Chronic diarrhea: types, symptoms and complications

"to indicate an" alteration of intestinal motility characterized by

• a number of daily evacuations greater than / equal to 3, with the emission of liquid or semi-solid stools (diarrhea),

that persists

• for at least three or four consecutive weeks

(e.g. induced by osmotic laxatives such as magnesium salts and sorbitol, or by celiac disease)

Secretory (eg induced by microscopic colitis, abuse of stimulating laxatives, tumors)

Functional (e.g. favored by irritable bowel syndrome)

In chronic osmotic diarrhea there is a considerable retention of water in the colon, caused by a reduced absorption of some substances.
In the secretory variant, diarrhea is the result of reduced water absorption. Furthermore, chronic secretory diarrhea is distinguished by the exaggerated volume of fecal material emitted (> 1 l / day) and by the urgent need to go to the bathroom even at night.
Functional diarrhea is caused by a "hypermotility of intestinal transit. Chronic greasy diarrhea (from malabsorption)

1. Infectious (e.g. caused by giardiasis)
2. Non-infectious (eg induced by celiac disease, amyloidosis, administration of some drugs such as orlistat and acarbose)

This type of chronic diarrhea is distinguished by the excessive formation of intestinal gas, steatorrhea and by a marked reduction in body weight. Chronic inflammatory (or exudative) diarrhea

1. Infectious: caused for example by bacteria such as Clostridium difficile, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex, tuberculosis
2. Non-infectious: induced by ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, lymphomas, tumors

Chronic inflammatory diarrhea is distinguished by the presence of blood and pus in the stool and by an increase in the levels of calprotectin (marker of neutrophil activity: an increase in this protein indicates inflammatory disease of the digestive tract)

Liquid or semi-solid stools

Urgent need to go to the bathroom

Bowel sounds

Feeling of bloating in the abdomen

Clearly, according to the cause of origin, the clinical picture of the patient suffering from chronic diarrhea is enriched by more complex symptoms.
Based on the "satellite" symptoms that accompany the classic clinical picture of chronic diarrhea, it is possible to hypothesize about the triggering cause:

Satellite symptoms that suggest the presence of chronic diarrhea Hypothesis on the causes and type of chronic diarrhea

• Chronic diarrhea alternating with periods of constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal pain relieved after evacuation
• Noticeable abdominal swelling
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation
• Diarrhea with mucus (symptom that occurs in 25% of bowel movements)
• The evacuations often recur after meals and almost always during the day
• Accentuation of symptoms in the presence of anxiety, stress and tension

Chronic irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea

• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Flatulence
• Weight loss
• Steatorrhea (excessive fat in the stool)
• Herpetiform dermatitis
• Skin rash (with blisters and itching)

Chronic celiac disease diarrhea

• Iron deficiency anemia

Chronic celiac disease diarrhea

• Weight loss
• Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes)

Chronic diarrhea from infections or tumors

• Episcleritis: inflammation of the superficial layers of the ocular sclera (white part of the eye)

Chronic diarrhea from inflammatory colon diseases

• Exophthalmos (prominent eyes)
• Feeling of heat, hyper-sweating

Chronic hyperthyroid diarrhea

• Nocturnal diarrhea
• Watery secretory diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea due to microscopic colitis: the hypothesis is almost certain when the aforementioned symptoms occur in the elderly, especially if they take anti-inflammatory drugs

• Pain on palpation of the abdomen

Chronic infectious / inflammatory diarrhea

• Anal fistulas
• Blood in the stool
• Weight loss, anemia and fever (possible symptoms)

Chronic Crohn's disease diarrhea / ulcerative colitis

• Immediate stimulation of defecation after meals

Chronic irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea

• Oily stools

Chronic diarrhea from malabsorption syndrome

• Vomiting, nausea
• Fever
• Severe abdominal pain

Chronic diarrhea due to infectious colitis (almost certain hypothesis in case of recent travel / camping or contact with infected subjects)

• Anxiety
• Tension, fear, stress

Chronic psychological diarrhea , dehydration, malnutrition, hypotension, tachycardia.
We also remind you that extremely aggressive conical diarrhea can lead to patient death from dehydration and metabolic acidosis.

Other articles on "Chronic Diarrhea: Types, Symptoms and Complications"

1. Chronic diarrhea
2. Diarrhea
3. Diarrhea: causes and treatment
4. Dysentery
5. Traveler's Diarrhea
6. Chronic diarrhea: Diagnosis, Treatment, Diet
7. Diet and diarrhea
8. Nutrition and diarrhea
9. Diarrhea and Antibiotics
10. Probotics and Diarrhea
11. Drugs That Cause Diarrhea
12. Diarrhea - Drugs for the treatment of Diarrhea
13. Herbal Teas Against Diarrhea