💧 Gastroenterology · Bowel Evaluation
Chronic Diarrhea Clinic Seoul
English-friendly evaluation in Gangnam for loose or watery stools lasting more than four weeks, bowel urgency, nighttime diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, weight loss and unexplained changes in stool pattern.
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Blood and stool testing
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Medication and diet review
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Colonoscopy when indicated
Chronic Diarrhea Evaluation Map
From symptom pattern to targeted investigation
Cause-focused assessment
1 · DEFINE THE PATTERN
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Duration
Loose or watery stools continuing for more than four weeks
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Stool Features
Watery, greasy, bloody, urgent, frequent or nighttime stool
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2 · IDENTIFY CLUES
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Infection or Inflammation
Travel, fever, blood, antibiotics, pain or inflammatory markers
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Digestion or Absorption
Food triggers, weight loss, greasy stool or nutritional concerns
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3 · SELECT TESTING
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Blood & Stool Tests
Targeted checks for infection, inflammation, anaemia or malabsorption
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Endoscopy When Needed
Colonoscopy, biopsies or other tests according to risk and symptoms
DURATION
More than four weeks suggests a chronic pattern.
HYDRATION
Fluid and electrolyte loss may require prompt attention.
WARNING SIGNS
Blood, weight loss, fever or nighttime symptoms matter.
TREATMENT
Care depends on the identified or suspected cause.
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English-Friendly Consultation
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Gastroenterology Specialist
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Blood, Stool & Inflammation Testing
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Colonoscopy With Biopsy When Appropriate
Understanding Chronic Diarrhea
Persistent loose stool is a symptom—not a single diagnosis.
Diarrhea generally means passing loose or watery stools, often with increased frequency or urgency. When the pattern continues for more than four weeks, it is usually considered chronic diarrhea.
Possible causes include ongoing infection, food intolerance, medication effects, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, bile-acid diarrhea and problems with digestion or nutrient absorption.
At Apgujeong Hana Clinic, we evaluate the stool pattern, duration, travel and antibiotic history, food relationship, medicines and warning signs before selecting appropriate tests.
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Watery Diarrhea
Frequent loose or watery stools may be related to infection, medicines, IBS-D, bile acids or microscopic colitis.
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Fatty or Greasy Stool
Bulky, pale, floating or difficult-to-flush stool may suggest impaired digestion or absorption.
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Inflammatory Features
Blood, fever, significant pain or weight loss may require prompt testing for inflammation or infection.
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Nighttime Diarrhea
Diarrhea that repeatedly wakes you from sleep may need evaluation beyond a functional bowel diagnosis.
Symptoms To Discuss
The associated symptoms help narrow the possible causes.
Bring information about frequency, stool appearance, urgency, meals, medicines and whether symptoms continue overnight or during fasting.
Loose or Watery Stool
Stool that regularly loses its form, becomes watery or occurs more often than your normal pattern.
Bowel Urgency
A sudden, difficult-to-delay need to reach a bathroom or concern about an accident.
Frequent Bowel Movements
Repeated bowel movements throughout the day or clustering after meals.
Abdominal Pain
Cramping, burning or persistent discomfort before, during or after bowel movements.
Bloating & Gas
Excessive gas, pressure or visible abdominal distension occurring with stool changes.
Nighttime Symptoms
Diarrhea that repeatedly interrupts sleep may change the investigation plan.
Greasy or Floating Stool
Bulky, oily, pale or very foul-smelling stool may suggest fat malabsorption.
Weight Loss
Unintentional weight loss or reduced muscle mass may indicate malabsorption, inflammation or another illness.
Blood or Mucus
Visible blood, black stool or persistent mucus should be discussed with a gastroenterologist.
Diarrhea Patterns
Stool characteristics can guide the investigation.
Watery Diarrhea
Watery stool may occur with medication effects, food intolerance, IBS-D, microscopic colitis, bile-acid diarrhea or some persistent infections.
Fatty or Malabsorptive Diarrhea
Greasy, pale, floating or bulky stool may be connected to celiac disease, pancreatic problems or other causes of impaired nutrient absorption.
Inflammatory Diarrhea
Blood, fever, anaemia, weight loss or significant nighttime symptoms may suggest intestinal inflammation, infection or another structural condition.
Chronic diarrhea should not automatically be labelled as IBS-D
IBS with diarrhea typically includes recurring abdominal pain related to bowel changes. Nighttime diarrhea, bleeding, fever, anaemia, progressive weight loss or abnormal inflammatory markers may suggest another condition.
