Causes of chronic diarrhea
Diarrhea is often a first symptom of chronic diseases of the intestine, besides abdominal pain and vomiting. These include the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are often accompanied by sometimes bloody diarrhea. These are inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the cause of which is not precisely known.
However, the chronic inflammation leads to changes in the intestinal mucosa, which subsequently manifest themselves as chronic diarrhea. Whipple’s disease, caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whippelii, leads to infection of the small intestine and other organs and manifests itself, among other things, in chronic diarrhoea. However, even in the context of reduced blood flow in the intestine (ischemic colitis), the intestinal mucosa is damaged to such an extent that diarrhoea occurs.
Colorectal cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in Germany, can also lead to diarrhea. Diarrhea also occurs during radiation therapy for cancer therapy as a result of damage to the mucous membrane of the intestine (radiation colitis).
- Intestinal diseases:
It has long been suspected that the brain and thus emotions can influence digestion via the so-called vagus nerve and the autonomous (vegetative) nervous system.
Thus, in some people, severe stress and excitement can cause both diarrhea and constipation. The exact connections are not yet fully understood. In order for the food consumed to be digested correctly, certain substances must be present to break down the food components in such a way that they can be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa.
If these are missing, diarrhea occurs. This includes, for example, a lack of enzymes from the pancreas, as occurs in particular when the pancreas is destroyed by chronic inflammation (chronic pancreatitis). The enzymes of the pancreas (lipase, amylase) are essential for the digestion of fats in particular, which is why a deficiency of these enzymes leads to fatty stools.
Alcohol abuse, i.e. heavy alcohol consumption over many years, often leads to chronic pancreatitis and can subsequently be accompanied by diarrhoea. A lack of bile acids (e.g. in the case of bile stasis due to gallstones or the loss of bile acids via the intestine in certain diseases of the small intestine) also leads to diarrhoea. In addition, diarrhea can occur after intestinal surgery if certain parts of the intestine are missing (short bowel syndrome) and thus food components and water cannot be properly absorbed.
The high proportion of water and water-binding substances in the intestine then leads to watery diarrhoea. Hyperthyroidism often manifests itself as chronic diarrhoea in addition to weight loss and heavy sweating.Certain tumors that falsely produce excessive amounts of hormones (e.g. gastrinoma, VIPom), which among other things increase intestinal movement or alter the secretion of digestive enzymes, can also be the cause of diarrhea. The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not clearly known, so this diagnosis can only be made once other causes of the symptoms (often diarrhea alternating with constipation) have been ruled out.
The complaints that occur in the context of irritable bowel syndrome can also occur in all other intestinal diseases, which is why it is important to exclude these other, sometimes dangerous, diseases. If “irritable bowel syndrome” is diagnosed as the cause of the diarrhea, the prognosis is good. Often, symptomatic therapy methods with diet and home remedies are sufficient to alleviate the symptoms.
- Digestive disorders (maldigestion, malassimilation):
- Hormonal causes:
- Irritable bowel syndrome:
Diarrhea can be treated both causally and symptomatically. Causal means that the underlying cause is eliminated; symptomatic therapy, on the other hand, attacks the diarrhea itself and not the disease causing it. Diarrhea caused by germs can be treated causally.
However, mild forms are not treated, only diarrhea with fever, blood contamination or severe course. In these cases, antibiotics can be given depending on the pathogen (Cotrimoxazol, Chinolone, Metronidazol). Drugs that cause diarrhoea are discontinued and the underlying underlying diseases are specifically treated.
Of course, diarrhoea can also be treated with homeopathic medication. The symptomatic therapy includes the administration of fluid and electrolytes to compensate for the substances lost via the stool so that no dehydration (“drying out”) of the body occurs. In addition, short-term inhibitors of bowel activity (Loperamid/Imodium®) or painkillers for abdominal cramps (spasmolytics such as butylscopolamine) can be given.
As a rule, in the case of diarrhoea, it is possible to avoid taking medication. However, if the diarrhea has a high frequency per day, lasts for several days or if the diarrhea results in a severe loss of fluid, the use of a drug against diarrhea may be considered. Medicines against diarrhoea should be used with caution and even if only for a short time, because diarrhoea is usually a cleansing process that serves to transport toxins or pathogens out of the body.
This process is limited by the administration of a diarrhea-inhibiting drug. If a drug is used to treat diarrhoea, loperamide is usually recommended. Loperamide (Imodium®) is available without a prescription in pharmacies.
Loperamide has an inhibitory effect on the muscles in the intestine, so that the stool is transported less quickly and the intestine has more time to absorb fluid and important ingredients and thicken the stool accordingly. Perenterol® can also be used in the context of an infection. This is practically a non-disease-causing yeast fungus, which ensures that the growth of the pathogens responsible for the diarrhea is inhibited and thus the natural intestinal flora is restored.
Furthermore, tanning agents can be used to soothe the intestinal mucosa. These are contained in black tea or other plants, for example. Activated carbon can be used in cases of severe infections or poisoning.
Activated carbon is taken orally in tablet form. Activated carbon has the special property that it is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal system, but can bind other substances such as toxins from pathogens or other toxins. Activated carbon can therefore remove harmful substances from the gastrointestinal tract, which are then excreted together with the carbon.
Activated carbon is also used in cases of poisoning emergencies, but in higher doses. In acute cases of diarrhoea, household remedies can help to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhoea and compensate for the loss of fluids and salt. A mixture of water (approx.
500ml) with some salt (approx. 1 teaspoon) and some sugar (up to 5 teaspoons of sugar, depending on taste) is particularly suitable for this purpose. A light vegetable broth is also good.
However, food rich in fat and carbohydrates should be avoided at first. If the diarrhea subsides, you should pay attention to a slow build-up of food and eat only light, low-fat food at first in order not to irritate the intestinal flora and mucosa too much. Warmth on the abdominal wall can alleviate cramp-like abdominal pain.
Hot-water bottles or cherry stone pillows are suitable for this purpose.Care must always be taken not to place them directly on the naked skin to avoid burns. One should not forget, herbal teas can also help to eliminate diarrhea. If the diarrhea lasts however longer than 3 days, is slime or blood admixtures in the chair or occurs diarrhea after a journey, a physician should be absolutely visited.
as well as home remedy against a bloating belly long time was with diarrhea the vegetable Iberogast standard among the physicians, who had used up themselves the nature welfare procedures, got however because of occurred liver damage into discredit. In order to treat a diarrhea adequately hom?opathisch, an exact cause clarification must take place before, since the Hom?opathie refers to the principle ?like with like to heal? In the case of certain causes, for example infections with pathogens and the chronic inflammatory diseases, homeopathy cannot bring about a cure according to the current state of knowledge, but – if there is no interaction with the given medication – it can be administered additionally with pleasure. The well-proven remedies for gastrointestinal problems are chamomile, fennel and yarrow. They can be taken as tea or in the form of globules.
