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__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
{{Chronic diarrhea}}
[[Image:Home_logo1.png|right|250px|link=https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Chronic_diarrhea]]
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{DAMI}}
'''''To review the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, click [[Diarrhea#Differential Diagnosis of Diarrhea of other diseases|here]].'''''
 
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{SSH}}, {{SMP}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
The differential diagnosis for chronic diarrhea is enormous, with a large number of diagnostic tests available that can be used to evaluate these patients. Classifying the patient with chronic diarrhea into a subcategory helps to direct the diagnostic work-up.
The [[differential diagnosis]] for [[chronic diarrhea]] is enormous, with a large number of diagnostic tests available that can be used to evaluate these patients. Classifying a patient's [[chronic diarrhea]] into a subcategory such as [[Watery diarrhea|watery]], fatty and [[inflammatory]] helps to direct the [[diagnostic]] work-up. Some [[Watery diarrhea|watery]] causes of chronic diarrhea which should be differentiated from one another include [[crohn's disease]], [[hyperthyroidism]], [[VIPoma]], [[lactose intolerance]], [[celiac disease]] and [[irritable bowel syndrome]] (IBS). The causes of fatty diarrhea that should be differentiated from one another include [[celiac sprue]], [[pancreatic insufficiency]], [[bacterial overgrowth]] and [[maldigestion]] problems which results from [[Pancreatic insufficiency|pancreatic exocrine insufficiency]]. Finally, the [[inflammatory]] causes of chronic diarrhea such as [[ulcerative colitis]] and [[entamoeba histolytica]] must also be differentiated.
 
==Differential diagnosis==
The tree diagram below gives a clear understanding as to how to asses a patient presenting with diarrhea lasting more than 4 weeks.


==Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Diarrhea from other diseases==
'''The following table outlines the major differential diagnoses of chronic diarrhea.'''<ref name="Casburn-JonesFarthing2004">{{cite journal|last1=Casburn-Jones|first1=Anna C|last2=Farthing|first2=Michael Jg|title=Traveler's diarrhea|journal=Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology|volume=19|issue=6|year=2004|pages=610–618|issn=0815-9319|doi=10.1111/j.1440-1746.2003.03287.x}}</ref><ref name="KamatMathur2006">{{cite journal|last1=Kamat|first1=Deepak|last2=Mathur|first2=Ambika|title=Prevention and Management of Travelers’ Diarrhea|journal=Disease-a-Month|volume=52|issue=7|year=2006|pages=289–302|issn=00115029|doi=10.1016/j.disamonth.2006.08.003}}</ref><ref name="PfeifferDuPont2012">{{cite journal|last1=Pfeiffer|first1=Margaret L.|last2=DuPont|first2=Herbert L.|last3=Ochoa|first3=Theresa J.|title=The patient presenting with acute dysentery – A systematic review|journal=Journal of Infection|volume=64|issue=4|year=2012|pages=374–386|issn=01634453|doi=10.1016/j.jinf.2012.01.006}}</ref><ref name="pmid24506120">{{cite journal |vauthors=Barr W, Smith A |title=Acute diarrhea |journal=Am Fam Physician |volume=89 |issue=3 |pages=180–9 |year=2014 |pmid=24506120 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid29255768">{{cite journal |vauthors=Amil Dias J |title=Celiac Disease: What Do We Know in 2017? |journal=GE Port J Gastroenterol |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=275–278 |year=2017 |pmid=29255768 |doi=10.1159/000479881 |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid29254859">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kotloff KL, Riddle MS, Platts-Mills JA, Pavlinac P, Zaidi AKM |title=Shigellosis |journal=Lancet |volume= |issue= |pages= |year=2017 |pmid=29254859 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33296-8 |url=}}</ref><ref name="Yamamoto-FurushoBosques-Padilla2017">{{cite journal|last1=Yamamoto-Furusho|first1=J.K.|last2=Bosques-Padilla|first2=F.|last3=de-Paula|first3=J.|last4=Galiano|first4=M.T.|last5=Ibañez|first5=P.|last6=Juliao|first6=F.|last7=Kotze|first7=P.G.|last8=Rocha|first8=J.L.|last9=Steinwurz|first9=F.|last10=Veitia|first10=G.|last11=Zaltman|first11=C.|title=Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: Primer Consenso Latinoamericano de la Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation|journal=Revista de Gastroenterología de México|volume=82|issue=1|year=2017|pages=46–84|issn=03750906|doi=10.1016/j.rgmx.2016.07.003}}</ref><ref name="BorbélyOsterwalder2017">{{cite journal|last1=Borbély|first1=Yves M|last2=Osterwalder|first2=Alice|last3=Kröll|first3=Dino|last4=Nett|first4=Philipp C|last5=Inglin|first5=Roman A|title=Diarrhea after bariatric procedures: Diagnosis and therapy|journal=World Journal of Gastroenterology|volume=23|issue=26|year=2017|pages=4689|issn=1007-9327|doi=10.3748/wjg.v23.i26.4689}}</ref><ref name="CrawfordRamani2017">{{cite journal|last1=Crawford|first1=Sue E.|last2=Ramani|first2=Sasirekha|last3=Tate|first3=Jacqueline E.|last4=Parashar|first4=Umesh D.|last5=Svensson|first5=Lennart|last6=Hagbom|first6=Marie|last7=Franco|first7=Manuel A.|last8=Greenberg|first8=Harry B.|last9=O'Ryan|first9=Miguel|last10=Kang|first10=Gagandeep|last11=Desselberger|first11=Ulrich|last12=Estes|first12=Mary K.|title=Rotavirus infection|journal=Nature Reviews Disease Primers|volume=3|year=2017|pages=17083|issn=2056-676X|doi=10.1038/nrdp.2017.83}}</ref><ref name="pmid11068510">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kist M |title=[Chronic diarrhea: value of microbiology in diagnosis] |language=German |journal=Praxis (Bern 1994) |volume=89 |issue=39 |pages=1559–65 |year=2000 |pmid=11068510 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid4014291">{{cite journal |vauthors=Guerrant RL, Shields DS, Thorson SM, Schorling JB, Gröschel DH |title=Evaluation and diagnosis of acute infectious diarrhea |journal=Am. J. Med. |volume=78 |issue=6B |pages=91–8 |year=1985 |pmid=4014291 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid10575169">{{cite journal |vauthors=López-Vélez R, Turrientes MC, Garrón C, Montilla P, Navajas R, Fenoy S, del Aguila C |title=Microsporidiosis in travelers with diarrhea from the tropics |journal=J Travel Med |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=223–7 |year=1999 |pmid=10575169 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="WahnschaffeIgnatius2009">{{cite journal|last1=Wahnschaffe|first1=Ulrich|last2=Ignatius|first2=Ralf|last3=Loddenkemper|first3=Christoph|last4=Liesenfeld|first4=Oliver|last5=Muehlen|first5=Marion|last6=Jelinek|first6=Thomas|last7=Burchard|first7=Gerd