What are the causes of chronic diarrhea?

Chronic diarrhea may be a disease but can also be a sign of other chronic diseases. Bowel disease, pancreatic disease, reactions to certain substances, food allergies, ... The reasons are many but the main ones to know.

We're talking about chronic diarrhea when beeps more than 3 loose stools per day for more than 3 to 4 weeks. Theoretically, chronic diarrhea is characterized by an average weight greater than 300g / d stool.

Chronic diarrhea may be associated with fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting or bloody stools. The presence of these signs warrants an emergency consultation.

The causes are many, diarrhea may be a sign of disease or constitute itself a disease. However, the doctor is only able to distinguish the type of diarrhea by the patient and investigate the cause.

There are several forms of chronic diarrhea, but the most common are water diarrhea or diarrhea without malabsorption. We talk about

- Diarrhea driving when stools are frequent and numerous, with urgent and related to an acceleration of intestinal transit needs. Diarrhea often occurs in the morning or after a meal. This type of diarrhea is mainly encountered in functional bowel disorders, hyperthyroidism, rarely diabetes, amyloidosis, or carcinoid syndrome.

- Secretory diarrhea when stools are frequent and appear even if the subject is fasting. Colitis is the main condition manifested by a secretory diarrhea. However, certain medications such as digitalis, biguanides or excessive use of laxatives can cause this type of diarrhea.

- Osmotic diarrhea when stools are frequent but stop when the subject is fasting. Lactase deficiency is the main cause of this type of diarrhea, which often occurs after ingestion of milk.

Other major causes are also sought:

- Infections (parasitosis example)

- Ulcerative colitis

- Crohn's Disease

- Celiac disease

- The diverticula

- Colorectal cancer

- Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer

- The cholestasis

- The irritable bowel

- Lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance

- Food allergies