Resumen

Diarrea crónica. Diagnóstico y evaluación clínica. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2004, vol.19, n.2, pp.115-126. ISSN 0120-9957.

Chronic diarrhoea is a syndrome of great clinical complexity which is frequently encountered by general physicians, internists and gastroenterologists. Differential diagnosis is very broad and sometimes finding the precise cause can be difficult, expensive and frustrating. Literature published about this topic lack, in general, adequate controlled studies and for this reason recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and treatment are based upon series of cases, experience of the institutions or experts opinions and not on a reasonable evidence. On the other hand, many of the classical diagnostic tests that have survived until now were designed over physiologic foundations and have not been validated extensively with the precision of a clinical test. This limits its acceptance, application and standardization in the daily practice . There is not a general agreement about diagnosis and treatment of chronic diarrhoea and many of the experts divert about their recommendations. The purpose of this paper is to define some general guidelines about the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic diarrhoea that lead us to a rational approach based upon clinical trials and the appropriate use of the many different tests.

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