Dieter|last8=Weinke|first8=Thomas|last9=Harms|first9=Gundel|last10=Stein|first10=Harald|last11=Zeitz|first11=Martin|last12=Ullrich|first12=Reiner|last13=Schneider|first13=Thomas|title=Diagnostic value of endoscopy for the diagnosis of giardiasis and other intestinal diseases in patients with persistent diarrhea from tropical or subtropical areas|journal=Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology|volume=42|issue=3|year=2009|pages=391–396|issn=0036-5521|doi=10.1080/00365520600881193}}</ref><ref name="pmid27765536">{{cite journal |vauthors=Mena Bares LM, Carmona Asenjo E, García Sánchez MV, Moreno Ortega E, Maza Muret FR, Guiote Moreno MV, Santos Bueno AM, Iglesias Flores E, Benítez Cantero JM, Vallejo Casas JA |title=75SeHCAT scan in bile acid malabsorption in chronic diarrhoea |journal=Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=37–47 |year=2017 |pmid=27765536 |doi=10.1016/j.remn.2016.08.005 |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid19365159">{{cite journal |vauthors=Gibson RJ, Stringer AM |title=Chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea |journal=Curr Opin Support Palliat Care |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=31–5 |year=2009 |pmid=19365159 |doi=10.1097/SPC.0b013e32832531bb |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid23384808">{{cite journal |vauthors=Abraham BP, Sellin JH |title=Drug-induced, factitious, & idiopathic diarrhoea |journal=Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol |volume=26 |issue=5 |pages=633–48 |year=2012 |pmid=23384808 |doi=10.1016/j.bpg.2012.11.007 |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid25692805">{{cite journal |vauthors=Reintam Blaser A, Deane AM, Fruhwald S |title=Diarrhoea in the critically ill |journal=Curr Opin Crit Care |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=142–53 |year=2015 |pmid=25692805 |doi=10.1097/MCC.0000000000000188 |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid17373914">{{cite journal |vauthors=McMahan ZH, DuPont HL |title=Review article: the history of acute infectious diarrhoea management--from poorly focused empiricism to fluid therapy and modern pharmacotherapy |journal=Aliment. 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I. The apparent identical and specific nature of the duodenal and proximal jejunal lesion in celiac disease and idiopathic sprue. | journal=Gastroenterology | year= 1960 | volume= 38 | issue=  | pages= 28-49 | pmid=14439871 | doi= | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=14439871  }}</ref><ref name="pmid8209928">{{cite journal| author=Konvolinka CW| title=Acute diverticulitis under age forty. | journal=Am J Surg | year= 1994 | volume= 167 | issue= 6 | pages= 562-5 | pmid=8209928 | doi= | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=8209928  }} </ref><ref name="pmid16698746">{{cite journal| author=Satsangi J, Silverberg MS, Vermeire S, Colombel JF| title=The Montreal classification of inflammatory bowel disease: controversies, consensus, and implications. | journal=Gut | year= 2006 | volume= 55 | issue= 6 | pages= 749-53 | pmid=16698746 | doi=10.1136/gut.2005.082909 | pmc=1856208 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=16698746  }} </ref><ref name="pmid12700377">{{cite journal| author=Haque R, Huston CD, Hughes M, Houpt E, Petri WA| title=Amebiasis. | journal=N Engl J Med | year= 2003 | volume= 348 | issue= 16 | pages= 1565-73 | pmid=12700377 | doi=10.1056/NEJMra022710 | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=12700377  }} </ref><ref name="pmid8694025">{{cite journal| author=Hertzler SR, Savaiano DA| title=Colonic adaptation to daily lactose feeding in lactose maldigesters reduces lactose intolerance. | journal=Am J Clin Nutr | year= 1996 | volume= 64 | issue= 2 | pages= 232-6 | pmid=8694025 | doi= | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=8694025  }} </ref><ref name="pmid9414969">{{cite journal| author=Briet F, Pochart P, Marteau P, Flourie B, Arrigoni E, Rambaud JC| title=Improved clinical tolerance to chronic lactose ingestion in subjects with lactose intolerance: a placebo effect? | journal=Gut | year= 1997 | volume= 41 | issue= 5 | pages= 632-5 | pmid=9414969 | doi= | pmc=1891556 | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=9414969  }} </ref><ref name="pmid15391722">{{cite journal| author=BLACK-SCHAFFER B| title=The tinctoral demonstration of a glycoprotein in Whipple's disease. | journal=Proc Soc Exp Biol Med | year= 1949 | volume= 72 | issue= 1 | pages= 225-7 | pmid=15391722 | doi= | pmc= | url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=15391722  }} </ref>


