Gerok W
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Freiburg.
Praxis (Bern 1994). 1994 Oct 18;83(42):1170-2.
Diarrheal disease should be differentiated into acute and chronic forms. Acute diarrhea can most commonly be referred to infectious pathogens and is usually self-limiting. To establish a firm diagnosis is important for patients with special professions, e.g. food-handlers, cooks, etc. In patients with chronic diarrheal disease, the individual case history (e.g. abdominal operations, length and frequency of diarrhea, body weight, medications, etc.) is of paramount importance to differentiate between functional and organic illness. At least half of the patients in general practice suffer from functional, not from organic disease. Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract and tests of small bowel function are first-line procedures in patients with chronic diarrhea, followed by additional investigations (hormonal analysis, bacteriological tests, etc.), if indicated in a given patient.
腹泻病应分为急性和慢性两种类型。急性腹泻最常见的病因是感染性病原体，通常具有自限性。对于从事特殊职业的患者，如食品处理人员、厨师等，明确诊断非常重要。在慢性腹泻病患者中，个人病史（如腹部手术史、腹泻的时长和频率、体重、用药情况等）对于区分功能性疾病和器质性疾病至关重要。在全科医疗中，至少一半的患者患有功能性疾病，而非器质性疾病。对于慢性腹泻患者，胃肠道内镜检查和小肠功能测试是一线检查方法，如果特定患者有指征，随后还需进行其他检查（激素分析、细菌学检测等）。
