Diarrhea may be a symptom of a number of conditions. However, chronic diarrhea may be a sign of a serious underlying disease. Diarrhea that persists for longer than 3 days is a cause for concern, and you should consult a doctor immediately.
When diarrhea continues and begins to have a negative impact on your daily life for longer than a week, there may be an unknown cause, so you need to get to the bottom of it with the help of a physician.
Chronic Diarrhea Symptoms
Chronic diarrhea, as its name suggests, exhibits itself with watery, loose stools but also with weight loss, dehydration, and malnutrition. However, it is classified as chronic if it lasts for a month or longer. Diarrhea is considered chronic after a month or more. Many also experience bloating, stomach cramps, gas, and nausea. If you get feverish for long, this may be a sign of an infection. Also, if there is ever blood in your stool, this may also point to a serious condition that needs immediate attention.
Dietary Causes
Certain foods and medications may cause diarrhea. For instance, many antibiotics cause diarrhea; however, this type of diarrhea is usually intense but temporary. This is because antibiotics kill the bacteria responsible for an infection or an illness along with the bacteria that regulate digestive balance. Laxatives obviously cause diarrhea, and by extension, some herbal products can also lead to diarrhea even if you are not aware that they contain a herb that naturally works as a laxative.
Too much alcohol, caffeine, and sugar may also cause chronic diarrhea. Some artificial sweeteners are also known to cause diarrhea. If you are lactose intolerant or have celiac disease, these conditions may also be the underlying cause of your diarrhea.
Medical Causes
Chronic diarrhea may also be a symptom of another chronic condition. Some diseases that often are culprits include ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease. These are much more severe conditions than chronic diarrhea and exhibit themselves with more symptoms.
Chronic Diarrhea Treatment & Medications
Without pinpointing the cause, treating chronic diarrhea is not possible. If you are experiencing diarrhea as a side effect of a medication you are on, consult your doctor about another option. Make sure your diet is rich in probiotics or take supplements if you are on antibiotics for a long duration.
If you believe a particular food may be the cause, you can try the elimination method for short durations to see if your symptoms alleviate when you stop consuming a particular food. For instance, if you think regular consumption of dairy may be the problem, take dairy out of your diet for a while to see whether diarrhea stops.
Medications loperamide (Imodium) and diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil) are commonly prescribed to treat chronic diarrhea. Diphenoxylate is prescription-strength and works to slow down intestinal movement. Loperamide, on the other hand, is an over-the-counter medication and lowers the amount of fluid produced by the intestine. There is also cholestyramine, which is used to lower blood cholesterol also helps patients with chronic diarrhea.
Just remember that if your diarrhea lasts for longer than a week and gets more severe every passing day, talk to a doctor right away as it is important to get an early diagnosis if there is a more serious underlying cause.
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Posted on May 5, 2023