{{familytree/start}}
<span style="font-size:85%">'''Abbreviations:''' '''GI:''' [[Gastrointestinal tract|Gastrointestinal]], '''CBC''': [[Complete blood count]], '''WBC:''' [[White blood cells|White blood cell]], '''RBC''': [[Red blood cell]], '''Plt:''' [[Platelet]], '''Hgb:''' [[Hemoglobin]], '''ESR''': [[Erythrocyte sedimentation rate]], '''CRP''': [[C-reactive protein|C–reactive protein]], '''IgE:''' [[Immunoglobulin E]], '''IgA:''' [[Immunoglobulin A]], '''ETEC:''' [[Escherichia coli enteritis]], '''EPEC''': [[Escherichia coli|Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli]], '''EIEC''': [[Escherichia coli enteritis|Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli]], '''EHEC''': [[Escherichia coli|Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli]], '''EAEC''': [[Escherichia coli enteritis|Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli]], '''Nl''': Normal, '''ASCA''': [[Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies]], '''ANCA''': [[Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody|Anti–neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody]], '''DNA''': [[DNA|Deoxyribonucleic acid]], '''CFTR''': [[Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator]], '''SLC10A2''': [[SLC10A2|Solute carrier family 10 member 2]], '''SeHCAT''': [[SeHCAT|Selenium homocholic acid taurine or tauroselcholic acid]], '''IEL''': Intraepithelial [[Lymphocyte|lymphocytes]], '''MRCP''': [[Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography]], '''ANA''': [[Antinuclear antibodies]], '''AMA''': [[Anti-mitochondrial antibody]], '''LDH''': [[Lactate dehydrogenase]], '''CPK''': [[Creatine phosphokinase]], '''PCR''': [[Polymerase chain reaction]], '''ELISA''': [[Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)|Enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay]], '''LT''': Heat–labile [[enterotoxin]], ST: Heat–stable [[enterotoxin]], '''RT-PCR''': Reverse–transcriptase [[polymerase chain reaction]], '''CD4:''' [[CD4|Cluster of differentiation 4]], '''HIV''': [[Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)|Human immunodeficiency virus]], '''RUQ''': [[RUQ|Right-upper quadrant]], '''VIP''': [[Vasoactive intestinal peptide]], '''GI:''' [[Gastrointestinal tract|Gastrointestinal]], '''FAP''': [[Familial adenomatous polyposis]], '''HNPCC''': [[Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer]], '''MTP''': [[Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein]], '''Scl‑70''': Anti–[[Type I topoisomerase|topoisomerase I]], '''TSH''': [[Thyroid-stimulating hormone]], '''T4''': [[Thyroxine]], '''T3''': [[Triiodothyronine]], '''DTR''': [[Deep tendon reflex]], '''RNA''': [[RNA|Ribonucleic acid]]</span>   
{{familytree | | | A01 | | | A01= Adults with chronic diarrhea (> 4 weeks)}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | }}
{{familytree | | | B01 | | | B01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 36em; width: 30em; padding:1em;"> '''Characterize the symptoms:'''<br>
❑ Onset (congenital, abrupt or gradual) <br> ❑ Pattern (continuous or intermittent) <br> ❑ Duration <br> ❑ Stool characteristics (watery, bloody or fatty) <br> ❑ [[Fever]] <br> ❑ [[Abdominal pain]] <br> ❑ [[Weight loss]] <br> ❑ Fecal incontinence
----
'''Obtain a detailed history:'''<br>
❑ Aggravating factors ([[diet]] or [[stress]]) <br> ❑ Over-the-counter drugs or use of prescription <br> ❑ Previous evaluations (objective records, radiograms or [[biopsy]] specimens) <br> ❑ Radiation therapy or surgery <br> ❑ Factitious diarrhea (eating disorders, laxative ingestion, [[secondary gain]] or [[malingering]]) <br> ❑ Systemic disease ([[cancer]], [[diabetes]], [[HIV]], [[hyperthyroidism]]) <br>
----
'''Elicit the epidemiological factors:'''<br>
❑ Travel before the onset of illness <br>
❑ Exposure to contaminated food or water <br>
❑ Illness in other family members </div>}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | }}
{{familytree | | | C01 | | | C01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 29em; width: 30em; padding:1em;"> '''Examine the patient:'''<br>
'''Assess the volume status:''' <br>
❑ General condition <br>
❑ Thirst <br>
