Acute Diarrhea- Piburn Flashcards
what are the types of diarrhea
decreased absorption of h20
increased intestinal secretion
increased osmotic load
abnormal motility
what is the most common cause of diarrhea
infection
what are high risk groups for diarrhea
travelers
ingesting certain foods
immunodeficiency
daycares
institutionalized
extremes of age
what are infectious agents that travelers are at risk for
campylobacter
norovirus
coronavirus
salmonella
shigella
Giardia (Beaver fever)
what is the most common agent seen in daycares
rotavirus
what is non-inflammatory acute diarrea
watery, not bloody
GI symptoms
larger volumes (+/- dehydration)
fecal leukocytes absent
small intestine
what is inflammatory acute diarrhea
blood diarrhea (dysentery)
systemic symptoms (fever) + LLQ cramping, urgency and tenesmus
small volumes
fecal leukocytes present
large intestine
what are non-infectious causes of acute diarrhea
malabsorption
Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s, UC, medications, bile acids, mesenteric ischemia
what are possible acute diarrhea work up tests
CBC, CMP
fecal leukocyte count
fecal hemoccult
stool culture - bacterial
+/- C. diff PCR
+/- viral testing, protozoal testing
+/- ova and parasite testing
if diarrhea persists, what are other workup tests that can be completed
flexible sigmoidoscopy- colonoscopy (biopsy)
Radiographs or CT scan
r/o IBD, ischemic colitis, or other non-infectious causes
what is the supportive treatment for acute diarrhea
maintain adequate oral intake
bowel rest
easy digestible foods
oral rehydration with electrolytes
anti-diarrheals
what is the BRAT diet
Banana, Rice, Apple sauce, toast
when is anti–diarrheal contraindicated
blood diarrhea, fever, systemic symptoms, persistent diarrhea
if concern for toxic megacolon
what criteria must be met for empiric antibiotic treatment for acute diarrhea
no concern for hospital acquired infection
presents of moderate to severe fever, tenesmus or bloody stools
no suspicion for E.coli - abx increase risk of HUS
what is the preferred abx for acute diarrhea
fluoroquinolone
-ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin
bactrim or doxycycline
what is HUS
hemolytic uremic syndrome
blood break down, increased urea - results from blood clots, predominantly in the kidney
what is the criteria to admit for acute diarrhea
severe dehydration, especially if vomiting or unable to tolerate PO intake
severe or worsening bloody diarrhea
severe abdominal pain
severe infection or sepsis
severe or worsening diarrhea and age > 70 or immunocompromised
signs of HUS
what are complications of acute diarrhea
reactive arthritis
HUS
post infection IBS?
Precursor to Crohns, UC, celiac?
what are the most common viral agents for infectious diarrhea
norovirus and rotavirus
what is the leading agent causing food born illness
norovirus
what is the transmission of norovirus
fecal-oral route
contaminated foods and water
contaminated surfaces
person-to-person
what is the incubation of norovirus
1-3 days, average 48 hours
what are the symptoms of norovirus
nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping
+/- fever
short duration (hours to 3 days)
what is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritiris in infants and kids worldwide
rotavirus
what is the transmission of rotavirus
fecal-oral route
highly contagious
vaccine available
what is the incubation periods, duration of illness and viral course of rotavirus
incubation: 48 hours
duration of illness: 5-7 days
can shed virus for 10-20 days
what is rotavirus
double stranded RNA virus
causes gut epithelial necrosis
what are the symptoms of rotavirus
profuse watery diarrhea + vomiting in kiddos
more mild in adults
non-bloody diarrhea
fever in abou 50%
what is the treatment of rotavirus
symptomatic + vigorous hydration
anti-diarrheals not recommended in kids under 5
what are the species of shigella
shigella dysenteriae - blood version
shigella flexneri
shigella sonnei
shigella boydii
what is shigella
acid-resistant bacteria - small dose can cause disease
what is the transmission of shigella
fecal-oral route
contaminated food and water
person-to person
often young children at daycare/preschool
what is the incubation and duration of shigella
incubation: 24 hours to 3 days
duration: usually 1 week (self limited)
what are the symptoms of shigella
abrupt onset of watery diarrhea - typically frequent, small volume, bloody stools (NO N/V)
tenesmus, fever, abdominal cramping, lethargy
infects colon so severe dehyration is less likely
what can shigella lead to
HUS - shiga toxin
what is the tx of shigella
abx recommended unless mild disease
fluoroquinolones recommended for adults
azithromycin for those under 18yo