Functional diarrhea.

Jan Tack

Journal: Gastroenterology clinics of North America 2013;41(3):629-37

PMID: 22917168

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Chronic diarrhea is a frequent and challenging problem in clinical medicine. In a considerable subgroup of these, no underlying cause is identified and this is referred to as functional diarrhea. A consensus definition for functional diarrhea is based on loose stool consistency and chronicity and absence of coexisting irritable bowel syndrome. Underlying pathophysiology includes rapid intestinal transit, which may be worsened by stress or be triggered by a preceding infectious gastroenteritis. Diagnostic work-up aims at exclusion of underlying organic disease. Treatment starts with dietary adjustments, aiming at decreasing nutrients that enhance transit and stool and at identifying precipitating food items.

Address: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2012.06.007

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MeSH Terms: Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Antidiarrheals, Bismuth, Carbon, Cholestyramine Resin, Chronic Disease, Clonidine, Diarrhea, Humans, Octreotide, Organometallic Compounds, Oxides, Probiotics, Receptors, Opioid, Salicylates, Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists, Thiorphan