Chronic Diarrhea Diagnosis

How Do We Diagnose Chronic Diarrhea?

Our goal is to quickly determine whether your diarrhea is due to an underlying condition, such as infection or food intolerance, or something more advanced, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Using a team approach, our nutritionists work alongside experts from our General Gastroenterology Clinic to get to the source of your condition.

We offer a broad range of diagnostic tests both within and outside of our Gastrointestinal Motility Lab, including:

• Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan: Using X-rays and special computer software, this test creates two- and three-dimensional images of your intestines. Providing alternative views of your bowel, pancreas, and other organs, CT scans help us examine details that might not be visible through other imaging tests.
• Blood tests: Using a sample of your blood, we may run a number of tests:
  • Complete blood count to look for signs of anemia and infections
  • Electrolyte and kidney function panel to look for electrolyte abnormalities and liver issues
  • Albumin tests to assess your nutritional status
• Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy: Examining the entire length of your colon (colonoscopy) or just the lower part of your colon (sigmoidoscopy) with the help of a small flexible tube and tiny camera we insert into your rectum. Learn more about the Endoscopy Suite at Stanford Health Care.
• Double balloon enteroscopy: Accessing your upper or lower small intestine with a small flexible tube and tiny camera that we pass through your mouth and esophagus, or rectum (enteroscope). Small balloons apply gentle traction to grab and bring sections of your intestines closer to the camera. This advanced test allows us to examine areas of your bowel that are beyond the reach of conventional tools.
• Small intestinal X-ray and fluoroscopy: A series of X-rays on video of your small intestine helps us find blockages and any other abnormalities.
• Stool culture: Examining a sample of your stool to test for bacteria, parasites, or viruses in your intestines.
• Wireless capsule gastrointestinal monitoring system: Swallowing a pill with a tiny wireless monitoring system inside (SmartPill®) to record acid levels, temperature, and pressure changes in your GI tract. The wireless motility test lets us know how fast or slow your stomach, small bowel, and colon are emptying. Your body cannot digest the SmartPill®, and it will eventually pass through a bowel movement.
• Upper endoscopy: With the help of a small flexible tube and tiny camera that we pass through your mouth and esophagus (endoscope), we carefully examine the lining of your stomach and duodenum for ulcers, inflammation, infection, and cancer. During your upper GI endoscopy procedure, we may also take a tissue sample (biopsy) and examine it under a microscope.
• Defecating proctogram: Examining all structures in your pelvic floor, rectum, and sphincter, with the help of X-ray.