Acute gastroenteritis Flashcards

1
Q

Could be also known as:

A

*Acute Enterocolitis
*Acute Gastroenterocolitis
*Acute Diarrhea
*Acute Diarrheal Disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

ACUTE DIARRHEA–

A

generally defined by stool consistency and duration
(less than 7 days) (not by the number of stools per day – infant
variability)

  • EXTENDED DIARRHEA (7-14 DAYS)
  • CHRONIC/PERSISTENT DIARRHEA – More than 14 days
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

The causes of acute diarrhea (modified and adapted after Ciofu E, Ciofu
C. Pediatria - Tratat 1st Edition, 2001 )

A

1. Enteral infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic)
2. Parenteral infections (UTI, etc)
3. Inflammatory intestinal disease
4. Anatomical/functional causes (short intestine, de l’anse borgne
syndrome, etc)
5. Pancreatic/hepatic diseases (cistic fibrosis, etc)
6. Biochemical causes(disaccharides deficit, chloride diarrhea)
7. Celiac disease
8. Neoplasia (lymphoma, neuroblastoma, etc)
9. Immunodeficiency (hypogammaglobulinemia, Iga selective deficiency,
AIDS)
10. Endocrinopathy (hyperparathyroidism , Addison’s disease)
11. Malnutrition
12. Diet factors (over-alimentation, introduction of new foods)
13. Alimentary intolerances/allergies
14. Psychogenic diseases (irritable bowel)
15. Toxic diarrhea (heavy metal poisoning)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The causes of acute diarrhea (from a
practical point of view)

A
  1. Enteral infections
  2. bacterial
  3. viral
  4. Parasitic
  5. Parenteral infections (UTI, etc)
  6. Medication (antibiotics, etc)
  7. Alimentary allergies
  8. Food factors (over-alimentation, introduction of new
    foods)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

There are many pathogenetic mechanisms that are both
self-explanatory and asociated with acute diarrhea:

A
  • Secretory - secretagogue agents, ex. cholera toxin, which
    attach to the receptors of the intestinal ephitelium and
    determine an intracellular accumulation of cAMP and cGMP
    Osmotic – determined by unabsorbable solutions,
    carbohydrate malabsorption (caused by the damage of the
    small intestine’s brush border)

*Intestinal motility disorders – ex thyrotoxicosis, bacterial
overgrowth (the transit is slowed down)

*Reduce intestinal surface (short intestinal syndrome)

*Mucosal invasion (inflammation, decreased colonic
reabsorption, increase motility)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

There are many pathogenetic mechanisms that are both
self-explanatory and asociated with acute diarrhea:

A
  • Secretory - secretagogue agents, ex. cholera toxin, which
    attach to the receptors of the intestinal ephitelium and
    determine an intracellular accumulation of cAMP and cGMP
    Osmotic – determined by unabsorbable solutions,
    carbohydrate malabsorption (caused by the damage of the
    small intestine’s brush border)

*Intestinal motility disorders – ex thyrotoxicosis, bacterial
overgrowth (the transit is slowed down)

*Reduce intestinal surface (short intestinal syndrome)

*Mucosal invasion (inflammation, decreased colonic
reabsorption, increase motility)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Practical differential diagnosis: osmotic
diarrhea e secretory diarrhea

A

Parameters Osmotic Diarrhea Secretory Diarrhea

Stool Volume < 200 ml/day > 200 ml/day

Answer to fasting Answer No answer

Stool Na < 60 mOsm/l > 90 mOsm/l

Fecal osmolarity < plasma osmolarity = plasma osmolarity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Definition acute gastroenteritis (AGE)

A

*Decrease of fecal consistency (soft or liquid) and/or
increase of stool evacuation frequency (tipically ≥3/24
hours) with or without fever and vomiting
* A change in stool consistency versus previous stool
consistency is more indicative of diarrhea than stool
number, particularly in the first months of life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Pathogeny- AGE

A
  • Enterotoxigenic Mechanism - major pathogenic
    mechanism (if not exclusive) production of
    enterotoxin and its action on the intestinal mucus,
    with the distruction of villus cells
  • Enteroinvasive mechanism - direct invasion of the
    intestine, as well as cytokines production that
    causes the increase of water secretion and
    electrolytes in the intestinal lumen.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

*The main pathogenic mechanism
consists in

A

blocking or decrease water and electrolytes absorption at the intestinal level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Epidemiology

A
  • The incidence of diarrhea ranges from 0.5 to 2 episodes
    per child per year in children <3 years in Europe.
  • Gastroenteritis is a major reason for hospitalization in this range of age.
  • Rotavirus is the most frequent agent of AGE;
  • norovirus is becoming the leading cause of medically attended AGE in countries with high rotavirus vaccine coverage.
  • The most common bacterial agent is either Campylobacter or Salmonella depending on country.
    *Intestinal infections are a major cause of nosocomial infection.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Etiology of age divided in age groups

