Chronic Diarrhea – Overview, Causes & Treatment

Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea is is very common and almost everyone would have experienced it atleast once in their life. On an average an adult experiences diarrhea symptoms once and a child, twice a year.

Generally diarrhea resolves on its own in a day or two. But when it lasts longer, it might turn into a serious problem. Diarrhea that lasts up to four weeks or more is known as chronic diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhoea can be classified into three categories:

• Watery Diarrhea: This happens when the colon doesn’t absorb enough electrolytes and water from the poop or when it’s secreting more than what it’s absorbing. There are two types of sudden watery diarrhoea. When nutrients are poorly absorbed, extra water is drawn into the colon; this is called osmotic diarrhoea. There are various diseases that can cause watery diarrhoea; this is called secretory diarrhoea.

• Inflammatory Diarrhea: Inflammation in the colon causes the mucous lining of your colon to swell and damages the ability to absorb. Inflammatory and constant diarrhoea causes stomach pain, bleeding or fever. The frequency of poop is more, and the quantity is less.

• Fatty Diarrhea: The consistency of the poop changes with the fat content in the poop. This happens when bacteria present in the gut produce more than the required amount of fatty acids and also when the body is unable to break down and absorb fats. The frequency of fatty liquid diarrhoea might be lower, but it has a higher quantity. It might also be extra smelly and might be accompanied by weight loss and nausea.

Causes for Chronic Diarrhea

Certain artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes might cause chronic diarrhoea when consumed on a regular basis. Some of the artificial sweeteners are sorbitol, mannitol, fructose and lactose.

Herbal remedies like herbal teas might consist of laxatives. If an individual uses a variety of herbal products at the same time, it is advised to stop and use them one at a time so that they can figure out which of the products causes chronic diarrhoea.

Chronic diarrhoea may be the effect of certain over-the-counter medications like most antibiotics, some antidepressants, antacids that contain magnesium hydroxide, laxatives and stool softeners, proton pump inhibitors and chemotherapy drugs. Medications containing digoxin and lithium might also cause chronic diarrhoea.

Intestinal parasites can also be a cause of chronic diarrhoea. It is generally less common in developed countries and more common in countries with less water and food sanitation. A stool test is used to diagnose parasitic infection.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to cover a wide range of chronic conditions that cause inflammation of the gut. The major IBDs are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There is no permanent solution for IBD, so individuals manage symptoms with medications and lifestyle changes.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, surgery in the abdomen or intestine, hormonal disorders, tumours, gall bladder disease, and allergies are some of the other causes of chronic diarrhoea.  

Treatment for Chronic Diarrhea

Treatment for chronic diarrhoea mostly depends on the cause of it. Taking anti-diarrheal medications is not the permanent solution for chronic diarrhoea. Some of the treatment options, depending on the causes, are mentioned below:

In the case of celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis and Crohn’s disease, treatment options might include medications such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.

It is recommended for individuals to journal whatever they are eating throughout the day for a couple of weeks as they might be able to pinpoint the food that’s making them sick.

This might be a trial and error method as the person might or might not get better after refraining from eating certain foods on the list. Habits like eating low-fibre foods, controlling food portions, drinking enough fluids, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol might also help treat chronic diarrhoea.

In case of a parasite or bacteria infection, the physician might give the individual an antibiotic. Over-the-counter pills ca also be tried but if it only gives sort term relief then it is advised to see a doctor.

Sometimes, taking medicines for other infections might cause diarrhoea in a few individuals. If this is the case, ask the physician for an alternative medicine. If there are no alternatives, add probiotics in any form to your diet.

Conclusion

Chronic diarrhea is when the diarrhea lasts for more than four weeks, either continuously or come and goes. It is better to visit the doctor when this happens, as they might run a few tests to find the root cause of the diarrhea and prescribe required treatment.

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