Chronic Diarrhea is a condition when diarrhea persists for 4 weeks or more. Chronic diarrhea affects millions of people. While acute diarrhea lasts for a few days but chronic diarrhea lasts for months or years depending upon the underlying cause.
This condition impacts the quality of life of an individual. Chronic diarrhea leads to nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, and other complications.
What is Chronic Diarrhea?
Chronic diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose, watery stools persisting for an extended period, typically more than four weeks. Chronic diarrhea is different from acute diarrhea which is short-lived and resolves within a few days. Chronic diarrhea occurs because of various underlying causes such as gastrointestinal diseases, malabsorption issues, inflammatory bowel diseases, or functional disorders.
What are the common causes of Chronic Diarrhea?
The most common causes of chronic diarrhea are as follows: –
Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause chronic diarrhea as one of their symptoms.
These disorders cause intestinal inflammation that is chronic in nature which leads to damage of the intestinal lining and alteration in movements of the intestines.
Malabsorption Syndrome:
Malabsorption is the condition in which nutrients from the food are not absorbed properly which leads to essential nutrient deficiency in the body. Some examples are malabsorption syndrome are lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption, bile acid malabsorption, and pancreatic insufficiency.
These conditions also lead to chronic diarrhea by decreasing nutrient absorption in the intestine.
Infections:
Bacterial or parasitic infections such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can lead to chronic diarrhea. Treatment of chronic diarrhea caused by these infections consists of specialized testing and specific treatment for the underlying cause of infection.
Medications:
Chronic diarrhea can occur because of certain medication overuse like antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and laxatives.
Management of chronic diarrhea by medication overuse requires the immediate attention of healthcare experts to adjust the dosage of drugs.
Symptoms of chronic diarrhea
The main symptoms of chronic diarrhea are below: –
- Loose Stools
- Frequent bowel movement or Intestine movement
- Abdominal Pain
- Bloating
- Urgency to pass stools
Diagnostic Approach for Chronic Diarrhea
Diagnosis of chronic diarrhea includes: –
- Proper medical history evaluation of patient
- Physical examination, laboratory tests (stool analysis, blood tests)
- Imaging studies (such as colonoscopy)
- Specific test for evaluating nutrient absorption
How to treat Chronic Diarrhea?
We can apply several approaches to treat chronic diarrhea depending on the underlying causes and symptoms in an individual. Below are the treatment options for chronic diarrhea: –
Dietary Modifications
Diet plays an important role in managing chronic diarrhea. Consult with your dietician or health care expert for recommendations to include low-fiber food options in your diet, and avoid foods that trigger chronic diarrhea such as lactose or gluten.
Your healthcare professional may recommend specific dietary supplements to improve digestion and reduce diarrhea symptoms.
Medications
Depending upon the underlying causes of the patient, your healthcare expert may prescribe certain medications to manage the symptoms and treat chronic diarrhea. Medication courses may include anti-diarrheal agents, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or any other specific medication to target gastrointestinal disorders.
Probiotics and Gut Health
Probiotics, well known as good or beneficial bacteria help in promoting healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics have shown significant effects in managing chronic diarrhea.
Probiotics help in improving digestion and help in restoring the balance of gut bacteria.
Lifestyle Modification
Few lifestyle changes such as stress management, regular exercise, eating fresh and home-cooked food, drinking plenty of water, and adequate sleep and rest can help in managing chronic diarrhea and improve overall gastrointestinal health.
When to See a Doctor for chronic diarrhea?
If you experience persistent diarrhea or related symptoms for more than two weeks or if your symptoms are severe then it is essential to seek immediate medical attention.
Your healthcare expert will examine your medical history, symptoms and will provide accurate diagnosis and treatment to manage chronic diarrhea.
Any delay in seeking medical attention will only add severity to symptoms and will make the condition worse.
Conclusion
Chronic diarrhea adds up to many complications and is very challenging to live with it. It hampers and impacts your daily life but with proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be easily managed.
Identifying the underlying causes such as bacterial infection, medication overuse, and gastrointestinal disorder and treating them efficiently alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Remember consulting a healthcare expert is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment of chronic diarrhea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What qualifies as chronic diarrhea?
Ans. Chronic diarrhea is a condition when the passage of loose, watery stool persists for an extended period, usually more than four weeks. It is different from acute diarrhea which is short-lived and resolves within a few days.
Q2. What are the common causes of chronic diarrhea?
Ans. Common causes of chronic diarrhea are: –
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Malabsorption Disease
- Bacterial Infections
- Medication Side Effects
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Q3. How can I determine the underlying cause of my chronic diarrhea?
Ans. To determine the underlying causes of chronic diarrhea following methods are involved:-
- Medical History Assessment
- Physical Examination of Patient
- Laboratory Tests (Stool culture analysis, blood tests)
- Imaging Studies (Colonoscopy)
- Specialized tests to determine nutrient absorption
Q4. What dietary modifications can help manage chronic diarrhea?
Ans. Taking a low-fiber diet, avoiding trigger food such as (lactose or gluten), and including specific dietary supplements to aid digestion can play a crucial role in managing chronic diarrhea and associated symptoms.
Q5. Are there any medications available to treat chronic diarrhea?
Ans. Your healthcare expert may prescribe medication basis on the underlying condition. Medication for treating chronic diarrhea includes anti-diarrheal agents, antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or medications targeting specific gastrointestinal disorders.