Almost everyone has had an upset stomach or gastrointestinal flu at some point. The consequences are usually abdominal pain and diarrhea, both of which can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever. If the diarrhea becomes chronic, however, there can be a number of other causes behind it.
What is Chronic Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is not only uncomfortable, it also upsets the energy balance. One speaks of chronic diarrhea when the symptoms do not subside after two weeks and therefore no longer indicate an acute infection.
Diarrhea itself is not a disease, but a symptom. By definition, the term is used when a stool is defecated more than three times a day and the consistency of the stool is pasty or liquid. Often the amount of stool is increased. In many cases, the symptoms are relapsing and subside after a few weeks.
The symptoms, however, depend on the underlying disease. Chronic diarrhea should always be clarified by a doctor, as stress, infections and chronic or malignant intestinal diseases can also be the cause.
causes
However, other causes can also lead to chronic diarrhea. The most common reasons are the so-called irritable bowel syndrome, in which the intestine is sensitive to stress, and various food intolerances. Particularly noteworthy is lactose intolerance, i.e. the intolerance to milk sugar. Gluten intolerance (celiac disease) are also not uncommon.
In addition to new, intolerable drugs, other causes can also be chronic intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. These are chronic intestinal inflammations that occur in flare-ups and, depending on the course, can be accompanied by ulcers. In the case of chronic diarrhea, it is also important to be able to rule out benign or malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract before another diagnosis can be made.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medication for diarrheaDiseases with this symptom
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food intolerance
- Food poisoning
- Fish tapeworm
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Colon cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- abdominal influenza
- Drug allergy
- Small bowel cancer
Diagnosis & course
The diagnosis is first made through detailed discussions. Usually, the doctor can use this to make a guess about the cause of the diarrhea. Other symptoms that may be associated with it can help make the diagnosis. In addition to a blood test, a stool sample is usually tested for bacteria, viruses and parasites. If these first steps do not reveal any results, you should test for food intolerances.
The tests are carried out either using certain markers in the blood or by taking a concentrated amount of the alleged allergy. If diarrhea, stomach pain or general malaise occur, the diagnosis can be made. Depending on the case, an ultrasound, a computed tomography or an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity can also help with the diagnosis.
If inflammatory bowel disease or tumors are suspected, or if the other tests do not produce any results, a colonoscopy is used. If no physical causes for the diarrhea are found, psychosomatic factors can be assumed.
When should you go to the doctor?
As soon as diarrhea, also known as diarrhea, lasts longer than approx. 10 to 20 days, a doctor should generally be consulted. Otherwise, dangerous fluid loss can occur, often associated with electrolyte loss.
If the diarrhea is associated with cramping abdominal pain and / or circulatory problems, it is high time to speak to a doctor about the problem. If the problems arise in connection with the individual meals during the day, this should be recorded, including the food consumed, because a doctor's diagnosis is essential so that the problem does not worsen. This is the only way to rule out any existing food intolerance as a cause of chronic diarrhea.
With additional vomiting there is an increased risk of serious illness. Children, especially babies and toddlers, are at risk of “dehydration” due to extreme water and salt loss. Persistent or severe weight loss is life-threatening for babies and young children. Likewise the collapse of the fontanelles. In this case the emergency doctor should be called.
In the elderly, chronic diarrhea can quickly become dangerous. The reason lies in a reduced pumping capacity of the heart, a reduced elasticity of the blood vessels and a lower power reserve. But it is precisely these properties that are required in the case of acute diarrhea.
The low water content in the body of older people combined with a reduced feeling of thirst means that the increased water and salt loss in diarrhea endangers people's health even more quickly.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Home remedies ↵ for diarrhea Typically, the underlying disease is treated, not the diarrhea itself. This is only the case when there is no other treatment option. For example, irritable bowel syndrome has no physical cause. In this case, only a stress reduction can take place, which should be psychologically supported in severe cases.
In acute cases, medication for diarrhea can provide relief. In the case of food intolerances, treatment is carried out by changing one's diet. The person concerned should create a plan with foods that trigger the symptoms and avoid them as far as possible. In many cases, that's enough to combat the symptoms.
If it is a side effect of a drug that is not tolerated, it should be discontinued or replaced with a preparation with other active ingredients. Appropriate medication is used in the event of infections or parasitic infestation.
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are counted among the autoimmune diseases and are therefore difficult to treat. A cure is not possible, but the course can be weakened with appropriate means. It basically depends on the severity and severity of the disease.
In mild cases a therapy of the symptoms helps, sometimes cortisone is used. In addition, there is usually nutritional therapy, which is quite important for the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In severe cases, especially ulcers, surgery is necessary. Otherwise, the administration of antibodies helps to inhibit the inflammatory factors. Tumors in the intestinal area are removed during the mirroring, depending on their size. Further treatment depends on the type of tumor.
Outlook & forecast
The prognosis for chronic diarrhea depends on the cause of the diarrheal disease. Sometimes the diseases that cause it are incurable. However, the associated symptoms can be treated.
Depending on whether the chronic diarrhea is due to irritable bowel syndrome, a food intolerance or a chronic inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, the prognoses vary. In the first case, the symptoms can usually be alleviated - provided the irritable bowel diagnosis is not a diagnosis of embarrassment.
In the case of food intolerance, the triggers must be determined. Subsequently, foods that contain this substance must be consistently avoided. If this can be implemented, the prognosis is good. If this cannot be implemented consistently, diarrhea can continue to occur.
In inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, the prognosis is less good. Ulcerative colitis occurs in episodes or chronically recurrent. If the course is chronic and continuous, the prognosis is good. However, a fulminant course can be fatal. The prognosis for Crohn's disease is similar.
Chronic diarrhea can also be caused by amoeba-related infections, diseases of the liver or pancreas or, in severe cases, colon cancer. The prognoses are different. Infections can usually be treated well with antibiotics. In the case of liver and pancreatic diseases, the prognosis depends on the underlying disease. In the case of colon cancer, the chances of a cure through early detection measures increase significantly.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medication for diarrheaprevention
There are no measures to prevent chronic diarrhea. There is only the possibility of preventing individual clinical pictures in which the diarrhea occurs. In addition to avoiding stress, this includes a healthy and varied diet. In addition, appropriate hygiene in sanitary facilities should be ensured, especially to avoid infections.
You can do that yourself
In the case of chronic diarrhea, various self-help measures can be used. The cause of the chronic diarrhea should always be considered. If food intolerance is the cause of chronic diarrhea, diet can alleviate the symptoms. If you are lactose intolerant, you should avoid milk sugar as much as possible. If you are gluten intolerant, you should avoid gluten-containing foods such as bread, muesli, pasta, cakes and beer.
Patients with chronic diarrhea should change their diet to a diet that is predominantly high in fiber. Sufficient fluid intake (at least two liters a day) is also recommended. Alcohol, coffee and nicotine should not be consumed at all or only in small amounts. Instead of a lavish dinner, several meals should be eaten throughout the day. In general, those affected should take enough time to eat and chew carefully.
Herbal teas can also provide relief for chronic diarrhea. St. John's wort, raspberry or blackberry leaves have anti-inflammatory and drying effects. Chamomile tea can also be very beneficial. Regular exercise is important for patients with chronic diarrhea. In addition, stress in professional and private life should be avoided as much as possible. Exercises to reduce stress such as autogenic training, yoga or progressive muscle relaxation ensure psychological balance and help to get chronic diarrhea under control.
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