Possible Causes
Different mechanisms can produce a similar loose-stool pattern.
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Persistent Infection
Selected bacterial or parasitic infections may continue after travel, contaminated food or water exposure.
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Medication Effects
Antibiotics, metformin, magnesium, laxatives and other medicines may cause or worsen diarrhea.
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Food Intolerance
Difficulty digesting lactose, fructose or other carbohydrates may cause gas, cramping and watery stool.
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IBS With Diarrhea
IBS-D commonly causes abdominal pain, urgency and loose stool without structural intestinal damage.
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Celiac Disease
An immune reaction to gluten may cause diarrhea, bloating, anaemia, nutritional deficiency or weight loss.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may cause diarrhea, bleeding, pain, weight loss and inflammation.
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Microscopic Colitis
This condition can cause chronic watery diarrhea even when the colon looks normal during colonoscopy.
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Bile-Acid Diarrhea
Excess bile acids reaching the colon may produce watery stool, urgency and frequent bowel movements.
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Malabsorption
Pancreatic, intestinal or surgical conditions may interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption.
A complete medication and supplement list is essential
Prescription medicines, antacids containing magnesium, herbal products, sugar alcohols and over-the-counter supplements can affect stool consistency. Do not stop an important prescribed medicine without medical guidance.
Clinical Evaluation
The investigation begins with the pattern, not a single test.
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Timeline
We review when diarrhea began, whether it was sudden or gradual and whether symptoms are changing.
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Stool Description
Frequency, form, colour, blood, grease, mucus, urgency and nighttime symptoms are discussed.
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Travel & Infection History
Recent travel, food poisoning, unsafe water, sick contacts and antibiotic use may guide stool testing.
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Food Relationship
Dairy, fruit sugars, artificial sweeteners and other consistent meal-related patterns are considered.
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Medicine Review
Prescription drugs, supplements, laxatives and products containing magnesium or sugar alcohols are reviewed.
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Medical & Family History
Diabetes, thyroid disease, surgery, celiac disease, IBD and colorectal-cancer risk may affect testing.
Possible Tests
Testing is selected to identify infection, inflammation or impaired absorption.
Complete Blood Count
May identify anaemia, infection or another abnormality requiring further investigation.
Blood Test
Electrolytes & Kidney Function
Assesses possible dehydration, salt imbalance and the effect of ongoing fluid loss.
Hydration
Celiac Blood Testing
May be recommended when chronic diarrhea, bloating, anaemia, weight loss or nutritional deficiency is present.
Malabsorption
Stool Infection Testing
Selected testing may look for bacterial, parasitic or antibiotic-associated infection according to exposure history.
Infection
Stool Inflammation Markers
May help distinguish functional diarrhea from intestinal inflammation in selected patients.
Inflammation
Stool Fat or Pancreatic Tests
May be considered for greasy stool, weight loss or suspected difficulty digesting and absorbing nutrients.
Digestion
Colonoscopy With Biopsy
May evaluate bleeding, inflammation, microscopic colitis, persistent unexplained diarrhea or screening needs.
Endoscopy
Additional Imaging
Ultrasound, CT or other imaging may be selected when pain, weight loss or examination suggests another condition.
Selected Cases
A normal-looking colonoscopy may still require biopsies
Microscopic colitis can cause chronic watery diarrhea even when the colon’s surface appears normal. Diagnosis generally requires examination of tissue samples under a microscope.
Hydration & Nutrition
Ongoing diarrhea can affect fluids, electrolytes and nutrient absorption.
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Replacing water alone may not always be enough.
Frequent watery stool can lead to loss of fluids and electrolytes. Significant dehydration, weakness or inability to drink requires prompt medical assessment.
Fluid Replacement
Drink regularly and follow medical advice on oral rehydration when losses are significant.
Electrolyte Awareness
Severe or prolonged diarrhea may affect sodium, potassium and kidney function.
Maintain Nutrition
Extreme fasting can worsen weakness and does not treat the underlying cause.
Targeted Food Changes
Remove a suspected trigger only when the history or testing supports a structured trial.
Monitor Weight
Progressive weight loss may indicate inadequate intake, malabsorption or inflammatory disease.
Review Deficiencies
Iron, vitamin B12, folate or other nutritional markers may be checked when clinically appropriate.
Personalised Treatment
Chronic diarrhea treatment depends on the underlying cause.
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Infection Treatment
Confirmed infections are treated according to the organism, severity and individual medical history.
