Common Diarrheal Illnesses in the Elderly

Abstract

Diarrhea is a fairly common problem among the elderly that has a higher morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. There are multiple reasons for diarrhea in the elderly that can be stratified by different mechanisms: infectious, osmotic, secretory, inflammatory, and malabsorptive. Oral hydration and dietary management are the basic management principles for all forms of diarrhea but specific treatment should address the root cause of diarrhea in order to improve outcomes.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile infection; Diarrhea; Elderly; Geriatrics; Infectious diarrhea; Malabsorption; Osmotic diarrhea; Secretory diarrhea.