A

*<a 1year: rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus,
salmonella
*1-4 ani: rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus,
salmonella, campylobacter, yersinia
*>5 years: campylobacter, salmonella,
rotavirus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Clinical Signs

A

*Diarrheic stool
*Vomitting
* Fever
*Abdominal pain
*Anorexia
* Seizures
* Tenesmus
* Erythema nodosum

Clinical signs of acute dehydration are to be added to the
clinical representation of acute diarrhea, as they severely
affect the disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Clinical research has focused on the following:

A
  • Fever (different definitions of absent, low, moderate, and high)
  • Vomiting (absent, present, and different definitions of frequent)
  • Onset (abrupt or more gradual)
  • Stool frequency (different definitions of low, moderate, and high)
  • Fecal mucus (present or not)
  • Fecal blood (present or occult)
  • Abdominal pain (present or not)
  • Respiratory symptoms (rhinorrhea, cough)
  • CNS involvement (irritability, apathy, seizures, or coma)

ATTENTION ASOCIATION DIARRHEA, OLIGURIA, EDEMA = suspicion
of hemolytic uremic syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Risk factors that cause severe/persistent forms
of disease

A
  • Clinical signs of severity: severe dehydration, repeated vomiting, persistent/high fever
    *Age < 6 months
  • Etiology: rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, E Coli enteropatogen
  • Socio-economic conditions
    *Artificial nutrition
  • Community: prekindergarden, kindergarden
    *Immunodeficiency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Are there any clinical signs that could lead to
the etiology?

A

*Fever > 40 ̊C, blood in the stool, abdominal
pain, irritability, seizures, coma = suggestive
for bacterial etiology

*Signs of vomiting and respiratory symptoms =
suggestive for viral etiology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Is a child with diarrhea dehydrated?

A
  • The degree of dehydration is essential for the
    therapeutic approach!
    (expressed in loss weight)
    *Minimal dehydration : <3% (Child) (5%) (Infant)
    *Mild to moderate dehydration : 3-9% (6-10%)
  • Severe dehydration> 9% (10%)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

When are electrolytes /astrup
needed?

A

*In cases of moderate and severe dehydration
*In case of parenteral rehydration

*Hypovolemic shock
*Neurological abnormalities (lethargy, seizures)
*Incoercible vomiting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

When should one go to the doctor?

A

*Diarrhea: ≥ 8 episodes/day
* Persistent vomiting
*Infants < 2 months
* Severe underlying disease (diabetes mellitus or renal failure)
* Family reported sign of severe dehydration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

When is hospitalization recommended?

A
  • Shock
  • Severe dehydration
  • Somnolence, seizures, etc
  • Persistent /bilious vomiting
  • Lack of response to oral rehydration
  • Social/family causes
  • Suspected of surgical disease causes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Microbiological investigations

A
  • Stool samples (Coprocultures)
    *Microscopic examination of faecal samples (evaluation
    of the number of leukocytes )
  • Stool antigen (Rotavirus, Campylobacter etc)
    *Verotoxina (shiga-like toxin) - EHEC O157:H7
    (suspicion of hemolytic uremic syndrome)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Treatment - ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS

A

*Rehydration
*Diet
*Pharmacological therapy

23
Q

Alimentation of the child with AGE

A
  • Minimal or no dehydration– fed according to age
  • Mild to moderate dehydration – reintroduction of normal
    feeding after 4-6 hours from the start of rehydration (shortens
    the length of diarrhea by 0,43 days, reduces ponderal decrease
    thanks to hypocaloric diets)
    *This recommendation is not often followed.
24
Q

“….optimal management of mild-to-moderately
dehydrated children in Europe should consist of

A
  • A) oral rehydration with ORS over 3 to 4 hours, and
  • B) rapid reintroduction of normal feeding
    thereafter….”
25
Q

Should breastfeeding be interupted for
children with diarrhea?

A

*NO

26
Q

Enteral feeding and diet selection

A
  • Continued enetral feeding in diarrhea aids in recovery from the episode, and a continued age- appropiate diet after rehydration is the norm

*Intestinal brush-border surface and luminal enzymes can be affected in children with prolonged diarrhea or malnourished children – lactose free
formula and possible specific diet. Alternative strategies: addition of milk to cerreals and replacement of milk with fermeted milk products
such as yogourt
* Fatty food and food high in simple sugars (juices, carbonated sodas) should be avoide

27
Q

Is progressive reintroduction of milk fomula
necessary?

A

*No

28
Q

When is the introduction of lactose-free
formulas necessary?