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Medication Adjustment
A suspected medicine may be changed, reduced or replaced only after reviewing its medical purpose.
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Intolerance Management
Lactose or another identified trigger may be reduced through a structured and nutritionally balanced plan.
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IBS-D Treatment
Treatment may target urgency, stool frequency, abdominal pain and individual dietary triggers.
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Inflammation Treatment
IBD or microscopic colitis requires condition-specific medical treatment and monitoring.
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Bile-Acid Management
Bile-acid–binding treatment may be considered when clinical assessment supports this mechanism.
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Malabsorption Care
Pancreatic, celiac or other absorption problems require cause-specific nutritional and medical care.
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Follow-Up Review
Stool pattern, hydration, weight, test results and treatment response are reviewed over time.
Anti-diarrheal medicine is not appropriate in every situation
Medicine that slows the bowel may be unsuitable when there is blood, high fever, severe inflammation or certain infections. New or severe symptoms should be assessed before repeatedly self-treating.
Preparing For Your Visit
A short bowel diary can reveal clinically useful patterns.
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Frequency & Timing
Record the number of bowel movements and whether symptoms occur overnight or immediately after meals.
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Stool Appearance
Note watery, loose, greasy, pale, bloody, black or mucus-containing stool.
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Urgency
Record urgency, accidents or situations where bathroom access affects daily activities.
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Food Relationship
Note consistent links with dairy, fruit, artificial sweeteners, rich meals or other foods.
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Medicine Timing
Include antibiotics, metformin, magnesium, laxatives, supplements and recent medicine changes.
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Weight & Hydration
Note weight changes, thirst, dizziness, reduced urination, weakness or difficulty maintaining intake.
Seek Prompt Medical Care
Some diarrhea symptoms should not wait for a routine appointment.
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Blood or Black Stool
Red blood, maroon stool or black tarry stool may indicate intestinal bleeding.
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Significant Dehydration
Minimal urination, severe thirst, dizziness, fainting or confusion requires prompt assessment.
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High Fever
Fever with frequent diarrhea, blood or worsening abdominal pain may indicate serious infection or inflammation.
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Severe Abdominal Pain
Intense, localised or rapidly worsening pain should not be assumed to be routine diarrhea.
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Progressive Weight Loss
Ongoing weight loss, weakness or reduced appetite may indicate malabsorption or another illness.
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Persistent Vomiting
Inability to keep fluids down significantly increases dehydration risk and requires medical care.
Your Appointment
How chronic-diarrhea evaluation works.
1
Define The Pattern
We review duration, frequency, stool form, urgency, nighttime symptoms and associated pain.
2
Review Possible Causes
Travel, infection, medicines, food patterns, surgery and other medical conditions are considered.
3
Select Targeted Tests
Blood, stool, inflammation, absorption or colonoscopy testing is selected according to risk.
4
Treat & Monitor
You receive English guidance on treatment, hydration, nutrition and follow-up.
FAQ
Chronic-diarrhea questions, answered.
Bring previous colonoscopy, biopsy, stool and blood-test results plus a complete medication and supplement list.
Diarrhea is generally considered chronic when loose or watery stools continue for more than four weeks. Earlier evaluation may be necessary when bleeding, fever, dehydration, weight loss or severe pain is present.
No. IBS-D is one possible cause, but infections, medicines, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, bile-acid diarrhea and malabsorption can produce similar symptoms.
Not every patient needs colonoscopy. It may be recommended for bleeding, anaemia, weight loss, nighttime symptoms, abnormal inflammation tests, screening needs or persistent unexplained diarrhea.
Yes. Some conditions, including microscopic colitis, may not be visible on the surface of the colon. Biopsies may be required even when the colon appears normal.
Yes. Antibiotics, metformin, magnesium, laxatives and various other medicines or supplements can contribute. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without reviewing its purpose and possible alternatives with your doctor.
Do not begin a strict gluten-free diet before celiac testing unless medically advised, because dietary restriction can affect test results. Food trials should be planned according to the suspected cause.
Long-term use should be reviewed with a doctor. Anti-diarrheal medicine may be unsuitable when blood, high fever, severe inflammation or certain infections are present.
Message WhatsApp +82 10-2950-7551, call 02) 3443-7550 or use Naver Booking. Apgujeong Hana Clinic is located in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul.
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Loose stools or bowel urgency continuing for more than four weeks?
Book an English-friendly chronic-diarrhea evaluation at Apgujeong Hana Clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam.