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Chronic Diarrhea

Warning: This section is for my Tufts University and University of the Philippines medical students. If you are a "worrier" type or a very anxious parent, please talk to your clinician about your child's problem or symptoms, rather than reading this differential diagnosis.

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Most diarrhea in infants and children last only shorter than 5-7 days. Viral infections is a common culprit. Fortunately, the vast majority of children do not get dehydrated. No specific medications are prescribed for diarrhea. Antibiotics are generally not given for children with diarrhea. In fact, taking antibiotics is one of the common causes of diarrhea in infants and children.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC DIARRHEA

Infections
Intolerance to Cow's Milk or Soy Protein
Antibiotics
Laxatives
Acrodermatitis Enteropathica
Chronic Nonspecific Diarrhea of Childhood
Overfeeding
Crohn's Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Hyperthyroidism
Celiac Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
Chronic Constipation with Overflow Diarrhea
Functional Tumors
Disaccharidase Deficiencies
Glucose-galactose Malabsorption
Immunodeficiency States
Short-Bowel Syndrome
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Abetalipoproteinemia
Congenital Chloride-losing Diarrhea

REFERENCE:
American Family Physician, Feb. 1, 1996, page 635

Differential Diagnosis:

Belly Pain   Air Leaks From Lungs   Acute Crying   Back Pain   Bed Wetting   Big Lymph Node   Big Spleen   Blood in Urine  Chronic Diarrhea   Chest Pain   Cough   Coughing Up Blood   Constipation Droopy Eye   Enlarged Glands   Eye Swelling   Excessive Thrist   Facial Paralysis   Fainting Spell   Feeding Problem GI Bleeding   Headache   Head Tilt   Hives   High ESR   Hoarseness   Joint Pain   Limp   Leg Pain Muscle Weakness   Noisy Breathing   Nose Bleeding   Nose Obstruction   Pyuria   Recurrent Infection   Red Green Urine   Ringing in the Ears Scrotal Swelling     Seizures   Stiff Neck   Swelling of the Parotic Gland   Toe Walking   Toeing In   Toeing Out   Unequal Pupils   Vomiting   Wheezing


Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP
Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston
Attending Pediatrician
Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor

Bangor, Maine: "First City with EBPP (Evidence Based Pediatrics for Parents) Website"
 

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