Causes of Prolonged Diarrhea that Doesn't Cure

Prolonged diarrhea that occurs continuously for more than two weeks is referred to as chronic diarrhea. Most diarrhea can heal by itself without treatment and will stop within a few days. Then, what if diarrhea occurs prolonged? The following are the causes and how to overcome them. Diarrhea is characterized by an increased frequency of bowel movements and stools becoming runny. While in chronic diarrhea, symptoms can also occur in the form of nausea, abdominal pain, flatulence, fever, weakness, pain in the anus, and weight loss. Chronic or prolonged diarrhea that is not treated properly has the potential to cause dehydration.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Prolonged diarrhea or chronic diarrhea can be caused by various conditions, such as:

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is one of the common causes of chronic diarrhea. Symptoms of IBS are absent abdominal pain that occurs at least three days every month, accompanied by changes in the pattern of bowel movements (being watery or hard). In this condition, abdominal pain usually decreases after the stool comes out. IBS can be triggered by emotional stress or a history of infection.

2. Inflammatory bowel disease

There are two main types of inflammatory bowel disease, namely Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The main signs and symptoms of inflammation of the intestine are the presence of blood in the stool accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, and the form of feces that resembles a pencil.

3. Infection

Chronic diarrhea can be caused by bacterial, parasitic (worm and ameba), viral, and fungal infections. To determine the cause of the infection, the doctor needs to do a physical examination and supporting examinations, such as blood tests and stool examination. From the results of stool examination, it can be known the type of germ that causes prolonged diarrhea. People who suffer from AIDS, undergo chemotherapy, or take immunosuppressive drugs have a weak immune system, so they are susceptible to infection. Diarrhea is one of the symptoms most often experienced by people with the condition, and usually the diarrhea experienced is also more severe.

4. Hormone disorders

Hormonal disorders, for example in hyperthyroidism, can cause chronic diarrhea and weight loss.

5. Impaired absorption of nutrients

Malabsorption or impaired absorption of nutrients in food can also cause chronic diarrhea. Some examples of diseases that can cause this disorder are lactose intolerance, pancreatitis, and celiac disease. Patients with celiac disease are sensitive to gluten, so they will have diarrhea if they consume foods that contain this substance. Gluten is found mainly in foods made from wheat, such as bread, cakes, cereals, and pizza.

6. Medical procedures

Intestinal surgery (intestinal bypass) or gastric (gastric bypass) can cause complications in the form of diarrhea. In addition, radiation therapy to the digestive tract can also cause diarrhea.

7. Medicines

Some types of herbal medicines, for example tea from Senna leaves, have a laxative effect, which can cause diarrhea. Laxative drugs (laxatives), misoprostol, antacids, alcoholic drinks, and caffeine can also cause diarrhea. In addition, some types of antibiotics can cause prolonged diarrhea.

8. Colon cancer

One cause of prolonged diarrhea that needs to be aware of is colon cancer. In addition to diarrhea, the disease is characterized by blood in the stool, anemia, weakness, frequent bloating, and weight loss without apparent cause.

Diagnosis and Identification of the Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

To determine the cause of chronic diarrhea, a complete examination by a doctor is needed. The doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient, perform a physical examination, and recommend supporting examinations in the form of blood tests, examination of the stool (stool), endoscopy, X-ray or CT scan of the abdomen, and biopsy if necessary.

Chronic Diarrhea Medication

Prolonged diarrhea treatment depends on the cause. Chronic diarrhea medication can be in the form of antibiotics if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, antidiarrheal drugs, and administration of rehydration fluids, both in the form of drinks and intravenous fluids. The most important thing is to ensure that your nutritional and fluid needs are fulfilled during diarrhea, so that the body does not become dehydrated. Most diarrhea can heal by itself as long as treatment at home is adequate, but this generally applies to acute diarrhea. For chronic diarrhea, considering the causes can vary and may be dangerous, it requires examination and treatment from a doctor. Therefore, if you experience prolonged diarrhea, immediately consult a doctor.