Long-term, or chronic, diarrhea, is a condition lasting longer than two weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While in most cases it presents no real danger, those with weak immune systems, such as people with cancer or HIV, it can be life-threatening. A number of causes are responsible for this condition, ranging from medications to stomach disorders.
Certain Medications
Both MayoClinic.com and Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology concur that some prescription medications can cause long-term diarrhea. Antibiotics are not only among these medications, they are also the most common medications responsible for this condition. They tend to upset the natural balance in the intestines, which in some cases causes an infection by the name of Clostridium difficile. This can also cause diarrhea.
Rotavirus
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse explains that a variety of viruses are responsible for diarrhea, one of which is a rotavirus. This is a viral infection of the digestive tract and it is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in both infants and young children in the United States, according to the Directors of Health Promotion and Education. Easily spread, transmission occurs when one person touches an object an infected person contaminates, such as a doorknob or telephone. The virus is then able to enter the body when the person touches his mouth with his newly infected hand. The diarrhea can range in severity, typically lasting three to nine days.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of disorders that describes any condition causing the intestines to become red and swollen, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Inflammatory bowel disease includes conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, both of which cause long-term diarrhea. The exact cause of these disorders is not known; however, they are not contagious and do not appear to be genetic. While some over-the-counter medications may help treat this disease, reducing fiber and dairy consumption and increasing rest periods may help, notes FamilyDoctor.org.
Milk and Dairy Allergy
Known also as lactose intolerance, those who suffer from it may experience long-term diarrhea after consuming milk or dairy products. As MayoClinic.com explains, lactose is a sugar found in both milk and dairy. Those eating dairy or drinking milk are unable to digest them, which leads to chronic diarrhea.
