ACUTE DIARRHEA

Question 1

define acute diarrhea

Answer 1

• abnormally increased frequency or decreased consistency of stools
• < 2 weeks

Question 2

what are the infectious agents of acute diarrhea?

Answer 2

• non inflammatory (toxin mediated)
• Inflammatory:
  
  • enteroviruses (rota)
  • campylobacter
  • salmonellae
  • shigella
    - E coli - EHEC, EIEC
    - CL difficle
• Parasites:
  
  • Giardiasis
  • Amebiasis

Question 3

non infectious causes of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 3

1. GIT: Diverticulitis, IBD
2. Metabolic: ketosis, VIP, carcinoid syndrome, uremia
3. Generalised illness: sepsis (meningococc), pneumonia and malaria
4. Drugs

Question 4

which Drugs cause diarrhea

Answer 4

1. GIT: misoprostol, Mg containing antacids, laxatives
2. CVS: digoxin, ACE, quinidine, B blockers, hypolipidemic agents
3. Antibiotics: erythromycin, amox-clav
4. CNS: lithium, valproic acid, fluoxitine
5. other: theophylline, thyroid hormone, nsaids, colchicine

Question 5

pathophysiology of cholera

Answer 5

• fluid loss originates from duodenum and upper jejunum; the ileum is less affected
• the colon is usually in a state of absorption because it is relatively insensitive to the toxin
• the large volume of fluid produced in the upper intestine overwhelms the absorptive capacity of the lower bowel, resulting in severe diarrhea
• the enterotoxin acts locally and does not invade the intestinal wall, as a result few neutrophils are found in the stool