The Self-Limited Nature of Chronic Idiopathic Diarrhea

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 327; no. 26; pp. 1849 - 1852
• Main Authors: Afzalpurkar, Rekha G, Schiller, Lawrence R, Little, Katherine H, Santangelo, William C, Fordtran, John S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 24.12.1992
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; chronic; Chronic Disease; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - diagnosis; Diarrhea - drug therapy; Diarrhea - physiopathology; electrolytes; fecal; Feces - chemistry; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; gastrointestinal tract diseases; Humans; idiopathic; Male; man; Medical diagnosis; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; osmolality; Other diseases. Semiology; secretion; self-limitation; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Travel; Human; Chronic; Idiopathic; Diarrhea; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Diagnosis; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199212243272605

THERE are many well-described causes of chronic diarrhea, but in some patients no cause can be found, even after exhaustive diagnostic studies. 1 2 3 4 5 These patients often become alarmed at the prospect of endless diarrhea, usually fear they have cancer, and continue to seek an answer to their problem. Doctors also become concerned when dealing with these patients for fear of missing a diagnosis, despite many negative tests, and may undertake increasingly risky interventions. The purpose of this study was to define the clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic idiopathic diarrhea. To do this, we reviewed the records of patients with . . .