The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
Chronic diarrhea refers to an increase in frequency or decrease in fecal consistency (typically >3 loose stools per day) for >4 weeks:
- Causes include inflammatory diarrhea, osmotic diarrhea (malabsorption), secretory diarrhea, and intestinal dysmotility.
- System(s) affected: Gastrointestinal
ALERT:
Geriatric Considerations
- Patients with lifelong diarrhea may suffer increasing difficulty with advanced age.
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Depends on criterion used, but approximately 5% of US population is affected.
Risk Factors
- Female > Male
- Inflammatory:
- AIDS
- Infections
- Radiation
- Family history
- Osmotic:
- Infectious
- Abdominal surgery: Cholecystectomy, resection, vagotomy
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Sorbitol, fructose, lactose, gluten
- Secretory: Distal ileal surgery
- Altered intestinal motility:
- Diabetes
- Fecal impaction
- Neurologic diseases
- Factitious: Laxative use
Genetics
- Celiac sprue and inflammatory bowel disease may be familial.
- Lactose intolerance: Increased ...
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