Chronic diarrhea is manifested by the evacuation of bulky, soft or even liquid stools over a prolonged period of several weeks. The causes can be many and may be a sign of underlying pathologies. When to consult?
What is chronic diarrhea?
Chronic diarrhea is characterized by persistence of increased volume of more or less liquid stools and more severe defecation episodes over a period of one week to 10 days. It lasts over time and lulls can be observed between each episode. We speak of chronic diarrhea when symptoms persist for 2 to 4 weeks. “Diarrhea is not, contrary to what most people think, defined solely by loose stools. They are generally in greater quantity and can be either liquid or pasty, or both at the same time. The stools arrive very quickly in the rectum and do not have time to be mopped up by the colon. There is no reabsorption of water and the stools are therefore more or less liquid. A form of periodicity of digestive disorders is observed with chronic diarrhea and this must raise questions about a disease and not about an external mechanism.“, explains Dr Julien Basseporte, general practitioner.
What are the possible causes of chronic diarrhea?
The possible causes of chronic diarrhea can be multiple:
- THE stress can be the cause of the acceleration of transit, motor diarrhea, and can cause chronic diarrhea;
- A imbalance of the intestinal flora;
- a Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis;
- A digestive cancer which usually results in obstruction of the digestive tract or colon
If the symptoms of diarrhea persist beyond 2 weeks, you must be concerned and consult quickly.
What are the symptoms of chronic diarrhea?
Symptoms of chronic diarrhea are:
- A belly bloated, swollen;
- of the chronic abdominal pain associated with spasms due to contraction of the intestine;
- a change in intestinal transit (more frequent bowel movements) when eating habits have not been changed;
- of the fatty stools, very abundant, occurring shortly after a meal, or even the presence of blood.
When to worry?
From the moment there is a discrepancy between transit and eating habits and symptoms of diarrhea persist more than 2 weeksit is necessary to worry and consult a general practitioner quickly.
Who to consult?
We must first turn to his attending physician who will be able to carry out an interrogation and a clinical examination, in particular a abdominal palpation. “The frequency and duration of symptoms, weight loss, general fatigue, a change in blood pressure, tension in the abdomen are all signs that will allow appropriate medical care to be put in place.“, notes Dr. Basseporte. If the diarrhea is judged to be mild, drug treatment and hygiene and dietary advice will be offered. If an underlying disease is suspected, a blood test and an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen will be prescribed. If the digestive tract seems affected, the patient is referred to a gastroenterologist to perform a colonoscopy.
What is the treatment for chronic diarrhea?
Treatment for chronic diarrhea will depend on the cause. Chronic diarrhea due to:
► stress will encourage its management through the practice of a regular physical activity, through entertainment, through the improvement of working conditions (when the stress comes from work) and the living environment and, if necessary, treatment based on anxiolytics or even antidepressants could be considered;
► poor eating habits, we will change the diet”eat less fiber and more starches” and offer probiotics to regulate transit;
► an intestinal, biliary or digestive disease, drug treatment will be put in place, in particular antispasmodics to slow the transit and avoid the abundance of stools.
Thanks to Dr Julien Basseporte, general practitioner in Joinville-le-Pont.