Constant diarrhea, lasting 4 weeks or more, may be a symptom of several diseases and disorders in the digestive system. Chronic diarrhea can be caused by cancer, virus infections, bacteria and parasites, malabsorption (celiac disease, lactose intolerance), irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, microscopic colitis, among others.
Surgical removal of the gallbladder can also cause constant diarrhea due to the increased amount of bile acids in the intestine after surgery. Patients with low immunity are often affected by chronic infections that also cause diarrhea.
In order to diagnose the origin of intestinal derangement, the doctor will take into account the consistency, color, smell and quantity of feces, as well as the presence of blood and fat in them.
It is also important to observe the duration of the diarrhea, if there is urgency in the evacuation, if the patient can control or not, if there is weight loss, fever, body wounds, joint pain, among other symptoms.
The diagnosis is confirmed through tests such as blood count, lactose and gluten tolerance tests, biopsy, endoscopy, colonoscopy, among others.
Since constant diarrhea can be a symptom of serious illness, it is very important to seek help as soon as possible. If the diarrhea lasts more than 4 weeks, consult the general practitioner or family doctor for evaluation and treatment.
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