Diagnosis | Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea

Diagnosis

Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea are not initially an independent disease, but rather two symptoms that often occur together. These symptoms usually become quickly apparent when the doctor consults the affected person. This should be followed by a physical examination of the entire abdominal cavity.

Depending on the suspected cause, further diagnostic steps can then be carried out. If an infectious event is suspected, the pathogen can be determined from stool samples, but symptomatic therapy without further diagnosis is often sufficient. In the case of causes such as metabolic and inflammatory diseases, a detailed diagnosis should be carried out with blood tests and, if necessary, imaging (ultrasound, X-ray, MRT) of the abdomen.

If necessary, gastroscopy and colonoscopy can be performed. Food intolerances are diagnosed via outlet tests, provocation tests and blood tests. You can read more detailed information about this here: Preparation of a colonoscopy

Duration and forecast

How long abdominal cramps and diarrhoea last depends on the underlying cause. Infections of the gastrointestinal tract usually last from a few days to a week and then heal completely. Particularly at risk here are old and young people whose bodies can hardly fight the pathogens and who cannot tolerate the high fluid loss.

Food intolerances, on the other hand, often last a lifetime. If the triggering food is avoided, however, complete freedom from symptoms can be achieved. Chronic diseases of the digestive tract are characterized by relapsing symptoms.

Course of disease

The course of the disease, like its duration, depends on the cause of the abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Incompatibilities, spoiled food and infections become very noticeable for a few hours to days and then subside within a few days. On the other hand, chronic and psychosomatic complaints, which are often aggravated by psychological stress, lead to longer courses of illness. The symptoms occur in relapses (for example, in acute stress). Over the course of several months or even years, the symptoms can improve with adequate therapy.

How contagious is it?

The risk of infection is particularly high in the case of infections with bacteria and viruses. How contagious the abdominal cramps and diarrhoea are depends on the individual pathogen. Contact with the affected person or with infected body fluids (vomit, diarrhoea) can increase the risk of infection, which is why, for example, parents of sick children are particularly at risk.

On the other hand, autoimmune diseases and food intolerances are not contagious. In these diseases, genetic transmission plays a more important role in the development of the disease.