When Diarrhea Lasts

Sometimes diarrhea goes on . . . for weeks. That’s when a more serious problem is probably responsible. Your doctor can ferret out the cause. Here are some of the possibilities:

Lactose intolerance. “If you get diarrhea every?time you drink a glass of milk, you may suffer from this condition that involves an inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk and dairy products. It’s the most common reason for chronic diarrhea,” says Rosemarie L. Fisher, M. D. Avoid milk, but take a calcium supplement, she suggests.

Celiac disease. In this case, you can’t digest gluten, which is part of wheat.

Irritable bowel syndrome. Emotions play a big role in this one, which can include alternating?constipation and diarrhea. “The classic picture is the young adult with diarrhea on the morning of a big exam,” says Fisher.

Parasitic infections. As mentioned previously, these may hang on indefinitely.

Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. These two conditions are similar, and no one knows their cause. But the end result of these is inflammation of the bowel and diarrhea, often accompanied by pain.

Systemic illnesses. Chronic diarrhea may be a complication of diseases such as diabetes, scleroderma, and hyperthyroidism.

Cancer. It’s not a pleasant thought, but one of the warning signs of tumors in the bowel is diarrhea, especially if blood is present.