65: Diarrhea Flashcards
diarrhea physiology
-9 liters of fluid enters small intestine every day
-if SI water scapacity exceeded, chyme overloads colon
Increased intestinal motility causes
diarrhea
decreased intestinal motility causes
constipation
Segmenting contractions
-delay passage and mix intestinal contents allowing for greater absorption
-fewer in pt w diarrhea
Diarrhea
-inc frequency and dec consistency of fecal discharge
-episodes begin abruptly and usually subside 1-2 days w/o tx
-often symptom of systemic disease
Fecal Incontinence
-inability to control bowels
-stool leaking from rectum
-may occur temporarily during diarrhea bout
-can be chronic/recurring
-more common in women and in the elderly
Diarrhea epidemiology
-not routinely reported to CDC
-big time in daycare centers
-5% population
-Norovirus most common foodborne cause
-leading cause of childhood death in developing countries (typhoid fever)
Types of diarrhea
-Secretory
-Osmotic
-Exudative
-Altered Intestinal Transit
Secretory diarrhea
-change in active ion transport
-either dec Sodium absorption or
-or inc chloride secretion into lumen (water follows)
Causes of secretory diarrhea
-pancreatic tumors, unabsorbed fat
-laxatives
-bacterial toxins
-LARGE STOOL volumes >1L/day
-normal ionic stool content
-not altered by fasting
Osmotic diarrhea
-when poorly absorbed substances retained in intestinal fluids
-results in influx of water and electrolytes into lumen
Causes of osmotic diarrhea
-malabsorption syndromes
-LACTOSE intolerance
-admin of divalent ions (mg antacid)
-consumption of poorly soluble CHOs
-improves with fasting! (no eating no diarrhea)
Exudative diarrhea
-subset of secretory
-secondary to IBD
-IBD discharge mucus, proteins, and blood into gut
-characterized by LARGE stool volumes
Bacterial causes of diarrhea
-shigella
-salmonella (most common in US)
-campylobacter
-staph
-e. coli
viral causes of diarrhea
-Norovirus #1
-Rotavirus
Drug-induced diarrhea
-laxatives
-antacids w Mg
-electrolytes
-sorbitol in liquid formulations
-antimicrobials
-motility agents
-cholinergic meds
-antiHTN
-misoprostol
-colchicine
-PPI and H2RAs
-mycophenolate
-metformin
Drug induced diarrhea in cancer pts
-antineoplactics (-ecan)
-lots of mABs
-oral, IV, immunotherapy
Diarrhea presentation
-small intestinal involvement: cramps, sounds, lower right pain w cramping
-Large intestinal involvement: aching sensation with straining (tenesmus)
-N/V, HA, pain, fever, chills
-weight loss if chronic
-hyperperistalsis w generalized local tenderness on exam