[Diarrhea].

Abstract

Diarrhea is a health problem in our countries and requires a permanent evaluation and control. Their physiopathologic mechanisms are known and one of them, related with secretory diarrhea has become a priority in this moment, because pf the epidemic of cholerae in Perú. Acute diarrhea (AD) can be associated with different factors such as infection by viruses or bacteria and noninfectious factors such as toxins of different etiology. Treatment is based in the clinic and etiologic point of view, and each case needs hydratation or antibiotics. The use of antiperistaltic drugs hasn't proved to be of value. Social economic and culture factors are of great importance in these sickness. National studies of AD in adults have confirmed in 50% of the cases the presence of enteropathogens mean white in developed countries they are only 28%, that's why is very important to control the food dispensers and the educational programs for the population if we want to prevent AD. Chronic diarrhea(CD), has a variety of causes that change according to each country ot type of population. In Perú, enteric parasitosis and infectious diseases are the more frequent causes. Is in the last years that bacterial overgrowth in the upper gut is having a mayor role in CD. A lot of CD are multifactorial in origin, they may be systemic sickness, metabolic, immunodeficiency and neoplastic. Each case requires an integral diagnostic approach, some times with simple tests but in other cases is necessary more complicated technics, but always directed toward the sickness that are prevalent in each population.