A
  • Not routinely done
    Studies that show the benefits of this recommendation were
    published before1980
  • **Recomended in
  • Severe dehydration
  • Severe malnourished children**
29
Q

Pharmalogical therapy

  • ANTIBIOTICS – indications
A
  • In GEA with Salmonella typhi, Shigella, Entamoeba hystolytica, v.
    cholerae, Giardia lamblia, Campylobacter
  • Despite the etiology, in the presence of signes of sepsis or in
    neurological complications or in persistent diarrhea(>14 zile)
  • Neonatal period
  • Malnutrition
  • Imune defficiencies
30
Q

Pharmcological therapy

A
  • Racecadotril (a potent enkephalinase inhibitor) (Hidrasec, Tiorfan,
    Racecadotril etc) – reduces the number of watery stools
  • Smectita - improves the consistent of the stools
  • Probiotics – active on gut microflora and intestinal absorption
  • Lactobacillus GG
  • Saccaromyces boulardi
  • Loperamid – NO
  • Antiemetice (Ondasetron)– NOT USSUALLY
31
Q

Pharmcological therapy

  • In malnourished children (mostly in developing countries):
A
  • ZINC is recommended to reduce the severity and duration
    of diarrhea
  • And should be added to treatment with ORS
32
Q

Dehydration

A

*Water decrease in the organism
*Usually associated with electrolyte concentration decrease

33
Q

Symptoms associated with minimal or no
dehydration < 3% loss of body weight)

A
  • Mental status
  • Thirst
  • Heart rate
  • Quality of pulses
  • Breathing
  • Eyes
  • Tears
  • Mounth and tougue
  • Skinfold
  • Capillary refil
  • Extremites
  • Urine output

* Well, alert
Drinks normally, might refuse
liquids
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
Present
Moist
Instant recoil
Normal
Warm
Normal to decreased

34
Q

Symptoms associated with mild to moderate
dehydration 3-9 % loss of body weight)

A
  • Mental status
  • Thirst
  • Heart rate
  • Quality of pulses
  • Breathing
  • Eyes
  • Tears
  • Mounth and tougue
  • Skinfold
  • Capillary refil
  • Extremites
  • Urine output

* Normal, fatigued or restless,
irritable
Thirsty, eager to drink
Normal to increasead
Normal to decreased
Normal, fast
Slightly sunken
Decreased
Dry
Recoil in < 2 sec
Prolonged
Cool
Decreased
***

35
Q

Symptoms associated with severe
dehydration > 9% loss of body weight)

A
  • Mental status
  • Thirst
  • Heart rate
  • Quality of pulses
  • Breathing
  • Eyes
  • Tears
  • Mounth and tougue
  • Skinfold
  • Capillary refil
  • Extremites
  • Urine output

** Apathetic, lethargic,
unconscious
* Drinks poorly, unable to drink
* Tachycardia or bradycardia
* Weak, thready, or impalpable
* Deep
* Deeply sunken
* Absent
* Parched
* Recoil > 2 sec
* Prolonged; minimal
* Cold, mottled, cyanotic
* Minimal**

36
Q

Dehydration classification depending
on osmolarity

A

“SURROGATE” FOR THE OSMOLARITY
SODIUM VALUES— CONSIDERING NORMAL GLYCEMIA
VALUES!—
* ISOTONIC (130-150 mEq/l) (normal osm.)
* HYPOTONIC(<130 mEq/l) (decreased osm)
* HYPERTONIC (>150 mEq/l) (increased osm)

37
Q

ATTENTION!!!

  • The knowledge of the type of dehydration(hypo, iso
    or hypertonic) is crucial in
A

minimizing risks associated with volemic reexpansion
* In hyponatremia ideal 10 mEq/24 hours (not more than 2
mEq/hour) –long term neurological effects due to pontine
myelinolysis
* In hypernatremia – correction of dehydration within 48
hours - lethal massive cerebral edema risk

38
Q

the principle that must guide the volemic resuscitation is maintaining a

A

full vascular bed – euvolemia = main target

  • correction of ionic imbalances = secondary target
39
Q

Access routes

A
  • For patients in shock, with hypotension – venous
    access attempts should be limited to 3 ATTEMPS
    *No blood vessel obtained– INTRA-BONE access
    ** THE INTRA-BONE APPROACH SHOULD BE THE MAIN
    OPTION FOR PATIENTS IN CARDIAC ARREST
    *IT HAS A SUCCESS RATE OF 83% AS OPPOSED TO 17%
    IN THE CASE OF INTRAVENOUS CANNULATION
40
Q

ACCESS ROUTES - INTRA-BONE APPROACH

A
  • THE INTRA-BONE APPROACH
  • Indicated:
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Shock
  • Intravenous cannulation failure
  • For patients in shock, with hypotension – venous access attempts should be limited to 3 ATTEMPS
  • No blood vessel obtained– INTRA-BONE access
  • THE INTRA-BONE APPROACH SHOULD BE THE MAIN OPTION FOR PATIENTS IN CARDIAC ARREST
  • IT HAS A SUCCESS RATE OF 83% AS OPPOSED TO 17% IN THE CASE OF
    INTRAVENOUS CANNULATION
  • Places of puncture:
  • Proximal tibia/distal tibia
  • Distal femur
41
Q

INTRA-BONE APPROACH

Necessary material

A
  • Special needles
  • Short
  • Stop protection
    *trocarul
  • Xilina1%;
    *Antiseptic measures
42
Q

INTRA-BONE APPROACH

Complications:

A

*Osteomyelitis (1%)
* Cellulitis;
* Comprising syndrome
* Fatty embolism
*Growth cartilage destruction
* Sepsis.

43
Q

INTRA-BONE APPROACH

A
  • The duration of infusion should not exceed 12 hours
    *Needles must avoid the growth cartilage destruction
    *Do not use excessive force/ you can pass both cortices
    *If you do not aspirate marrow or blood / instilate saline
    solution – pink liquid – confirm the correct place of
    needles in the medullary cavity
    *Urgent medication (adrenalina, atropina, Na bicarbonat, xilina,blood, etc.) - performed without problem.
44
Q

ACCESS ROUTES

A

*ORAL REHYDRATION MUST NOT BE IGNORED
* when the dehydration is not severe
* when the child’s status allows it (without altered
sensorium)
* when the gastric tolerance allows it

REHYDRATING WITH REHYDRATION SALTS – FOR 4 HOURS -
50 ml/kg for mild dehydrations - 100 m/kg for /severe
ones

45
Q

Rehydration salts

A
  • Classical/standard solutions- Na 90 mmol/l –among
    the most important medical discoveries – they saved the lifes of many children with cholera

*Reduced osmolarity solutions – Na 75 mml/l
(recommended by the OMS)

*Hypotonic solutions– Na 60 mmol/l (recommended by
ESPGHAN,less by OMS)

46
Q

STANDARD ORS

A
  • Glucose 111 mmol/l
  • Sodium 90 mEq/l
  • Potasium 20 mEq/l
  • Chlorine 80 mEq/l
  • Bicarbonate 30 mmol/l
  • Osmolarity 311 mmol/l
47
Q

REDUCED
OSMOLARITY ORS

A
  • Glucose 75 mml/l
  • Sodium 75 mEq/l
  • Potasium 20 mEq/l
  • Chlorine 65 mEq/l
  • Citrate – 10 mml/l
  • Osmolarity 245 mOsmol/l
48
Q

ESPGHAN ORS

A
  • Glucose 90 mml/l
  • Sodium 60 mEq/l
  • Potasium 20 mEq/l
  • Chlorine 60 mEq/l
  • Citrate – 10 mml/l
  • Osmolarity 240 mOsmol/l
49
Q

Replacement of losses

A
  • <10 kg body weight: 60-120 ml ORS for each diarrheal stool or
    vomiting episode
  • > 10 kg body weight: 120-240 ml ORS for each diarrheal stool or
    vomiting episodes
50
Q

IMPORTANT
The choice for the hypovolemic patient is

A

is saline solution (nacl 0.9%) –
regardless of the glycemic index!!!
* 20 ml/kg as quickly as possible
* If after maximum 3 tries the reexpansion has not been obtained –
coloidal solutions: glucose oligomers, albumin

51
Q

Why is it important to use saline solution
(NaCl 0,9%) in rebuilding volemia and not 5%
glucose?

A
  • In order for the administered solutions to reach the cells a vascular bed is required
  • Glucose administered without rebuilding the volemia – hyperglycemia (often observed by us)
  • Therapeutically induced hyperglicemia accentuates dehydration through osmotic diuresis
52
Q

Frequent mistakes

  • Administering during the inital approach:
A
  • antibiotics
  • corticosteroids
  • bicarbonate
  • Administering bicarbonate without documenting a refractary
    acidosis to efficient volemic expansion and without proving
    normal na values = vital risk complications (through
    hypercapnia, hypernatremia, hyperosmolarity)
53
Q

PRACTICAL MESSAGE

A
  • the absolute priority regarding patients with ads and severe
    dehydration is rebuilding the volemia
  • glucosate solutions will under no circumstance be used to rebuild
    volemia
  • for hypoglycemic patients this will be corrected afterwards,
    possibly through a different vein
  • the use of antibiotics and bicarbonate should be reserved for
    special cases, not routinely
54
Q

PREVENTION

A

*Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding
*Improved complementary feeding practices
*Rotavirus immunisation
*Improved water and sanitary facilities and promotion of personal and domestic hygiene
*Improved case management of diarrhea