[[Pulse]] <br>
[[Blood pressure]] <br>
❑ Eyes <br>
❑ Mucosa
----
'''Perform a general physical exam:'''<br>
❑ Skin ([[flushing]], [[rash]]es or dermatographism) <br> ❑ Oral cavity (ulcers) <br> ❑ Cardiovascular system (murmur)<br> ❑ Respiratory system (wheezing) <br> ❑ [[Thyroid]] (mass) <br> ❑ [[Abdomen]] ([[ascites]], [[hepatomegaly]], mass or tenderness) <br> ❑ Anorectal ([[Abscess]], blood, [[fistula]] or sphincter competence) <br> ❑ Extremities ([[edema]]) </div>}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | }}
{{familytree | | | D01 | | | | D01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 12em; width: 30em; padding:1em;"> '''Order routine laboratory tests:'''
[[CBC|CBC and differential]] <br> ❑ [[ESR]] <br> ❑ [[Serum electrolytes]]<br> ❑ Total serum [[protein]] and [[albumin]] <br> ❑ [[Thyroid function tests]] <br> ❑ [[Urinalysis]] <br>
</div>}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | }}
{{familytree | | | D10 | | | | D10= <div style="float: left; text-align: left"> '''Start altered diet:'''<br> ❑ Stop lactose products <br> ❑  Avoid alcohol and high osmolar supplements <br> ❑ Drink 8-10 large glasses of clear fluids (fruit juices, soft drinks etc) <br> ❑ Eat frequent small meals (rice, potato, banana, pastas etc) <br>
----
'''Start [[oral rehydration therapy]] or [[intravenous fluids]] depending on the hydration status'''</div>}}
{{familytree | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | D02 | | | | | D02 = '''Any specific obvious diagnosis through history and examination?'''}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | }}
{{familytree | D03 | | D04 | | D03= <div style="float: left; text-align: left; width: 30em; padding:1em;">Yes </div>| D04=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; width: 30em; padding:1em;">No </div>}}
{{familytree | |!| | | |!| | }}
{{familytree | D05 | | |!| | D05= <div style="float: left; text-align: left; height: 22em; width: 30em; padding:1em;"> '''Chronic infection (outbreaks or endemic areas)'''<br> ❑ Trial of oral [[metronidazole]] 500 mg TID for 5 days for protozoal diarrhea<br> ❑ Oral [[ciprofloxacin]] 500 mg BD X 3 days for enteric bacterial diarrhea
-----
'''Medication induced:''' <br>
❑ Discontinuation of the drug
-----
'''Irritable bowel syndrome''' (chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of any organic disorder)<br>
❑ Trial of antispasmodic agents (oral [[dicyclomine]] 20 mg QID),OR <br>
[[Tricyclic antidepressant|TCA's]]([[amitriptyline]] 10-25 mg OD), OR <br>
[[SSRI]] ([[fluoxetine]] 20-40 mg OD), OR <br>
❑ [[Rifaximin]]</div>}}
{{familytree | |!| | | |!| | }}
{{familytree | E01 | | |!| | E01= No resolution of the diarrhea}}
{{familytree | |`|-|v|-|'| | }}
{{familytree | | | F01 | | | F01=<div style="float: left; text-align: left; line-height: 150% "> '''Order stool analysis:'''<br>
[[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Fecal Weight|Stool weight]] <br> ❑ [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Stool Osmotic Gap|Stool electrolytes and fecal osmotic gap]] <br> ❑ [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Fecal pH|Stool pH]] <br> ❑ [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Occult Blood|Fecal occult blood testing]] <br> ❑ [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#White Blood Cells|Stool WBC's]] <br> ❑ Stool fat: [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Fecal Fat Concentration and Output|Quantitative]] / [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Sudan Stain for Fat|Sudan stain]] <br> ❑ [[Diarrhea laboratory findings#Analysis for Laxatives|Laxative screen]] </div>}}
{{familytree/end}}
This management is as per the American Gastroenterological Association guidelines for the evaluation and management of chronic diarrhea.<ref name="pmid10348831">{{cite journal| author=| title=American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: guidelines for the evaluation and management of chronic diarrhea. | journal=Gastroenterology | year= 1999 | volume= 116 | issue= 6 | pages= 1461-3 | pmid=10348831 | doi= | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=10348831 }} </ref>
<br>


