Chronic diarrhea is a common clinical symptom, not a disease. Refers to diarrhea with a course of more than two months or recurrent diarrhea within an interval of 2 to 4 weeks. The etiology is more complicated and the course is prolonged. According to different causes, the clinical symptoms are diversified, and the treatment principles are different.
Basic Information
- Name
- chronicdiarrhea
- Visiting department
- Gastroenterology
- Common causes
- Systemic diseases, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases,
- Common symptoms
- Increased stool frequency, thin stools, no shape, mucus, pus and blood
Causes of chronic diarrhea
Systemic disease
(1) Diabetic diarrhea is related to vegetative neuropathy in the gastrointestinal tract.
(2) Hyperthyroidism due to fast intestinal peristalsis, indigestion, and frequent stools or even diarrhea. The stools are generally pasty and contain more undigested food.
(3) chronic renal insufficiency (uremia)
(4) Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, Behcet syndrome, etc.
2. Liver, Gallbladder and Pancreas Diseases
(1) Hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
(2) Chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
(3) After cholecystectomy.
3. Gastrointestinal diseases
(1) Gastrointestinal tumors
(2) Inflammatory bowel disease
(3) Functional irritable bowel syndrome and functional diarrhea.
(4) Infectious intestinal tuberculosis, amoebiasis, chronic bacillary dysentery, fungal infection.
(5) Drug-derived multiple drugs or drug-drug interactions can cause chronic diarrhea.
Clinical manifestations of chronic diarrhea
Increased stool frequency, thin or not formed, sometimes with mucus, pus and blood. Intestinal lesions caused by diarrhea are characterized by abdominal discomfort, mostly located around the umbilicus, and aggravated after meals or before the stool, after anxiety, heavy stools, light color, and more or less; colon lesions caused by diarrhea are characterized by abdominal discomfort, It is located on both sides of the abdomen or in the lower abdomen. It is usually relieved or relieved after defecation, with frequent and rapid defecation, small amount of stool, and often contains blood and mucus. Those with rectal lesions are often accompanied by acute aftermath. Due to the different causes of diarrhea, the accompanying symptoms vary, such as fever, weight loss, and abdominal mass.
Chronic diarrhea
Laboratory inspection
Haematuria, routine blood, fecal occult blood, protozoa, worm eggs, fat droplets; erythrocyte sedimentation, blood biochemistry (liver and kidney function, blood sugar, water and electrolytes); gastrointestinal hormone determination, etc.
2. Determination of small intestinal absorption function
3. Measurement of pancreatic function
4. Imaging examination
Including abdominal ultrasound, X-ray, barium meal contrast, barium enema; abdominal CT / MRI; simulated small bowel CT / MRI; gastroscopy, enteroscopy, colonoscopy (mucosal biopsy); capsule endoscope.
Diagnosis of chronic diarrhea
The diagnosis of chronic diarrhea is mainly the diagnosis of the primary disease (cause). It is mainly based on the history, physical signs, and the findings of the above examinations, and a comprehensive analysis is used to make the diagnosis.
Chronic diarrhea treatment
Treatment principle
(1) Etiology treatment Take corresponding treatment for diarrhea of different etiology.
(2) Symptomatic treatment of severe diarrhea patients should be given antidiarrheal drugs depending on the cause.
(3) Antispasmodic and painkillers
2. Principles of diet
Choose the appropriate diet based on the cause.
