Differences Between Acute and Chronic Diarrhea

To distinguish between acute and chronic diarrhea, experts typically consider three main factors: the duration of symptoms, underlying causes, and specific clinical manifestations.

Acute diarrhea usually lasts less than two weeks and often develops suddenly. The primary cause is typically infectious, such as consuming contaminated food or experiencing gut flora imbalance due to excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Common symptoms include abdominal pain and an increased frequency of bowel movements. In more severe cases, such as bacterial dysentery, patients may experience pus or blood in the stool, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

On the other hand, chronic diarrhea persists for more than two months and can be categorized into infectious and non-infectious types. Infectious causes are relatively rare today due to improved healthcare awareness and prompt medical attention. However, conditions like intestinal tuberculosis can still lead to persistent diarrhea with frequent bowel movements.

Non-infectious causes include functional diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These conditions are all recognized as potential triggers of chronic diarrhea. Additionally, individuals with multiple colon polyps may also experience an increase in bowel movements over time. Some people may overlook these symptoms, assuming they are not serious, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

It's important to note that colorectal cancer can also cause changes in bowel habits over a period of 2–3 months, even if no other discomfort is present. This underscores the importance of timely medical evaluation to rule out serious conditions and ensure appropriate care.