Diarrhea for a month in an adult causes. Prolonged diarrhea. Consequences of prolonged diarrhea

What can cause prolonged loose stools? different pathological conditions. It can be provoked by inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, malignant neoplasms, ischemic pathologies intestinal tract, diseases associated with a lack of enzymes, anatomical functional insufficiency of organs located in abdominal cavity. Very often, prolonged diarrhea (diarrhea) occurs due to damage to the intestines, the presence immune diseases lasting for a long time, drug intolerance. To understand what to do in such a situation, only a qualified doctor will help.

Causes of prolonged diarrhea

Common causes of prolonged diarrhea are non-compliance with diet rules, therapeutic fasting, permanent reception agents that inhibit the peristalsis of the intestinal tract. Diarrhea may occur due to hormonal disruptions, the development of certain brain diseases. Arise on long time loose stools may be due to surgical interventions in the gastrointestinal tract, in the presence of irritable bowel syndrome, systemic sclerosis. Some medications are capable of provoking loose stools - antacids and cholinomimetic tablets.

It is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and understand what to do only after a thorough medical examination and taking a general history. Detailed clinical picture- the key to identifying provocateur factors and building not a temporary, but permanent scheme treatment.

Features of the clinic for prolonged loose stools

So, for example, prolonged diarrhea in an adult and a child can occur against the background of abdominal pain, severe rumbling in the intestines, permanent bloating abdomen, fever and systematic weight loss. It is imperative to consult a doctor if there is a long liquid stool with blood, or with large quantity pus secreted during emptying. With a lack of enzymes in liquid stools, there are residues undigested food. Often prolonged diarrhea does not cause any pain discomfort is the only inconvenience you have to put up with. To eliminate it, it is necessary to identify the causes of malaise. Laboratory tests will help to do this.

The following laboratory tests are used to identify the causes of prolonged diarrhea:

In addition, it is possible to use instrumental diagnostics during the examination. Identify provocateurs liquid stool helps irrigography, rectocolonoscopy, biopsy, which allows to detect an oncological cause of prolonged malaise. It helps to find out factors provocateurs of prolonged diarrhea in adult patients, as well as in children. differential diagnosis. It also allows you to outline the correct line of treatment and eliminate indigestion.

How to treat prolonged diarrhea?

In an adult and a child during an exacerbation effective treatment prolonged diarrhea is carried out in a complex manner. The patient during therapy is prescribed:

• Medications that can eliminate the symptoms associated with prolonged diarrhea. A patient with prolonged diarrhea may be prescribed pain medication, special means against diarrhea. Phytotherapy is actively included in the treatment process ( medicinal herbs, teas and infusions).
• A diet that can slow down intestinal motility and prevent loose stools during an exacerbation. Both adults and children are advised to exclude from the diet foods that stimulate the motor-evacuation function of the intestine, as well as those dishes that enhance secretory function intestines. The basis of the diet should be dishes prepared from lean meat, boiled allowed lean fish, lean soups, kissels, baked apples.
• motor regulators.
• An important part of therapy is the restoration of water-salt balance.

Loose stools can occur for a long time different reasons. In the absence of therapy, prolonged diarrhea, in best case, will simply reduce the quality of life, at worst - malaise will lead to the first signs of dehydration. With prolonged diarrhea, it is disturbed water-salt balance, along with loose stools, useful microelements, important nutrients leave the body. Such a loss can provoke disruptions in the work of vital important systems organism. That is why, any indigestion and loose stools should not be ignored. It is important to seek help from specialists in time and strictly observe the principles of complex therapy.

Doctors note that it is necessary to treat every attack of indigestion and diarrhea. If at the very a short time start therapy, the less often an exacerbation will appear, the more real it is to avoid the most dangerous complication- dehydration of the body. Knowing what can cause prolonged loose stools, it is easy to do everything necessary measures to prevent the appearance of an undesirable clinical picture.

Diarrhea (medical name - diarrheal syndrome, diarrhea) is an acute or chronic disorder digestive tract, characterized by frequent and profuse defecation and liquefaction of the stool to a watery consistency. In children, diarrhea can be triggered by the introduction of complementary foods, intestinal infections, the use of low-quality foods and raw water. In adults, diarrhea usually occurs as a result of food poisoning, poisoning, the introduction of foods that are not typical for the region of residence (for example, while on vacation in southern countries). Acute diarrhea can last up to 2 weeks and is accompanied by painful spasms in the lower abdomen, fever, vomiting.

Persistent diarrhea lasting more than 14 days or occurring intermittently over a long period of time, is almost always a symptom various violations in work digestive system. chronic diarrhea is not very common: according to WHO, no more than 14% of people suffer from prolonged diarrhea, with more than half of them being men. Persistent diarrhea in an adult male that lasts for a long time - danger sign, which may indicate surgical pathologies requiring emergency hospitalization, such as Crohn's disease. If the stool cannot be normalized within 5-7 days, it is necessary to consult a doctor, even if nothing else bothers the patient.

