Stool output and composition in the chronic non-specific diarrhoea syndrome

Stool output and composition were studied in 7 children with chronic, non-specific diarrhoea syndrome and the results were compared with those of children with malabsorption due to cystic fibrosis or to bacterial overgrowth syndrome, and with stools from controls. Daily quantities of stool, fat, and total bile acids were normal in patients with chronic, non-specific diarrhoea syndrome. Faecal sodium concentration was high compared with that of controls or patients with cystic fibrosis. The extractable water phase of stools appreciably increased in patients with chronic, non-specific diarrhoea syndrome and contained 50% of the total stool bile acids; this was also the case in patients with bacterial overgrowth syndrome. It is suggested that a secretory state of the large-bowel due to mucosal exposure of large quantities of bile salts in the extractable water phase may be contributory to the diarrhoea of chronic, non-specific diarrhoea syndrome.