To answer this question, healthcare providers must first know the cause of
diarrhea. There are many possible causes of diarrhea, and they are not all treated in the same way. The cause of the ailment and treatment options available will determine if there is a cure for diarrhea in a particular person's situation. For example, people with diarrhea caused by a condition like
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or
Crohn's disease may have intermittent diarrhea throughout their lifetime. In these situations, there is no cure; however, medicines or lifestyle changes can be helpful in managing diarrhea.
Fortunately, for most people, diarrhea is caused by an infection with a virus (known as viral gastroenteritis or the
stomach flu) or bacteria. In a number of these cases, the cure is time. This is because people with healthy immune systems are able to effectively fight on an infection. Over 1 to 10 days, most of these bouts of diarrhea improve. Furthermore, most do not require any medical treatment, except for staying well hydrated.