Diarrhea care at Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL for children and adults. Our team, led by board-certified physicians, checks for dehydration and infection and helps you recover.
Diarrhea means loose, watery stools three or more times a day. Most cases come from a virus or contaminated food and clear up in a day or two. The main risk is dehydration, especially for young children and older adults. Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, treats diarrhea in Westmont, IL and checks for dehydration and infection.
See a provider if diarrhea lasts more than two days in an adult or 24 hours in a child, or if you notice fever, blood in the stool or signs of dehydration.
Key facts
Most cases of acute diarrhea go away on their own (NIDDK).
Doctors usually advise against loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate for children and for anyone with bloody stools or fever (NIDDK).
Once you feel like eating, you can usually go back to your normal diet; limit fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol and very sugary drinks for a while.
Infants with diarrhea should keep drinking breast milk or formula.
Common causes and symptoms
According to the NIDDK and MedlinePlus, common causes of short-term diarrhea include:
Viruses, such as norovirus and rotavirus (often called stomach flu)
Bacteria or parasites from contaminated food or water, including travelers' diarrhea
Side effects of medicines, such as antibiotics
Diarrhea that lasts four weeks or longer is called chronic and may point to a food intolerance or a digestive condition such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.
Along with loose stools, you may have cramps, belly pain, nausea or an urgent need to use the bathroom. Infections can also cause fever, vomiting or bloody stools.
How we evaluate and treat diarrhea at our Westmont, IL clinic
Your provider asks when it started, what you ate, recent travel, medicines and whether others around you are sick. The exam focuses on your belly and on signs of dehydration.
Lab tests may be ordered when needed, such as tests for infection or blood work to check hydration. Treatment centers on replacing fluids and electrolytes. Adults can use water, broth and sports drinks. For children, an oral rehydration solution is recommended. Your provider may also recommend medicine to ease symptoms when it is safe for your cause of diarrhea, and gives advice on diet and when to return.
If a longer-term digestive problem is suspected, we can refer you to a specialist.
Most major insurance plans are accepted, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Meridian and CountyCare. Plans change, so call (630) 324-6825 to confirm your coverage. See the full list on our cost and insurance page.
Paying on your own? Our self-pay urgent care pricing is flat and upfront, with a general visit from $125. Lab tests may add to the cost; we will tell you before anything is ordered.
Both of our locations are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The main clinic is at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559. Our second location, inside Jewel-Osco, is at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. No appointment is needed. You can also check in online.
What to eat and drink while you recover
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Good choices
Water, broth and oral rehydration solution
Sports drinks for adults, in small sips
Your normal foods once your appetite returns
Breast milk or formula for babies, as usual
Go easy on
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks
Drinks and foods high in sugar or sugar alcohols
Greasy and high-fat foods
Milk products with lactose, which can be hard to digest for a few weeks
NIDDK says experts generally do not recommend strict diets or fasting for short-term diarrhea. Older adults and people with diabetes, kidney disease or a weak immune system should ask a clinician which drinks are safe for them.
Over-the-counter diarrhea medicine: when it's okay
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Loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate are common over-the-counter choices for short-term diarrhea in adults. NIDDK notes that doctors usually advise against them in these cases:
Infants and young children
Bloody or black stools
Fever
Follow the label, and see a clinician if diarrhea gets worse or lasts more than 2 days while you are taking them. If you are not sure whether a medicine is right for you, ask at your visit.
Diarrhea in babies and young children
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Children lose fluid quickly, so the focus is on drinking. Keep breastfeeding or giving formula. For older babies and children, offer small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration solution, and keep serving their usual foods once they want to eat.
NIDDK advises talking with a doctor before giving any diarrhea medicine to a child. Rotavirus vaccines protect infants, and the doses should be finished by 8 months of age. Our pediatric urgent care team can check your child, and our vomiting and diarrhea guide covers home care.
Preventing diarrhea at home and when you travel
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Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after the bathroom and before handling food.
Handle, cook and store food safely.
When traveling where sanitation is limited, drink only bottled or factory-sealed drinks and use bottled water for ice.
Eat meat, fish and shellfish only when well cooked and served hot.
Eat raw fruits and vegetables only if washed in clean water or peeled.
Short-term diarrhea often clears within one to two days. Diarrhea that lasts four weeks or longer is considered chronic and needs evaluation.
What should I drink?
Adults can drink water, broth, and sports drinks. For children, MedlinePlus recommends an oral rehydration solution.
When is diarrhea serious in a child?
See a provider if it lasts more than 24 hours, or right away for signs of dehydration, fever over 102 F, or blood or pus in the stool.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in, or check in online for diarrhea care .
Should I take Imodium for diarrhea?
For many adults with mild diarrhea and no fever or blood in the stool, loperamide (Imodium) can ease symptoms. NIDDK says doctors usually advise against it for children and for people with bloody stools or fever. See a clinician if diarrhea gets worse or lasts more than 2 days while you take it.
Is it food poisoning or a stomach bug?
They can look alike. Food poisoning can start within hours of eating and may affect others who ate the same food. A stomach virus tends to spread from person to person through a household. Treatment for both centers on fluids. See stomach flu care for more.
Do probiotics help diarrhea?
The evidence is mixed. NIDDK says research is ongoing, and many doctors and professional groups do not think there is enough proof to recommend probiotics to treat or prevent diarrhea. Ask your clinician before trying them, especially for a child or if your immune system is weak.
Can I go to work with diarrhea?
If an infection is the cause, staying home helps keep it from spreading. When norovirus is the cause, CDC advises waiting at least 48 hours after symptoms stop before preparing food or caring for others, which matters most for people who work in restaurants, schools, daycares or care homes.
“They are always so kind and helpful. In and out quickly but not rushed. Myself and my son go.”
Rebecca R. · February 2025 · Google★★★★★
“Follow up on a previous visit. Quick visit with lots of good info about what's going on and what to expect going forward. Friendly and accommodating staff”
Ken B. · August 2024 · Google★★★★★
“I love this center! My 2nd time coming and both times my daughters were seen very fast. Very clean with very nice staff”
