The clinical approach to the evaluation of diarrhea

Diarrhea may present as an acute transient condition that is hardly more than an inconvenience or as an acute devastating condition that decimates whole armies and cities. In places in which it is endemic, chronic diarrhea may be equally devastating; however, chronic diarrhea is usually the problem of an individual patient. A clinician may require the most extensive analysis for proper appraisal of chronic diarrhea. A thoughtful, thorough history and physical examination will often serve to narrow the number of tests required to reach a satisfactory diagnosis. Rational therapy may then be quickly determined from many existing references.