Diarrhea Diagnosis - To find out if a patient has diarrhea and what factors cause it, the doctor first asks a few questions to the patient, such as how often the patient has diarrhea, what kind of dirt texture is issued, whether the diarrhea is accompanied by symptoms of fever, does the patient prefer to eat any place, and whether the patient had contact with diarrhea sufferers.
In addition, the doctor may also ask whether the patient is taking a medication (may be due to side effects), how much coffee or alcohol he consumes, or whether the patient is often agitated and stressed recently.
Further examination
Further examination can be done if the answer given by the patient is not enough to help the doctor in drawing conclusions. Some types of examination methods for diarrheal cases include blood tests, stool sample analysis, and rectal examination.
Blood tests are usually recommended by a doctor if diarrhea is suspected to be due to a specific disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
While the stool sample analysis step is performed if the doctor suspects diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites, or if the patient:
Have other symptoms, such as the presence of blood or pus in the stool.
Experiencing prolonged diarrhea for more than a week.
Have symptoms that affect your whole body, such as fever and dehydration.
Recently treated in hospital or taking antibiotics.
Have a weakened immune system, for example because you have HIV.
If you are over 50 years of age or if the cause of diarrhea is unknown, your doctor may advise you to undergo a rectal exam. Through this examination, the doctor will examine whether diarrhea is caused by a problem or abnormality in the rectal or colon canal. A digital rectal examination is performed by a doctor by inserting a finger that has gloves protected into the rectal opening.
If the cause of diarrhea is still unknown, an examination such as a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy may be performed. This examination is usually rarely present in clinical practice clinics and should be done at the hospital. In a colonoscopy examination, your doctor will insert a special flexible tube called a colonoscope to check the condition of your entire intestine. Whereas in sigmoidoscopy, intestinal examination is done by inserting a device called the sigmoidoscope from the rectum. This tool is almost similar to a colonoscope, but its size is smaller and equipped with a camera and lights at the ends.
In addition, the doctor may also ask whether the patient is taking a medication (may be due to side effects), how much coffee or alcohol he consumes, or whether the patient is often agitated and stressed recently.
Further examination
Further examination can be done if the answer given by the patient is not enough to help the doctor in drawing conclusions. Some types of examination methods for diarrheal cases include blood tests, stool sample analysis, and rectal examination.
Blood tests are usually recommended by a doctor if diarrhea is suspected to be due to a specific disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease.
While the stool sample analysis step is performed if the doctor suspects diarrhea caused by bacteria or parasites, or if the patient:
Have other symptoms, such as the presence of blood or pus in the stool.
Experiencing prolonged diarrhea for more than a week.
Have symptoms that affect your whole body, such as fever and dehydration.
Recently treated in hospital or taking antibiotics.
Have a weakened immune system, for example because you have HIV.
If you are over 50 years of age or if the cause of diarrhea is unknown, your doctor may advise you to undergo a rectal exam. Through this examination, the doctor will examine whether diarrhea is caused by a problem or abnormality in the rectal or colon canal. A digital rectal examination is performed by a doctor by inserting a finger that has gloves protected into the rectal opening.
If the cause of diarrhea is still unknown, an examination such as a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy may be performed. This examination is usually rarely present in clinical practice clinics and should be done at the hospital. In a colonoscopy examination, your doctor will insert a special flexible tube called a colonoscope to check the condition of your entire intestine. Whereas in sigmoidoscopy, intestinal examination is done by inserting a device called the sigmoidoscope from the rectum. This tool is almost similar to a colonoscope, but its size is smaller and equipped with a camera and lights at the ends.
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