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What Causes Frequent Diarrhea?

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Posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2014
Question: My mother-in-law is 79 years old and she has had frequent diareah the past two weeks and her left side of her face is tingling on and off. She doesn't feel right isher frequent comment.
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Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (39 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Please,get this diarrhea investigated and managed Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this persistent and frequent diarrhea that your mother has had for the past 2weeks. Frequent stools lead to water and electrolytes loss that can result in water and electrolytic balance issues. I have a high suspicion that ionic imbalance, especially potassium and bicarbonates may be responsible for this tingling sensation on her face. I will suggest that for now you ensure that she drinks as much fluids as possible. Oral rehydration solution is best adapted as it it has added electrolytes to compensate for the losses in stool. You can easily buy this over the counter in just any pharmacy and you would be instructed on how to get it prepared. I will not ant to propose drugs to stop this diarrhea unless it has been shown to be non infectious. I will recommend that she gets her stool evaluated for this and also undergo testing for the most common causes of chronic diarrhea. This would provide information on what the exact cause is and help orientate and guide the different treatment decisions. In all, get her well rehydrayed with oral rehydration solution. She should drink as much as she can and wishes to. There is no harm with this. Get her stool examined and let her get evaluated for causes of chronic diarrhea for best management plan. I wish you well. I wish her a speedy recovery.Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Thanks. Dr. Ivo, MD.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Dr. Ivo Ditah

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Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3984 Questions

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What Causes Frequent Diarrhea?

Brief Answer: Please,get this diarrhea investigated and managed Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this persistent and frequent diarrhea that your mother has had for the past 2weeks. Frequent stools lead to water and electrolytes loss that can result in water and electrolytic balance issues. I have a high suspicion that ionic imbalance, especially potassium and bicarbonates may be responsible for this tingling sensation on her face. I will suggest that for now you ensure that she drinks as much fluids as possible. Oral rehydration solution is best adapted as it it has added electrolytes to compensate for the losses in stool. You can easily buy this over the counter in just any pharmacy and you would be instructed on how to get it prepared. I will not ant to propose drugs to stop this diarrhea unless it has been shown to be non infectious. I will recommend that she gets her stool evaluated for this and also undergo testing for the most common causes of chronic diarrhea. This would provide information on what the exact cause is and help orientate and guide the different treatment decisions. In all, get her well rehydrayed with oral rehydration solution. She should drink as much as she can and wishes to. There is no harm with this. Get her stool examined and let her get evaluated for causes of chronic diarrhea for best management plan. I wish you well. I wish her a speedy recovery.Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Thanks. Dr. Ivo, MD.