===Additional Management===
{| class="wikitable" style="border: 0px; font-size: 100%; margin: 3px;" align="center"
It is important to differentiate chronic diarrhea based on the kind of diarrhea that is produced. Chronic diarrhea can be subdivided into three major types; [[Watery diarrhea|watery]], [[Steatorrhea|fatty]]
! colspan="2" rowspan="5" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Cause
| colspan="9" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |'''Clinical manifestation'''
! colspan="9" rowspan="3" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |'''Lab findings'''
! rowspan="5" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Extra intestinal findings
! rowspan="5" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Cause/Pathogenesis
! rowspan="5" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Gold standard diagnosis
|-
! colspan="8" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Symptoms
! rowspan="4" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |GI signs
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Duration
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Diarrhea
! rowspan="3" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Fever
! rowspan="3" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Abdominal pain
! rowspan="3" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Weight loss
|-
! colspan="5" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Stool exam
| colspan="3" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |'''CBC'''
! rowspan="2" style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Other lab findings
|-
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Acute
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Chronic
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Watery
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Bloody
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Fatty
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |WBC
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |RBC
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Ova/Parasite
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Osmotic gap
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Other
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |WBC
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Hgb
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF;" align="center" |Plt
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#DCDCDC;" align="center" |[[Crohns disease|Crohn's disease]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | –
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | ±
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* [[Abdominal tenderness]]
* Oral [[mucosal]] lesions
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | –
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | Nl
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | –
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" |↑
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" |↓
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" |↑
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* [[Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies]] (ASCA)
* [[Vitamin B12]] deficiency
* Elevated [[erythrocyte sedimentation rate|ESR]]
* Elevated [[C-reactive protein|CRP]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* [[Uveitis]]
* [[Arthritis]]
* [[Erythema nodosum]]
* [[Pyoderma gangrenosum]]
* [[Amyloidosis]]
* Venous and arterial [[thromboembolism]]
* [[Kidney stone|Renal stones]]
* [[Bronchiectasis]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* Abnormal immune response to self [[antigens]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* [[Colonoscopy]] with [[biopsy]]
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#DCDCDC;" align="center" |[[Ulcerative colitis]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | –
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | ±
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="left" |
* [[Abdominal tenderness]]
* [[Blood]] on [[rectal examination]]
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | +
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | –
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center" | Nl
| style="padding: 5px 5px; background: #F5F5F5;" align="center


