What Causes Recurring Symptoms Of Stomach Pain, Diarrhea And Flatulence?

Posted on Fri, 6 Apr 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 6 Apr 2018 Answered on

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I am having recurring symptoms of stomach gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. It subsides, but then returns and has gotten more frequent in the last few months. My rectum aches. Even normal bowel movements have undigested food in them. I have made an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Is this the direction I should be taking.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chronic gastroenteritis or irritable bowel disease

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Very likely its gastroenteritis, usually gastroenteritis is by a viral infection (Nova virus) and is self-limiting, but as you mentioned its already more than months and is recurrent so most likely you are having either bacterial or protozoal infection or a mixed infection which is not properly treated and hence your problem is recurrent.

I would suggest you go for a few tests.
Ultrasound abdomen
Stool test under the microscope
Complete blood count
Total and differential leucocyte count.

If the stool test is positive for bacterial or protozoal infection. Start taking Zithromax (Azithromycin) and Secnidazole.

Otherwise, we would investigate you on lines of irritable bowel syndrome which is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T