Evaluation of chronic diarrhea

Diseases

Summary

Chronic diarrhea is defined as the presence of ≥3 loose stools per day for more than 4 weeks.[1] Although stool weight has been used in scientific studies, it is not useful in clinical practice, as some patients may have increased stool weight (higher than normal fecal weight of 200 g/day) but normal stool consistency, therefore do not complain of diarrhea.[2] Diagnosis can be challenging as a large number of etiologies present in a similar way and range from benign to life threatening. A systematic method of evaluation, knowledge of the common causes, and an understanding of the local epidemiology are crucial for efficient and effective diagnosis and management of chronic diarrhea.[3] [4]

Library

Photomicrograph of villous atrophy in celiac disease
Endoscopic image of scalloping seen in the duodenal mucosa in celiac disease and other mucosal disorders including giardiasis

Citations

Key Articles

Fernández-Bañares F, Esteve M, Salas A, et al. Systematic evaluation of the causes of chronic watery diarrhea with functional characteristics. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102:2520-2528.[Abstract]
Arasaradnam RP, Brown S, Forbes A, et al. Guidelines for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea in adults: British Society of Gastroenterology, 3rd edition. Gut. 2018 Aug;67(8):1380-99.[Abstract][Full Text]
Talley NJ. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in 2007 and Rome III: something new, something borrowed, something objective. Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2007;7:97-105.[Abstract]

Other Online Resources

Bristol stool chart

Referenced Articles

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