Diarrhea is a condition causing loose, watery stools, and in many cases, lasts one to two days. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that people with diarrhea tend to pass these stools more than three times a day. Ongoing, or chronic, diarrhea lasts more than two days, and can be a symptom of an underlying chronic disease. Chronic diarrhea causes dehydration, resulting in the body's inability to function properly due to a lack of bodily fluids.
Medications
Medications often cause chronic diarrhea -- especially antibiotics, which destroy both the good and bad bacteria in your body. As the Mayo Clinic reports, this disturbance of the natural balance between bacteria in the intestine often results in diarrhea.
In addition to antibiotics, blood pressure medications and cancer drugs cause consistent diarrhea. If this side effect does not subside, speak to your doctor, as you may suffer from serious complications such as dehydration.
Chemical Laxatives
Many people begin using chemical laxatives for a variety of reasons, and continue taking them on a daily basis, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. These laxatives stimulate the intestines; long-term use results in chronic diarrhea. In addition, many laxatives contain magnesium, an ingredient responsible for diarrhea.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is an intestinal disorder that causes chronic diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both. Diarrhea occurs when the intestines, particularly the colon, do not contract in their normal smooth and rhythmic manner. While you can generally control IBS through diet and stress management, for some people, it is an extremely disabling condition.
Diseases
Chronic diarrhea can be a symptom of serious diseases requiring medical treatment and monitoring. Some of these intestinal diseases include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and, in some instances, colon cancer.
