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I Have Had Chronic Diarrhea For Many Months. Am Startingmto
Question: I have had chronic diarrhea for many months. Am startingmto get serious about ending this scourge. Thoughts.
Brief Answer:
Colonoscopy should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query.
I've gone through your details.
I am Dr Kumar and would be addressing your concerns.
As per your queries answer is see there are two possibilities-
Chronic bacterial / Protozoal infection in intestines called chronic gastroenteritis.
2-Irritable bowel syndrome.However IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion as there is no test to confirm you have IBS,It means that when you have nothing or all your investigations are normal but you are symptomatic.you are labelled as having IBS.
It is a common disorder affecting the large intestine. Abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhoea are some of the signs and symptoms of IBS. Not all symptoms are there in every patient.Foods, stress and other diseases can trigger the problem however the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet known but studies suggest that a lot of factors play a major role.
Suggestion
Go for the following tests-
Stool culture( not routine and microscopy test) to rule out bacterial/ Protozoal infection. If this test is normal.
Go for colonoscopy. Doctor is going to insert a flexible tube with camera on it to have a view of your intestines to rule out polyp or celiac disease.
Fecal calprotectin to rule out inflammation in gut.
Discuss this with your doctor and get these tests done so that medicines could be started accordingly.
Hope I was easy to understand,
Follow ups are welcome.
Do rate the answer.
Regards.
Colonoscopy should be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query.
I've gone through your details.
I am Dr Kumar and would be addressing your concerns.
As per your queries answer is see there are two possibilities-
Chronic bacterial / Protozoal infection in intestines called chronic gastroenteritis.
2-Irritable bowel syndrome.However IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion as there is no test to confirm you have IBS,It means that when you have nothing or all your investigations are normal but you are symptomatic.you are labelled as having IBS.
It is a common disorder affecting the large intestine. Abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhoea are some of the signs and symptoms of IBS. Not all symptoms are there in every patient.Foods, stress and other diseases can trigger the problem however the exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet known but studies suggest that a lot of factors play a major role.
Suggestion
Go for the following tests-
Stool culture( not routine and microscopy test) to rule out bacterial/ Protozoal infection. If this test is normal.
Go for colonoscopy. Doctor is going to insert a flexible tube with camera on it to have a view of your intestines to rule out polyp or celiac disease.
Fecal calprotectin to rule out inflammation in gut.
Discuss this with your doctor and get these tests done so that medicines could be started accordingly.
Hope I was easy to understand,
Follow ups are welcome.
Do rate the answer.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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