Chronic diarrhoea

 

Causes of chronic diarrhoea

If you experience diarrhoea that occurs over and over again for one month or more, you have what’s known as ‘chronic diarrhoea’.

 

As your body continues to lose precious fluids and nutrients through watery stools, you may become weak and dehydrated, so it’s important to seek advice from your GP.

 

To find out the cause of your chronic diarrhoea, your GP may ask for a stool sample to investigate for bacteria or parasites. They may also take blood tests or refer you for a ‘sigmoidoscopy’, when a thin fibre optic tube, attached to a viewing lens, is used to look inside the intestine.

 

Some causes of chronic diarrhoea include:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• HIV/AIDS infections and medications
• Cancer and cancer treatments

Although it can be a worrying time, discovering the cause will help you understand how you can start feeling better again.