[Diarrhea and functional digestive pathology]

Functional bowel disorders are the most frequent cause of chronic diarrhoea. Functional disorders may present as typical "diarrhée motrice" (colonic hypermotility) or as watery diarrhoea. The diagnosis cannot be made unless an organic cause has been ruled out. Although colonic motor abnormalities have been described in some patients, its physiopathology remains obscure. Treatment is the same as for functional bowel disorders, i.e. fibres and antidiarrhoeal drugs.