Diarrhea Flashcards
What is the definition of diarrhea?
- a symptom characterized by increased frequency of defecation, with the stools being loose and watery
- 3 or more loose stools during a limited time period (24 hours) perceived to be diarrhea
What are the complications that are often associated with diarrhea?
- electrolyte imbalances
- risk of dehydration
- hemorrhoids
What is acute diarrhea?
- diarrhea lasting under than 14 days
What is chronic diarrhea?
- lasts more than 14 days or recurring diarrhea lasting under 14 days each
What are some examples of foods to avoid while travelling?
- unpeeled or uncooked veggies and fruits, unpasteurized, milk or egg based, water or ice
What are some of the most common reasons that a patient has acute diarrhea?
- infections (this is the most common cause of diarrhea, typically transmitted via oral/fecal routes)
- medications
- diet/nutrition
How long does acute diarrhea usually last?
- usually only about 2-3 days and is self limiting
- symptoms usually being abruptly
What is the most common viral cause of all gastroenteritis?
- noroviruses
What is norovirus usually transmitted by?
- usually transmitted by contaminated water or food (also person to person)
What is the result of the norovirus infection?
- 24 hour stomach flu
What is the result of the rotavirus?
- causes severe diarrhea
- highest incidence in children between 3-24 months of age
- peak infectious period if during the winter months (November to february)
What route is rotavirus spread by?
- spread by the focal oral route
What different bacterial species are diarrhea most commonly caused by?
- Campylobacter sp, Salmonella sp, and E. coli
What part of the bacterial species causes diarrhea?
- can cause diarrhea through the enterotoxin or by directly invading the mucosal epithelial cells
What food products is salmonella typically ingested in?
- infected poultry, eggs, beef, juice, raw fruits and veggies and milk
- typically lasts for 1 to 7 days
What are the symptoms of salmonella species?
- nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and passage of blood and mucous
What food products do campylobacter bacteria come from?
- undercooked chicken, unpasteurized milk or contaminated water
- lasts for 1-10 days
What are the typical places that e.coli can be found?
- ingestion of contaminated food or water, recent travel
- lasts 3-5 days for example, or can be 5-10 days
What are the symptoms associated with an E.coli infection?
- watery diarrhea
- fever
- abdominal cramps
- bloating
- malaise
- occasional vomiting
What are the symptoms associated with shigatoxin?
- watery, often bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, hemolytic uremic syndrome
What are the parasites that diarrhea can be caused by?
- may be caused by G. lambda, E. histolytica, Isospora belli and Crystosproriduim sp
How is giardia spread?
- by ingestion of water or for contaminated with animal of human species containing system
- may be infected by drinking water from sources with inadequate purification systems
How is E. histolytica spread?
- spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water
What are the medications used to treat acute diarrhea?
- penicillins, cephalosporins, erythromycins - these alter the normal bacterial flora in the gut
What is the pseudomonas colitis?
- c. diff
- treat mainly with clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, penicillins and cephalosporins, but can occur with any antimicrobial agent
What are some of the examples of medications that cause diarrhea?
- laxatives
- antacids
- metoclopramide
- orlistat
- acarbose
- misoprostal
- antineoplastics
What are some common foods that are associated with intolerances to food components or food allergies?
- most common: gluten and lactose
- foods containing large amounts of sorbitol or mannitol may cause osmotic diarrhea
- fatty, spicy, highly salted foods
- may occur when there is rapid increases in dietary fibre
- food poisoning (important to focus on prevention)