Chronic Diarrhea
The digestive disorder that causes watery or loose stools is called diarrhea. It’s a relatively common condition, with most people experiencing it at more than one point in their lives. These digestive bouts are typically acute and resolve themselves without complication or medication in a few days. However, if it persists for weeks, it becomes a more serious chronic condition. If untreated, chronic diarrhea may result in severe health problems. For this reason, it’s crucial to treat its underlying condition.
Some symptoms the condition usually presents are abdominal cramps, nausea, and bloating. However, the causes of chronic diarrhea can vary, from inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to gallstone obstructions. Generally, blood tests and stool samples are used to diagnose the primary cause of chronic diarrhea. If they cannot identify it, doctors may order a colonoscopy, a procedure that can examine the bowels to look for any abnormalities.
Chronic diarrhea treatment options will be based on the underlying problem, but anti-diarrheal medications are never viable long-term therapies. For example, healthcare professionals will give the ideal individual treatment method for those diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, gallstone obstruction, or pancreatitis.