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{WH}}
{{WS}}

Latest revision as of 23:00, 8 February 2019

To review the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, click here.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sadaf Sharfaei M.D.[2], Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [3]

Overview

The differential diagnosis for chronic diarrhea is enormous, with a large number of diagnostic tests available that can be used to evaluate these patients. Classifying a patient's chronic diarrhea into a subcategory such as watery, fatty and inflammatory helps to direct the diagnostic work-up. Some watery causes of chronic diarrhea which should be differentiated from one another include crohn's disease, hyperthyroidism, VIPoma, lactose intolerance, celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The causes of fatty diarrhea that should be differentiated from one another include celiac sprue, pancreatic insufficiency, bacterial overgrowth and maldigestion problems which results from pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Finally, the inflammatory causes of chronic diarrhea such as ulcerative colitis and entamoeba histolytica must also be differentiated.

Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Diarrhea from other diseases

The following table outlines the major differential diagnoses of chronic diarrhea.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]

Abbreviations: GI: Gastrointestinal, CBC: Complete blood count, WBC: White blood cell, RBC: Red blood cell, Plt: Platelet, Hgb: Hemoglobin, ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP: C–reactive protein, IgE: Immunoglobulin E, IgA: Immunoglobulin A, ETEC: Escherichia coli enteritis, EPEC: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, EIEC: Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, EHEC: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, EAEC: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, Nl: Normal, ASCA: Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies, ANCA: Anti–neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, CFTR: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, SLC10A2: Solute carrier family 10 member 2, SeHCAT: Selenium homocholic acid taurine or tauroselcholic acid, IEL: Intraepithelial lymphocytes, MRCP: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, ANA: Antinuclear antibodies, AMA: Anti-mitochondrial antibody, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase, CPK: Creatine phosphokinasePCR: Polymerase chain reaction, ELISA: Enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay, LT: Heat–labile enterotoxin, ST: Heat–stable enterotoxin, RT-PCR: Reverse–transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, CD4: Cluster of differentiation 4, HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus, RUQ: Right-upper quadrant, VIP: Vasoactive intestinal peptide, GI: Gastrointestinal, FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis, HNPCC: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, MTP: Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, Scl‑70: Anti–topoisomerase I, TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone, T4: Thyroxine, T3: Triiodothyronine, DTR: Deep tendon reflex, RNA: Ribonucleic acid

Cause Clinical manifestation Lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Symptoms GI signs
Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss
Stool exam CBC Other lab findings
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Crohn's disease + + + + ± + + + + Nl
  • Abnormal immune response to self antigens
Ulcerative colitis + + + + ± + + + + Nl
  • Abnormal immune response to self antigens
Celiac disease + ± ± + + Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Cystic fibrosis + + ± + + Nl Nl Nl
Chronic pancreatitis + + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Bile acid malabsorption + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Microscopic colitis + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Infective colitis + + + + + + + + + Nl
Ischemic colitis + + + + + + + + + Nl
Lactose intolerance + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Lactose tolerance test
  • Genetic testing
  • Reduction of lactase enzyme activity or inability to produce persistent lactase
  • Congenital lactase deficiency
  • Secondary lactose malabsorption
Irritable bowel syndrome + ± ± ± Nl Nl Nl Nl Nl
  • Unknown
  • Diagnosis of exclusion
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Whipple's disease + + + ± + + Nl ↓/↑
Tropical sprue + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Diagnosis of exclusion
Small bowel bacterial overgrowth + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Diagnosis of exclusion
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Salmonellosis + + + + + + + + Nl Nl
Escherichia coli enteritis EPEC + + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
EAEC + + + + + + + Nl
Aeromonas + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Mycobacterium avium complex + + + + + + + + Nl Nl
CMV colitis + + + ± + + + Nl
  • Viral antigen assay
Nl Nl
HIV + + + + + + Nl Nl
  • HIV virologic (viral load) test
  • Immunoassay 
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Entamoeba histolytica + + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Antigen testing
  • Serology 
Giardia + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
  • Antigen detection assays
Cryptosporidium + + + + + Nl
  • Positive stool microscopy
Nl Nl Nl
  • Polymerase chain reaction
Microsporidia + + + + + + Nl
  • Positive stool microscopy
Nl Nl Nl
  • Decreased CD4 count
  • Antigen detection assays
Isospora + + + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Detecting oocysts in the feces
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Carcinoid tumor + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
VIPoma + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Primary secretory tumor
  • Blood VIP levels
  • Followed by imaging
Zollinger–Ellison syndrome + + + + + + Nl Nl
Somatostatinoma + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Lymphoma + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Primary tumor of GI tract
Colorectal cancer + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Medications + + + ± ± + + ↑/↓ Nl Nl
  • Elevated plasma level of drug
  • Clinical evaluation after discontinuation of the drugs
Factitious diarrhea + + + + + ↑/↓ Nl Nl Nl
  • Clinical evaluation after discontinuation of the drugs
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Heavy metal ingestion + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
  • Elevated plasma heavy metal level
  • Plasma level of heavy metal
Organophosphate poisoning + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
  • Clinical diagnosis
Opium withdrawal + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Short bowel syndrome + + + + + Nl Nl
Radiation enteritis + + + + + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Dumping syndrome + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings Cause/Pathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis
Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC Ova/Parasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt
Abetalipoproteinemia + + + + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Hyperthyroidism + + ± + + Nl Nl Nl Nl
Diabetic neuropathy + + + + + Nl Nl Nl
Systemic sclerosis + + ± + + + + Nl Nl Nl
  • Clinical diagnosis
  • Followed by serologic tests

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