Rome II Criteria for Functional Diarrhea

Criteria:

(1) >= 12 weeks duration out of the past 12 months, not necessarily consecutive

(2) liquid, mushy or watery stools

(3) present > 75% of the time

(4) no abdominal pain

(5) exclusion of other causes of chronic diarrhea without abdominal pain (lactose intolerance, etc.)

Differential diagnosis:

(1) pseudodiarrhea (frequent defecation with urgency and solid stools)

(2) irritable bowel disease

Findings which should prompt a more extensive workup:

(1) large volume of stool

(2) rectal bleeding (other than from hemorrhoids)

(3) nutritional deficiency

(4) weight loss

(5) abdominal pain