What is chronic diarrhea?
Chronic diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts for at least two weeks and may be accompanied by other clinical manifestations such as weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, fever or malabsorption of nutrients by the body.
As such, diarrhea is known as loose, watery stools and is referred to as diarrhea when a person passes loose stools at least three times in a day.
Diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts only two or three days and goes away on its own. If it lasts longer, it can be a more serious problem. In the case of chronic diarrhea, symptoms may come and go.
There are four types of diarrhea: malabsorptive (osmotic) diarrhea, secretory diarrhea, diarrhea due to damage to the intestinal wall, and diarrhea due to altered motility.
Prognosis of chronic diarrhea
Today, diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in underdeveloped countries, affecting up to 5% of the world’s population. There are risk factors such as malnutrition or lack of breast milk, among others.
It should be noted that in our environment the prevalence of chronic diarrhea is much lower, and the deaths derived from it are isolated cases that are usually derived from congenital intractable diarrhea.
Symptoms of chronic diarrhea
– The main symptom of chronic diarrhea is the increased frequency with which the affected person will have to go to the bathroom. In turn, the consistency of the stool will gradually decrease.
– Abdominal pain, i.e., commonly known as cramps.
– Nausea or vomiting
– Fever
– In the event that the diarrhea is very abundant, dehydration may occur due to the abundant loss of liquids.
– Dehydration can be recognized by the following: extreme tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, dry tongue, muscle cramps, dizziness, not very concentrated urine…
Medical tests for diarrhea
The patient’s medical history is essential for the initial diagnosis and choice of tests.
- Anamnesis: the chronology of food induction helps to establish possible relationships between food intake and the onset of diarrhea. The characteristics of the stool are studied, and their characteristics point to one or another cause.
- Physical examination: look for signs of malabsorption and/or malnutrition: weight, height, body mass index, muscle mass… It is useful to observe changes since the onset of diarrhea. In the inspection, the state of hydration, skin color, etc. are assessed.
- Complementary tests: these tests vary depending on the age of the patient and the diagnosis. First, some basic tests are performed to diagnose common causes.
Chronic diarrhea can cause abdominal pain.
What are the causes of diarrhea?
The causes that originate diarrhea are diverse, although the most common would be the following:
– Contamination by the presence of bacteria in food or water.
– Viral cause: such as influenza, norovirus or rotavirus. Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children.
– Parasites in food or water
– Certain medications, such as antibiotics, antacids with magnesium or cancer treatments.
– Certain foods cause intolerance and sensitivity to some ingredients or foods, such as lactose.
– Some diseases of the stomach or small intestine or colon cause diarrhea.
– Some problems with the functioning of the colon
Can diarrhea be prevented?
In the case of diarrhea of viral origin, it is sufficient to maintain hygiene. That is, washing hands with soap and water before and after meals.
In the case of diarrhea of bacterial or parasitic origin, we are talking about preventing it through proper food hygiene and drinking bottled water. It is necessary to maintain good hand hygiene, as in cases of diarrhea of viral origin.
In the case of diarrhea associated with food intake, we are talking about cases in which there is an intolerance, so it is really difficult to prevent it. However, there are some measures to prevent drug overdose.
There is also the so-called traveler’s diarrhea, and the key to avoid it is to avoid eating undercooked or raw food, as well as cold drinks with ice. It is recommended not to consume tap water, being the safest dishes those cooked at high temperatures, dehydrated food, drinks with acid Ph, such as lemon and bread.
Treatments for diarrhea
The treatment of diarrhea will vary depending on the cause and severity of the diarrhea. However, being able to compensate for fluid and mineral loss is a key factor. For this, the simplest solution is to increase the amount of liquid ingested with mineral water, infusions or drinks with sodium, chloride or potassium.
In the case of intense and strong diarrhea, increasing the amount of water ingested is insufficient to alleviate the problem. In the event that it is impossible to retain the drink for a long time, it is advisable to introduce electrolytes and intravenous fluids, so it is recommended to see a doctor in cases of severe diarrhea.
What specialist treats chronic diarrhea?
Diarrhea itself is a fairly common disease, so there are several specialists with the ability to treat and solve problems of chronic diarrhea. Thus, specialists in Digestive System, Internal Medicine or Family Medicine and even specialists in General Surgery can treat diarrhea problems or chronic diarrhea.