“Why do I have chronic diarrhea?”
For the last month and a half, I've had diarrhea almost everyday. What usually causes chronic diarrhea?
4 Answers
Constipation is usually due to slow motility of the colon, sometimes in the setting of irritable bowel syndrome. Increasing fiber, fruits, and use of laxatives will help.
-Lactose intolerance
-Gluten intolerant
-Patient had surgery on the small intestines
-Parasite
-Gluten intolerant
-Patient had surgery on the small intestines
-Parasite
Multiple reasons possible for chronic diarrhea. Please see your physician. Hope that helps.
The most common causes of CHRONIC diarrhea are MANY -- a few of the most common are:
-IRRITIBLE BOWEL syndrome
-DRUGS/MEDICATIONS (antibiotics/LAXATIVES/certain artificial sweeteners/etc. -- but ANY DRUG must be considered in the right setting)
-INFECTIONS -- Giardia, worms, antibiotic associated diarrhea (caused by C. Difficile)
-INFLAMMATION -- Crohn's or Ulcerative colitis
-LAXATIVE ABUSE
-ENDOCRINE -- hyperthryoidism or diabetes
-MALABSORPTION -- pancreatic exocrine deficiency (where not enough enzyme is secreted into the bowel to be able to absorb fat/nutrients)
It also must be said that the DEFINITION of true "diarrhea" is the STOOL VOLUME -- and NOT just having "loose" stools. So, >400cc of stool per day is considered true "diarrhea." Anything LESS than that is not abnormal (ASSUMING THE PERSON IS EATING/DRINKING; AS IF THE PERSON IS NOT EATING/DRINKING, DEFECATION MAY BE REDUCED OR STOPPED NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE).
-IRRITIBLE BOWEL syndrome
-DRUGS/MEDICATIONS (antibiotics/LAXATIVES/certain artificial sweeteners/etc. -- but ANY DRUG must be considered in the right setting)
-INFECTIONS -- Giardia, worms, antibiotic associated diarrhea (caused by C. Difficile)
-INFLAMMATION -- Crohn's or Ulcerative colitis
-LAXATIVE ABUSE
-ENDOCRINE -- hyperthryoidism or diabetes
-MALABSORPTION -- pancreatic exocrine deficiency (where not enough enzyme is secreted into the bowel to be able to absorb fat/nutrients)
It also must be said that the DEFINITION of true "diarrhea" is the STOOL VOLUME -- and NOT just having "loose" stools. So, >400cc of stool per day is considered true "diarrhea." Anything LESS than that is not abnormal (ASSUMING THE PERSON IS EATING/DRINKING; AS IF THE PERSON IS NOT EATING/DRINKING, DEFECATION MAY BE REDUCED OR STOPPED NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE).
