Chronic diarrhea is one in which an increase in the number of bowel movements per day and the softening of feces lasts for a period greater than or equal to 4 weeks and which can be caused by microbial infections, food intolerance, intestinal inflammation or the use of medications.
To identify the cause of chronic diarrhea and initiate appropriate treatment, it is recommended to go to the gastroenterologist so that the symptoms can be assessed and tests can be ordered that can help identify the cause, with stool examination and blood tests normally being carried out.
See the following video on how to identify the possible causes of chronic diarrhea:
Chronic diarrhea occurs as a result of irritation in the gastrointestinal system, which can have several causes, the main ones being:
1. Food intolerances or allergies
Some intolerances, such as lactose or gluten, or milk protein allergies, can cause irritation and inflammation in the intestine and result in chronic diarrhea, as diagnosing this type of condition can take some time. Furthermore, depending on the cause, other symptoms associated with diarrhea may appear.
What to do: It is important to consult a gastroenterologist so that symptoms can be assessed and tests can be carried out, such as a blood test, determination of IgE or antigliadin antibodies, skin and stool tests. In addition, an oral provocation test can also be carried out, which consists of ingesting the food for which an intolerance or allergy is suspected and then observing whether any symptoms appear.
2. Intestinal infections
Some intestinal infections caused by parasites such as giardiasis, amoebiasis or ascariasis, for example, as well as infections by bacteria and viruses, mainly rotavirus, can cause chronic diarrhea when they are not detected quickly. In general, intestinal infections can also cause other symptoms such as abdominal pain, increased gas production, fever, vomiting, among others.
What to do: In general, treatment for intestinal infections consists of rest, hydration with homemade serum or oral rehydration serums, and eating an easily digestible diet. However, depending on the cause of the infection, the doctor may also recommend the use of medication to combat the infectious agent, including antibiotics or antiparasitics.
Therefore, if symptoms persist for more than 3 days or if a high fever or blood is present in the stool, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist or general practitioner so that the symptoms can be assessed and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated. See more details on the treatment for intestinal infection.
3. Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease in which there is inflammation of the intestinal villi, which can cause chronic diarrhea, excess gas, pain and abdominal inflammation. These symptoms can vary according to their intensity, and may appear from one moment to another, persist for a period and then disappear.
What to do: It is important in these cases to see a gastroenterologist so that it is possible to reach a diagnosis by evaluating symptoms and carrying out some tests such as colonoscopy, computed tomography and stool examination.
In general, treatment consists of following a specific diet, low in fat and sugar, and, in some cases, the doctor may also recommend the use of some medications. Check out more details on the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Use of some medications
There are some medications that can alter the bacterial flora, intestinal motility and intestinal villi, resulting in a laxative effect and leading to diarrhea as a secondary effect, which can cause this gastrointestinal disorder due to toxicity when the medication is used in doses higher than recommended.
Some of these medications are antibiotics, some antidepressants, medications to treat cancer, antacids and proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, among others.
What to do: If diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, the best way to combat symptoms is to consume probiotics, a supplement that can be found in pharmacies and contains bacteria responsible for regulating intestinal functioning.
If it is caused by other medications, it is best to consult the doctor who prescribed the medication and inform them of the side effect. Furthermore, it is also important to eat an easily digestible diet and stay hydrated to improve diarrhea.
5. Bowel diseases
Intestine diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, enteritis or celiac disease, can also cause chronic diarrhea, as they produce chronic inflammation in the intestine, causing not only diarrhea but also other symptoms according to the present disease.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist so that an evaluation can be carried out and diagnostic tests can be indicated to identify the disease and initiate the most appropriate treatment. Furthermore, once the diagnosis is obtained, it is important to consult a nutritionist, as diet plays a fundamental role in relieving the symptoms associated with this type of disease.
6. Diseases of the pancreas
In diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatic insufficiency, chronic pancreatitis or cases of pancreatic cancer, this organ has difficulty producing or transporting sufficient quantities of digestive enzymes to allow digestion and subsequent absorption of food in the intestine. This causes changes mainly in the absorption of fats, causing chronic diarrhea, which can be pasty, shiny or fatty.
What to do: In these cases, it is important to consult a nutritionist so that a nutritional plan can be drawn up adapted to the person’s conditions, which will improve the absorption of nutrients, avoid weight loss and possible malnutrition and alleviate the discomfort that these diseases can cause.
Furthermore, it is possible that supplementation of some vitamins and minerals may be necessary, the absorption of which has been hampered by the frequency of liquid bowel movements, in addition to the doctor recommending pancreatin, which is a medication that replaces digestive enzymes and helps improve digestion. and absorption of food, improving diarrhea.
7. Cystic fibrosis
Some genetic diseases can also cause changes in the tissue of the digestive tract, as is the case of cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the production of secretions in several organs, mainly in the lungs and intestine, causing them to be thicker and more viscous, which can result in alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation.
In addition, other associated symptoms may appear, such as a feeling of shortness of breath, persistent cough, frequent lung infections, greasy and foul-smelling stools, poor digestion, weight loss, among others.
What to do: In general, this genetic disease is identified at birth through the heel prick test, however it can also be detected by other genetic tests that identify the mutation responsible for this disease.
The treatment of cystic fibrosis is normally carried out with the use of medications prescribed by the doctor, respiratory physiotherapy sessions and nutritional monitoring to control the disease and improve the person’s quality of life.
8. Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer can cause symptoms such as frequent diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, tiredness and the presence of blood in the stool, which may vary according to the location of the cancer and its severity. See how to recognize the symptoms of bowel cancer.
What to do: If the person presents these symptoms for more than 1 month, is over 50 years old or has a family history of bowel cancer, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist. The doctor will evaluate the symptoms and may recommend carrying out diagnostic tests, such as a stool test, colonoscopy or computed tomography to identify the cancer and begin the most appropriate treatment immediately afterwards.
How the treatment is carried out
To treat chronic diarrhea, initially, the doctor may indicate ways to prevent dehydration or malnutrition, providing guidance on how to increase fluid consumption and daily nutrition.
Then, definitive treatment takes place according to the cause of the diarrhea, which may include the use of antibiotic or deworming medications to treat infections, removal of medications that may have a laxative effect or medications with anti-inflammatory effects for autoimmune diseases, for example. example.
What to eat for chronic diarrhea
When you have chronic diarrhea, it is important to see a nutritionist to not only adapt your diet to the underlying disease, but also assess the need to start using nutritional supplements to help maintain or regain weight, as well as taking vitamins. and minerals, if necessary.
It is important that the food is easy to digest and absorb, and may include:
- Cooked vegetable soups and purees that do not stimulate the intestine, such as pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, chayote, potato, sweet potato;
- Green banana and boiled or roasted fruits, such as apples, peaches or pears;
- Rice or corn porridge;
- Cooked rice;
- Boiled or grilled white meats, such as chicken or turkey;
- Boiled or grilled fish.
Furthermore, it is essential to drink around 2 liters of liquids per day such as water, tea, coconut water or strained fruit juices, and take homemade serum or oral rehydration serum that can be found in pharmacies. These serums should be taken immediately after each bowel movement, in more or less the same amount as liquids are lost, this will prevent the loss of minerals and dehydration.
