Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Adsorbents as Antidiarrheal Agents

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Adsorbents as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea is characterized by the occurrence of frequent, watery bowel movements. Various factors can trigger diarrhea, including viral or bacterial infections, foodborne illnesses, side effects from certain medications, and underlying digestive disorders. If not adequately managed, diarrhea can lead to complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and nutrient deficiencies. Severe diarrhea can lead to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and weakened immune function.
Adsorbents...

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Formulation: A Prospective Observational Study in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

High-Frequency Miniprobe Endoscopic Ultrasonography Across the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Distinct pain profiles across irritable bowel syndrome subtypes: results from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study.

Internal and emergency medicine·2026

Same author

Comparative Study on Burden, Features and Determinants of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction Between Southern Europe and the Rest of Continent: Results From the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study.

United European gastroenterology journal·2026

Same author

Recommendations for the Evaluation and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease With Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Like Symptoms: A Joint Rome Foundation and International Organization for the Study of IBD (IOIBD) Consensus.

Gastroenterology·2026

Same author

Burden, features and factor associated with disorders of gut-brain axis in Italy: results from the Rome foundation global epidemiology study.

Internal and emergency medicine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: December 27, 2024

Clinical approach to diarrhea.

Roberto Corinaldesi¹, Vincenzo Stanghellini, Giovanni Barbara

¹Department of Clinical Medicine, Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bldg #5, Nuove Patologie, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. roberto.corinaldesi@unibo.it

Internal and Emergency Medicine

|October 18, 2012

Summary

Diagnosing chronic diarrhea involves analyzing stool characteristics like bloody, watery, or fatty consistency. This approach helps differentiate causes such as malabsorption, maldigestion, or secretory mechanisms for effective patient management.

More Related Videos

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Published on: December 8, 2014

Assessment of The Effect of Antidiarrheal Drugs and Plant Extracts on Drosophila melanogaster

Assessment of The Effect of Antidiarrheal Drugs and Plant Extracts on Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: November 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: December 27, 2024

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Published on: December 8, 2014

Assessment of The Effect of Antidiarrheal Drugs and Plant Extracts on Drosophila melanogaster

Assessment of The Effect of Antidiarrheal Drugs and Plant Extracts on Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: November 17, 2023

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine

Background:

Diarrhea is characterized by reduced stool consistency and increased daily evacuations.
Diverse causes and pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to acute and chronic diarrhea.

Purpose of the Study:

To review key clinical aspects for diagnosing chronic diarrhea.
To guide clinicians in differentiating various types of chronic diarrhea.

Main Methods:

Focus on clinical history, physical examination, and stool evaluation.
Categorization based on predominant stool characteristics: bloody, watery, or fatty.
Utilizing microbiological tests, colonoscopic biopsy, and fecal osmotic gap analysis.

Main Results:

Bloody/inflammatory diarrhea may indicate infectious agents.
Osmotic diarrhea can stem from malabsorption/maldigestion, leading to steatorrhea.
Secretory diarrhea is linked to increased fluid secretion, potentially from neuroendocrine tumors.

Conclusions:

Stool characteristics and diagnostic tests aid in narrowing differential diagnoses for chronic diarrhea.
Differentiating malabsorption from maldigestion is crucial for fatty diarrhea (steatorrhea).
Tailored diagnostic workups based on pathophysiology and clinical features can optimize patient care and reduce costs.