Chronic diarrhea is diagnosed if the patient's stool has a watery consistency for 14 days or more. All patients who come to the doctor with such complaints, in without fail sent to the study of feces for worm eggs, coprogram and analysis for enterobiasis. The coprogram is universal chemical method fecal examination, which allows you to identify signs of inflammatory and infectious processes and symptoms of malabsorption various substances. The following are the main causes that can lead to prolonged diarrhea in adult men, but you cannot rely on these data and make a diagnosis yourself - this should be done by a specialist after studying the results of the initial diagnosis.

Infection with worms

irritable bowel syndrome

IBS, according to most experts, is psychosomatic in nature, although exact reasons pathology has not yet been established. Great importance have the social and living conditions of a man, the degree of his social activity, the state of the central and vegetative nervous system. Irritable bowel syndrome may present as chronic constipation, and prolonged diarrhea, so it is important to know the symptoms of the pathology and the basics of treatment.

In addition to a violation of the stool, the following signs may indicate IBS:

• painful cramps in the lower abdomen;
• flatulence, increased gas formation, "rumbling" in the stomach "
• false urge to empty the bowels;
• lack of relief after defecation.

For the treatment of IBS, a man will have to follow a diet that limits the use of foods containing a large amount of purines or purine acid. These are various nuts, seeds, raw vegetables(especially cabbage and sorrel), legumes, some types of cereals (oatmeal, barley). Alcoholic drinks, lemonades and soda mineral water should be completely eliminated from the diet.

From medicines shows the intake of prebiotic cultures and probiotics. Complex action Possess capsules and powder " Enterol". The drug restores the intestinal microflora, stimulates the growth of its own beneficial flora, destroys pathogenic bacteria, and normalizes stools. The dosage for an adult male is 2 capsules per day. Duration of admission - from 10 to 30 days.

Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the parenchymal tissue of the pancreas involving the mucosal and submucosal layers. Chronic pancreatitis occurs in about 20% of men. The main risk group includes men who make errors in nutrition, abusing fatty and spicy food, alcoholic beverages. Heavy smokers, people with chronic diseases, forced to constantly take potent drugs, also have increased risk inflammation of the pancreas and other digestive organs.

Exacerbation of pathology leads to the emergence severe symptoms, among which:

• spicy pain syndrome in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium;
• prolonged diarrhea with watery or frothy stools;
• profuse vomiting (may contain impurities bile acids and lumps of undigested food);
• temperature rise.

One of the most serious consequences pancreatitis is pancreatic fibrosis - the growth of the connective fibers of the organ with the formation of scar elements. Diarrhea with fibrosis of the pancreas in men can last more than 20 days in a row.

Important! Outside of an exacerbation of pancreatitis, the patient also often suffers from prolonged diarrhea, which in some cases may be the only clinical sign pathology.

Can diarrhea last more than 10 days with infectious diseases?

Infectious bowel diseases are predominantly acute lesions of various segments of the large or small intestine provoked active growth and reproduction pathogenic flora in the intestinal lumen. The main causes of acute intestinal infections are eating expired and low-quality products, poor heat treatment and viral diseases caused by viruses from the group of rotaviruses and enteroviruses.

Intestinal infections have severe symptoms and are manifested elevated temperature profuse vomiting, abdominal pain, intestinal spasms, acute diarrhea. It is diarrhea that is considered one of the main manifestations of AII: the patient's stool becomes watery, mucus, foam appear in it, and a sharp putrid smell. The number of bowel movements in bitches can reach up to 10-12 times, the process itself is painful, does not bring relief after completion.

In most cases, diarrhea completely resolves within 5-7 days from the onset of the first signs, but in some cases, recovery can take up to 2 weeks or more (for example, with enterovirus infection). It's clinical serious condition requiring specialized care in a hospital setting.

Diarrhea in a man does not go away for more than 1 month

There are a lot of reasons that can cause stable liquefaction of feces in an adult male. They may be associated with malnutrition as well as severe illnesses gastrointestinal tract, less often - vascular and hematopoietic system. The most common pathologies similar symptoms listed in the table below.

