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Chronic diarrhea is one in which the increase in the number of bowel movements per day and the softening of the stool lasts for a period greater than or equal to 4 weeks and which can be caused by microbial infections, food intolerance, intestinal inflammation or use of medication.
To identify the cause of chronic diarrhea and the proper treatment to be started, the person must go to the gastroenterologist to evaluate the symptoms and to request tests that can help in the identification of the cause, with the usual examination of stools and blood tests.
Chronic diarrhea occurs as a consequence of irritation in the gastrointestinal system which can be several causes, the main ones being:
1. Food intolerances or allergies
Some intolerances such as lactose or gluten, or allergy to milk protein, can cause irritation and inflammation in the intestine and result in chronic diarrhea, as the diagnosis of this type of condition can take a while. In addition, depending on the cause, other symptoms associated with diarrhea may appear.
What to do: It is important to consult the gastroenterologist for an evaluation of the symptoms and to indicate the performance of tests, such as blood tests, determination of IgE antibodies or antigliadin, skin and stool tests. In addition, the oral provocation test can also be done, which consists of eating the food which is suspected of intolerance or allergy and then it is observed if 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, the treatment for intestinal infections consists of rest, hydration with homemade serum or oral rehydration serums, and easy to digest food. However, depending on the cause of the infection, the doctor may also indicate the use of medications to combat the infectious agent, and antibiotics or antiparasitic agents may be indicated.
Therefore, if the symptoms persist for more than 3 days or if there is a high fever or blood in the stool, it is important to consult the gastroenterologist or general practitioner so that the symptoms are evaluated and the most appropriate treatment is indicated. See more details of the treatment for intestinal infection.
See in the following video how to prepare homemade serum:
3. Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease in which inflammation of the intestinal villi is seen, which can cause chronic diarrhea, excessive gas, abdominal pain and inflammation. These symptoms can vary according to their intensity, and can appear from one moment to the next, remain for a period and then disappear.
What to do: It is important in these cases to see the gastroenterologist so that it is possible to reach the diagnosis by assessing the symptoms and performing some tests such as colonoscopy, computed tomography and stool examination.
In general, the treatment consists of performing a specific diet, low in fat and sugars, and, in some cases, the doctor may also indicate the use of some medications. Check out more details of the treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Use of some medications
There are some drugs that can alter bacterial flora, intestinal motility and intestinal villi, resulting in a laxative effect and leading to diarrhea as a side effect, which can cause this gastrointestinal disorder due to toxicity when the drug is used in doses higher than recommended .
Some of these drugs are antibiotics, some antidepressants, drugs to treat cancer, antacids and proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, among others.
What to do: If the diarrhea is caused by antibiotics, the best way to fight the symptoms is with the consumption of probiotics, a supplement that can be found in pharmacies and that contains bacteria responsible for regulating bowel function.
If it is caused by other medications, the most recommended is to consult the doctor who indicated the medication and report the side effect. In addition, it is also important to have an easily digestible diet and stay hydrated to improve diarrhea.
Learn more about probiotics and find out which is best by watching the following video:
5. Diseases of the intestine
Bowel 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 other symptoms according to present disease.
What to do: In these cases, it is recommended to consult the gastroenterologist for an evaluation and diagnostic tests that can identify the disease and initiate the most appropriate treatment can be indicated. In addition, once the diagnosis is obtained, it is important to consult the nutritionist, as food 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 in cases of pancreatic cancer, this organ has difficulties in 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 with fat.
What to do: In these cases it is important to consult a nutritionist to prepare a nutritional plan adapted to the person's conditions, which will allow to improve the absorption of nutrients, avoid weight loss and possible malnutrition and relieve the malaise that these diseases can cause.
In addition, it is possible that supplementation of some vitamins and minerals is necessary, the absorption of which has been impaired by the frequency of liquid bowel movements, in addition to pancreatin being indicated by the doctor, which is a medicine that replaces digestive enzymes and helps to improve digestion and the absorption of food, improving diarrhea.
7. Cystic fibrosis
Some genetic diseases can also cause changes in the tissue of the digestive tract, such as cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the production of secretion from various organs, mainly in the lungs and intestine, making them thicker and more viscous, and result in alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation.
In addition, other associated symptoms may appear, such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, frequent lung infections, fatty 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 usually done using 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 can vary according to the location of the cancer and its severity. Here's how to recognize the symptoms of bowel cancer.
What to do: If the person has had 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 the gastroenterologist. The doctor will evaluate the symptoms and may indicate the performance of diagnostic tests, such as stool examination, colonoscopy or CT scan to identify the cancer and start the most appropriate treatment afterwards.
How the treatment is done
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 food.
Then, the definitive treatment takes place according to the cause of the diarrhea, which may include the use of antibiotic or vermifuge remedies to treat infections, removal of drugs that may have a laxative effect or drugs with anti-inflammatory effects for autoimmune diseases, for example. example.
What to eat in chronic diarrhea
When you have chronic diarrhea, it is important to seek a nutritionist to not only adapt your diet to the underlying disease, but also to assess the need to start using nutritional supplements to help you lose weight or regain weight, as well as taking vitamins. and minerals, if necessary.
It is important that food is easy to digest and absorb, and may include:
- Cooked vegetable soups and purées, which do not stimulate the intestines such as pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, chayote, potato, sweet potato;
- Green bananas and boiled or roasted fruits such as apples, peaches or pears;
- Rice or corn porridge;
- Cooked rice;
- Cooked or grilled white meats such as chicken or turkey;
- Cooked or grilled fish.
In addition, it is essential to drink about 2 liters of fluids a day such as water, tea, coconut water or strained fruit juices, and to take homemade whey or oral rehydration whey that can be found in pharmacies. These serums should be taken immediately after each bowel movement, in about the same amount that liquid is lost, this will prevent the loss of minerals and dehydration.
Check, in the following video, our nutritionist's guidelines of what to eat in diarrhea: