title: [Rational assessment and therapy of diarrhea].
abstract: Patient history, physical examination and basic laboratory tests often allow the clinician to suspect one of the numerous aetiologies of diarrhea and consequently establish a rapid diagnosis. Otherwise, the workup of diarrhea, especially when chronic, may represent a challenge. In this brief tutorial article a practical algorithm is proposed to guide the clinician through the initial diagnostic steps as well as therapeutic trials.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Kantonsspital Luzern. dominique.criblez@ksl.ch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Criblez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D011351:Proctoscopy