Disease	Image	What it is?
		Inflammation of the mucous layer small intestine with signs of dystrophic and atrophic changes in which absorption and assimilation are impaired nutrients
		Obstruction bile ducts, found in 3-5% of men (mainly under the age of 30)
		Intolerance to a complex protein that is part of chemical composition most cereals (gluten)
		Chronic damage to the large intestine with signs of an inflammatory process that develops under the influence of external and genetic factors
		Disease of the stomach, in which there is a gradual atrophy of the mucous and submucosal layer of the gastric walls. It is more often diagnosed in men older than 45-50 years and is considered a precancerous condition.
		Intolerance milk sugar against the background of congenital or acquired lactase deficiency - digestive enzyme that breaks down lactose
		Inflammation of blood vessels, arteries and veins of various segments of the intestine
		Circulatory disorders in the intestinal vessels associated with blockage or narrowing of their lumen, as well as the formation of blood clots (intestinal thrombosis)
		The tumor process in mucous layer small intestine, large intestine, and rectum

Important! Diarrhea that does not go away for more than 1 month may be one of the manifestations colorectal cancer therefore, do not self-medicate if specialized therapy with antidiarrheal and antimicrobial drugs does not positive results in a week.

Diagnosis for chronic diarrhea

The treatment of intestinal diseases is carried out by a coloproctologist (a narrower specialist is a proctologist - a doctor who treats pathologies of the rectum). If you suspect inflammation of the stomach or damage to the initial segments of the large intestine, a consultation with a gastroenterologist is indicated. If a man has chronic diseases endocrine system, for example, diabetes, treatment is prescribed in conjunction with an endocrinologist.

Turning to the hospital, a man should understand that he may have to undergo an examination by a proctologist or rectal examination using hardware methods, for example, irrigoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy. At correct execution these procedures do not cause pain, but to facilitate the introduction of the endoscope, the patient must completely relax the muscles of the anus. At strong fear or psychological stiffness, you should consult your doctor about possible application sedatives and sedatives before the study.

Note! In some cases, to set accurate diagnosis may be required additional examinations, for example, tests of the functionality of the pancreas or the hepatic system.

What to do if diarrhea persists for a long time?

The treatment of chronic diarrhea requires integrated approach, so the use of one drug to get rid of the problem will not be enough. Drugs are the mainstay of treatment in all cases. symptomatic therapy from the group of opioid receptor agonists. The drugs in this group are listed in the table below.

Name of the drug	Image	In what form is it issued?	approximate cost
		Capsules	245 rubles
		Capsules and tablets	10 rubles
		chewable tablets	88 rubles
		Tablets and capsules	32 rubles

These drugs can be used to treat functional diarrhea in allergic and alimentary gastroenteritis, malabsorption in the intestine, infectious pathologies intestines, in metabolic diseases. Short courses can be used for stable dietary disorders, as well as digestive disorders caused by a change in the usual diet. If a man was carried out surgery small intestine, and an ileostomy is placed, loperamide-based drugs can be prescribed for permanent use to correct stool consistency.

Good therapeutic effect gives the use of bifidopreparations. They normalize the composition of the intestinal microflora and restore all its functions. Adult men can use one of the following drugs (before use, read the instructions):

• "Acipol";
• "Lineks";
• "Normaze";
• "Bifidumbacterin";
• "Bifiform".

To prevent dehydration with frequent diarrhea, it is recommended plentiful drink and use of saline concentrated solutions, for example, "Gidrovita" or "Regidron".

Nutrition for prolonged diarrhea

Correction diet is one of the most important tasks in complex treatment prolonged diarrhea. Men with similar symptoms are advised fractional nutrition and reduced portion sizes. From the menu it is necessary to exclude any irritating products and substances: vinegar, spices, flavorings. It is advisable to cook food in gentle ways (stewing, baking, boiling). With unspecified frequent diarrhea it is recommended to limit consumption whole milk, spices, fatty sauces, fresh fruits. From vegetables, it is necessary to minimize the consumption of cucumbers, zucchini, radishes. coffee and alcoholic drinks allowed in a small amount and strictly outside the period of exacerbation.

Regular stool problems cause a lot of inconvenience, so the elimination of digestive problems is very important for a comfortable life.

Prolonged diarrhea is a sign that its cause is some kind of disease or malfunction of the body.

The term "chronic diarrhea" means that bowel movements occur more than 3 times a day, the stool has a liquid consistency and this condition lasts for a month.

At best, untreated chronic diarrhea worsens quality of life. At worst, this condition leads to dehydration of the body, since with frequent diarrhea, the water-salt balance is disturbed and there is a massive loss of nutrients and valuable salts - potassium, calcium, magnesium, which disrupts the work of all other systems and organs. For this reason, the treatment of persistent diarrhea in an adult or child is best left to a doctor.

Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Many diseases and conditions can lead to chronic diarrhea. The most common causes of persistent bowel dysfunction are the following factors.

Prolonged diarrhea is often caused by food allergies or individual intolerance to any food product. An intolerance to gluten (celiac disease), which is found in many cereals, or lactose, a component of dairy products, causes chronic disorders bowel movements lasting more than a month even if the irritant product was consumed once.

prolonged diarrhea it can also develop as a reaction to any synthetic substance (drug, food coloring or flavoring, etc.).

