Functional diarrhea.
Chronic diarrhea is a frequent and challenging problem in clinical medicine. In a considerable subgroup of these, no underlying cause is identified and this is referred to as functional diarrhea. A consensus definition for functional diarrhea is based on loose stool consistency and chronicity and absence of coexisting irritable bowel syndrome. Underlying pathophysiology includes rapid intestinal transit, which may be worsened by stress or be triggered by a preceding infectious gastroenteritis. Diagnostic work-up aims at exclusion of underlying organic disease. Treatment starts with dietary adjustments, aiming at decreasing nutrients that enhance transit and stool and at identifying precipitating food items.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. jan.tack@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Jan
J
Tack
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002244:Carbon / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015244:Thiorphan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010087:Oxides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D012459:Salicylates; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D002244:Carbon; C049331:racecadotril; C040896:AST 120; D015244:Thiorphan; D003000:Clonidine; D015282:Octreotide; D001729:Bismuth