Evaluation of Patients with Diarrhea Applying to the Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic of Research Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: Diarrhea is a common health problem and may occur for many infectious and non-infectious causes. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the causes, methods used in diagnosis and the results obtained in patients who applied to the gastroenterology clinic with the complaint of diarrhea.

Materials and methods: 187 patients who presented with diarrhea between 01.11.2019-01.11.2020 were included in this study.

Results: Acute diarrhea was detected in 32 (17.1%) out of 187 patients, persistent in 34 (18.2%), and chronic diarrhea in 121 (64.7%). The cause of diarrhea was detected in 148 (79.1%) patients. Infectious cause in 66 (%44.6) patients; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 41 (27.7%) patients; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in 22 (14.9%) patients and less frequently as other diagnose were listed. The cause of diarrhea was detected in 73.6% of patients with chronic complaints, and this rate was 87.5% in acute diarrhea; and 91.2% of those presenting with persistent diarrhea (p = 0.04). Lower C reactive protein levels were found in irritable bowel syndrome compared to other diarrheal causes (p<0.001). It was observed that anti-infective treatment was used more frequently in acute and persistent diarrhea compared to chronic diarrhea (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Although application to outpatient clinics were more frequent due to chronic diarrhea, acute and persistent diarrhea were also not rare (35.3%). The reason to explain diarrhea has been found in the majority of patients. Infectious induced diarrhea was seen as the most common cause, it was followed by IBD and IBS, respectively. When prescribing anti-infective agents, clinical, laboratory and microbiological results should be considered and inappropriate drug use should be avoided.