Causes and treatments for chronic diarrhea

feature of permanent or frequent violations stool, including diarrhea for a month or longer, is the patient's reluctance to share his problems even with a doctor. For this reason, instead of an adequate and short course of treatment frequent diarrhea an adult receives an increasing sense of discomfort, a sense of inferiority and deterioration in health associated with diarrhea: dehydration, disruption of work of cardio-vascular system, weakness, fatigue.

But even chronic intestinal disorders in adults are quite treatable if timely and correct measures are taken in case of diarrhea. First of all, it is necessary to establish the cause of frequent diarrhea. After that, it is only necessary to normalize nutrition and constantly observe simple rules to maintain intestinal health.

To treat frequent diarrhea, the following measures are used:

• bringing the consistency of bowel movements back to normal to stop fluid loss, mineral salts and nutrients. For adults and children over 6 years*, the diarrhea remedy IMODIUM® helps with this, it works within an hour* and is very convenient to use;
• antibiotic treatment for diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection;
• exception medications and foods that cause or maintain diarrhea;
• in the treatment of diarrhea caused by allergies or individual intolerance to any product, a hypoallergenic diet is prescribed or the patient's diet is revised, followed by the exclusion of the irritant product that provokes diarrhea.

*According to the instructions for medical use IMODIUM®.

Any person at least once in his life faced with such a problem of the functioning of the intestine as diarrhea. It can be short-term, no more than 2-3 days, which usually occurs with mild food poisoning or a minor stressful situation, but sometimes diarrhea does not go away for a very long time. Loose stools in this case, both in an adult and in a child, often have additional inclusions, such as impurities of blood and mucus, as well as pieces of undigested food. The reasons that loose stools do not pass for a long time can be different, therefore, the methods for eliminating diarrhea are also varied:

1. Most often, the prerequisite for prolonged diarrhea in an adult is all kinds of intestinal infections introduced into the body through poor-quality products or raw water. Usually this disease lasts a short time, but if the patient does not respond to unpleasant symptoms in time, pathogenic microorganisms begin to develop intensively in the digestive organs and diarrhea does not go away for a very long time. In this situation, the patient's question about why loose stools do not pass can be answered that he, trying to simply drown out the watery stools that appeared on his own, created for pathogenic microorganisms suitable conditions for development. In general, it should be noted that diarrhea cannot be stopped before the study and identification of the root cause, since the viruses and bacteria that caused them are removed from the body along with watery feces;
2. If diarrhea does not go away for a long time, this may signal that there are problems in the functioning of the intestines. In this case, the patient also does not help anything from the available home remedies used to treat this ailment. Diarrhea in adults lasting for a very long time should not be ignored, especially if it is accompanied by painful sensations and impurities of blood and mucus in feces. Self-treatment in this case will only help further development pathology and appearance severe complications. The answer to the question asked by the patient why there is this situation, there will also be an undiagnosed cause of the disease;
3. Diarrhea does not go away in an adult for a long time also for reasons of a neurogenic nature, causing functional disorder intestines. It's no secret that many people have indigestion as a result of prolonged stress. In this case, the patient also does not help with diarrhea until the cause that provoked the watery stool is eliminated.

What to do if diarrhea does not go away?

With prolonged diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, as well as the appearance additional symptoms, for self-disposal from which nothing helps the patient, it is necessary to consult a doctor for an explanation of why this situation has arisen. A specialist in this case will conduct a differential study that will help determine what is the cause of loose stools.

If the diarrhea does not go away within a few weeks, or if there is significant blood or mucus in the stool, the doctor will usually refer the patient to additional diagnostics which includes colonoscopy and x-rays of the intestines. Depending on the results obtained, appropriate treatment will be prescribed, which primarily consists in eliminating the root cause that caused prolonged diarrhea in an adult patient or a child.

Also, all the time until diarrhea passes, it is necessary to independently maintain the water-salt balance in the body in order to avoid the occurrence of dehydration and related serious problems. To do this, it is necessary to increase the intake of liquids with salts and minerals dissolved in it, which are washed out of the body along with watery stools. With diarrhea that does not go away for a long time, the amount drunk per day should be at least 3 liters. But there are serious limitations here. Drinking soda, juices, milk and coffee is strictly not recommended. Under the ban during diarrhea that does not pass for a long time, any alcoholic beverages are also prohibited. All these fluids significantly accelerate intestinal motility and help soften the stool.

In addition, during prolonged diarrhea in adults, it is recommended to review your diet. The diet should be followed until pathological signs won't disappear. Food entering the gastrointestinal tract of a person suffering from persistent diarrhea should not irritate the mucous membranes. digestive organs. Until the disappearance unpleasant symptoms do not eat smoked, fatty, fried and rough foods. You should also exclude from the diet any vegetables and fruits, except for bananas. All dishes intended for a patient with this pathology should be easily digestible and not impede the work of the intestines.