Abdominal pain HYHO Flashcards
acute diarrhea
lasts less than 2 weeks
chronic diarrhea
lasts longer than 2 weeks
mild diarrhea
3 or fewer stools per day
moderate diarrhea
4 or more stools per day with local symptoms
severe diarrhea
4 or more stools per day with systemic symptoms
Inflammatory diarrhea
suggests colonic involvement by invasive bacteria or parasites or toxin production
sxs of inflammatory diarrhea
frequent bloody, small-volume stools associated with fever, abdominal cramps, tenesmus, and fecal urgency
common causes of inflammatory diarrhea
Shigella, Salmonella, Campy, Yersinia, E. coli, STEC, Entamoeba histolytica, C. difficile
Lab tests for inflammatory diarrhea
fecal leukocytes or neutrophil marker lactoferrin are positive, stool culture
noninflammatory diarrhea
small intestine commonly affected, interferes with salt and water balance
sxs of noninflammatory diarrhea
large-volume watery diarrhea, N/V, cramps
Common causes of noninflammatory diarrhea
viruses, vibriones, STEC, Giardia, cryptosporidia
Transmission of diarrheal causes
food and water, incubation period between 12-72 hours
recent hospitalization or abx use suggest diarrhea caused by
C. difficile
diarrhea with recent foreign travel suggests…
Salmonella, Shigella, Campy, E coli, V cholerae
diarrhea after undercooked hamburger suggests…
STEC
diarrhea out break in long-term care facility, school, cruise…
norovirus
diarrhea after fried rice associated with…
B cereus toxin
In general, most cases of acute gastroenteritis require what treatment?
are often self-limited, do not require therapy other than supportive
Supportive tx for diarrhea
replacement of fluid and electrolytes, potentially hypovolemic shock
When is antimicrobial therapy for bloody diarrhea indicated?
- documented fever, abd pain, bloody diarrhea, bacillary dysentary (shigella)
- returning travelers with 38.5 C or signs of sepsis
Empiric abx for bloody diarrhea
fluoroquinolone, azithromycin
associated foods of c. jejuni
raw or undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk, water
