Chronic diarrhea natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Omodamola Aje B.Sc, M.D. [2]

If left untreated, patients with chronic diarrhea may progress to develop symptoms of altered consciousness due to electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, and malnutrition. Common complications of chronic diarrhea include confusion, perforated bowels, sepsis, and death. Prognosis is generally good when the underlying cause is identified and treated early.

Without treatment, the patient will develop symptoms of dehydration, malnutrition, altered mental status, sepsis, and eventually coma or death.

Complications that can develop as a result of chronic diarrhea are:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Electrolyte disturbance

The prognosis of chronic diarrhea is good especially when the underlying cause is identified early and treated. The presence of these features in a patient complaining of diarrhea for over 4 weeks may indicate poor prognosis:^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

• Dietary causes of diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Weight loss
• Age > 50 years
• Pain
• Associated psychological factors
• Somatization

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