel infection.
      By: Alila
      A diagram showing diverticulitis and other diseases that could lead to a bowel infection.
    • Doctors may suggest a bland food diet that includes rice for bowel infection sufferers.
      By: womue
      Doctors may suggest a bland food diet that includes rice for bowel infection sufferers.
    • A doctor can prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection of the bowel.
      By: JackF
      A doctor can prescribe antibiotics for a bacterial infection of the bowel.
    • Diseases like irritable bowel syndrome may lead to bowel infection symptoms.
      By: joshya
      Diseases like irritable bowel syndrome may lead to bowel infection symptoms.