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Empiric Treatment of Chronic Diarrhea

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Diarrhea

Part of the book series: Clinical Gastroenterology ((CG))

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Summary

Diarrhea occurring for 4 or more weeks is deemed chronic. In an ideal world, it would be easy to identify and direct therapy to the underlying pathophysiology that is leading to chronic diarrhea, however, this is not always possible. Oral rehydration solutions play an important role in treating dehydration, which is one of the first aspects of chronic diarrhea that must be dealt with. Various medications can be used to help ameliorate the symptoms of chronic diarrhea or to treat the underlying mechanism involved. Some of these agents include silicates, bulk-forming agents, opiates, enkephalinase inhibitors, anticholinergics, somatostatin analogues, calcium channel blockers, and alpha 2- adrenergic agonists. Lastly, probiotics can be used in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea, travelers’ diarrhea, diarrhea-predominant IBS, ulcerative colitis, and in the prevention of pouchitis. For a more detailed discussion of the various treatment options available please refer to the corresponding chapters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA

    Maria Soriano MD

  2. Department of Medicine. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA

    Haleh Vaziri MD

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  1. Maria Soriano MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Celiac Disease Center, Div. Pediatric Gastroenterology,, University of Chicago, S. Maryland Ave. 5839, Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Stefano Guandalini

  2. Health Center, Div. Gastroenterology, University of Connecticut, Farmington Ave. 263, Farmington, 06030-1845, Connecticut, USA

    Haleh Vaziri

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Soriano, M., Vaziri, H. (2010). Empiric Treatment of Chronic Diarrhea. In: Guandalini, S., Vaziri, H. (eds) Diarrhea. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-183-7_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-183-7_26

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