The CRAM diet a short term dietary treatment for diarrhea

Diarrhea

Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...

 and gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water...

. The CRAM diet has more complete protein and fat content than the BRAT diet

BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber...

.

Recent research

The use of cereals, rice and milk as a stop-gap eating plan for stomach upset, has been validated as a more effective remedy to manage diarrhea than BRAT by recent research in hospitals in South America and Asia.

According to John Snyder, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...

 subcommittee on treating acute diarrhea:

Need for additional hydration

Due to severe dehydration caused by both diarrhea and gastroenteritis, the CRAM eating plan should be combined with oral rehydration therapy

Oral rehydration therapy

Oral rehydration therapy is a simple treatment for dehydration associated with diarrhoea, particularly gastroenteritis or gastroenteropathy, such as that caused by cholera or rotavirus. ORT consists of a solution of salts and sugars which is taken by mouth...

 (ORT) through the administration of liquids (e.g. Gatorade G2, Pedialyte

Pedialyte

Pedialyte is an oral electrolyte solution manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and invented by Gary Cohen, MD of Swampscott, Massachusetts, which is designed to replace fluids and minerals that are lost when a child has diarrhea with or without vomiting...

) or food-based fluids (such as broth

Broth

Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...

 or gruel

Gruel

Gruel is a food preparation consisting of some type of cereal—oat, wheat or rye flour, or rice—boiled in water or milk. It is a thinner version of porridge that may be more often drunk than eaten and need not even be cooked...

s) to replace loss of fluids.

According to John Snyder, it's essential to combine the CRAM diet with an electrolyte

Electrolyte

In chemistry, an electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that make the substance electrically conductive. The most typical electrolyte is an ionic solution, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible....

-replacement drink. In addition, contact your doctor immediately if the diarrhea symptoms remain severe or if your child exhibits any symptoms of dehydration

Dehydration

In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...

, such as dry mouth, lack of urination, listlessness, and rapid heart rate.

Alternatives

An alternative to the CRAM diet is the BRAT diet

BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber...

, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, the BRATT diet

BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber...

, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea, and the BRATTY diet

BRAT diet

The BRAT diet is a treatment historically prescribed for patients with gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, and/or gastroenteritis. The BRAT diet consists of foods that are relatively bland and low in fiber...

which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, tea, and yogurt.