What causes of chronic diarrhea may be difficult to diagnose?
- Fecal incontinence
- Iatrogenic diarrhea (drugs, surgery, radiation)
- Surreptitious laxative ingestion
- Microscopic colitis syndrome
- Bile acid–induced diarrhea
- Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
- Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
- Carbohydrate malabsorption
- Peptide-secreting tumors
- Chronic idiopathic secretory diarrhea
These conditions are seen in referral centers after routine evaluation has failed to disclose a diagnosis.
In general, the tests necessary to make these diagnoses are not difficult, but have not been done because physicians have not considered these diagnoses in the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea.
